My father's kidney function is down to only 15% (borderline end stage). Has anyone had experience with this. If so how long did they live and did they ever hear about or try any "alternative" treatments
How old is your dad and what stage is his dementia in? Does he have a living will? Has his doctor discussed the options? I would suspect that his options would be confined to dialysis.
With his dementia, can he tolerate this treatment, that is likely to be several days per week. I don't know much about this treatment, but maybe others here do.
he's 84 yrs. old- diabetic/heart issues, etc. but at this point no symptoms. Was actually told by the specialist (at his age) dialysis doesn't prolong life..............just wondering about the "future"
I work in home healthcare and I have a patient with ESRD. She has 20% kidney function in one kidney. The other kidney is kaput. And while she's on hospice she's doing pretty well. She has a suprapubic catheter and stays in bed all the time but she still has quality of life. She visits with her grown children, listens as her husband reads aloud to her, she smiles and laughs. My staff and I keep a sharp eye out for UTI's but considering her health status she's doing as well if not better than can be expected.
I'm not aware of any alternative treatments at her stage. She has a large, supportive family who were reluctant to call in hospice. If there was something out there that could help their mom I think they would have come up with it.
She's been living with ESRD for months and months. More than 6 months at least.
Don't expect anything much to happen, especially not after one result. Has your father's kidney function being going downhill over time, perhaps a result of his heart condition? I'm just wondering what they were checking his renal function for if he's asymptomatic.
Dialysis is not fun, his heart issues could also contraindicate it, and I wouldn't push for it. But assuming your father is mentally fine this clinical decision should be his to make - not that I'd suggest he goes against medical advice. How does he feel about what the doctor is explaining to him?
Does he have a living will?
Has his doctor discussed the options? I would suspect that his options would be confined to dialysis.
With his dementia, can he tolerate this treatment, that is likely to be several days per week. I don't know much about this treatment, but maybe others here do.
kidneyfailureweb/esrd/385.html
I'm not aware of any alternative treatments at her stage. She has a large, supportive family who were reluctant to call in hospice. If there was something out there that could help their mom I think they would have come up with it.
She's been living with ESRD for months and months. More than 6 months at least.
Dialysis is not fun, his heart issues could also contraindicate it, and I wouldn't push for it. But assuming your father is mentally fine this clinical decision should be his to make - not that I'd suggest he goes against medical advice. How does he feel about what the doctor is explaining to him?