| Author | Subject: Mother in renal failure |
| nancy | Posted At 21:54:49 05/10/2002 My mother had a severe heart attack in January which caused kidney damage and she is now in renal failure. For a variety of reasons she has chosen not to pursue dialysis. She is currently experiencing a loss of appetite and fatigue. Her creatinine level is about 3.7 and steadily increasing. I understand she will eventually become weak and tired and perhaps have nausea and vomiting. Provided she does not go into congestive heart failure is there a logical progression to the symptons of renal failure and is there a rough timeframe? How quickly do the sypmtons progress? Please don't advise us to go to a hospice. We have already discussed that option and she is not interested. |
| sue | Re: Mother in renal failure (Currently 0 replies) Posted At 22:12:47 05/10/2002 It would be my understanding that if your mother is experiencing renal failure and she has been asked to do dialysis, then she would be at a decreased function to warrant treatment as soon as possible. Her only options for increased survival would be transplant or dialysis. I guess it depends on how severe her condition is and if she will even gain back any function at all. I would seriously consider some treatment because it cannot be left untreated. Ask her doctor or nephrologist what they suggest and go from there. |
| Beth Witten | Re: Mother in renal failure (Currently 0 replies) Posted At 16:36:46 05/15/2002 You don't say what your mother's quality of life was like before she developed her heart attack. If it was poor, it's likely that she can't imagine feeling better. If it was good, she may not believe she could feel that well again. No one can say for sure how she would feel after doing dialysis and whether she chooses to do it is her option, but I hope that she is not making the decision to forego dialysis based on a misconception about the procedure or its effects that could be resolved by visiting a clinic, talking with the professional staff, and speaking with a patient who is on dialysis. Clinical practice guidelines on initiation of and withdrawal from dialysis generally suggest that a person with kidney failure be offered a trial of dialysis to see if it improves how they feel. It usually does. To help you and your mother, the National Kidney Foundation has booklets on all the different types of treatment for kidney failure. There is also a booklet called "Dialysis: Choosing Not to Start." NKF also has a brochure entitled "Advance Directives." You can find both of these in the A-Z Guide under the alphabet letter of the first word in the title on the NKF's web site at www.kidney.org. |
| Dori Schatell | Re: Mother in renal failure (Currently 0 replies) Posted At 14:07:54 05/21/2002 Nancy, you said that your mother doesn't want to GO to a hospice, but I wanted to be sure that you know that many hospices will send out staff as home visitors. Trained hospice volunteers can offer respite care and help family members take care of their loved ones, both physically and emotionally--at home. |
| Sarah Mondro | Grandmothetr in renal failure 94 years (Currently 0 replies) Posted At 22:37:08 04/29/2003 My Grandmother is 94 she has chronic renal failure is there any hope. |
| Beth Witten | Re: Mother in renal failure (Currently 0 replies) Posted At 23:12:53 04/30/2003 Depending on your grandmother's overall condition and mental status, she could be a candidate for dialysis, if she chooses. She needs to understand that without dialysis, she will die in a few days or weeks. Talk with your grandmother and find out what her wishes are and honor them. The doctor and staff who don't know your grandmother may believe that 94 year olds wouldn't choose to do dialysis. I have known people into their 90's who were physically active and independent on dialysis. I've also known people in their 30's and 40's that acted as if they were 90. If she's interested in trying dialysis to see whether it gives her quality of life, advocate with the doctor to get him/her to allow her to try it. Dialysis is an inconvenience for sure, but it can also give someone time to see things they wouldn't have lived to see. There are many things people on dialysis can still do. |
| scott | Re: Mother in renal failure (Currently 0 replies) Posted At 15:17:39 05/15/2003 When my kidneys were failing, I graphed the chemistry readings according to date. I think I did BUN or creatinine. It was a straight line and the doctor could use it to predict when I got to the point of needing dialysis. She said that she had never seen this done previously. It might give you the time frame you seek. |
| scott | Re: Mother in renal failure (Currently 0 replies) Posted At 15:18:12 05/15/2003 When my kidneys were failing, I graphed the chemistry readings according to date. I think I did BUN or creatinine. It was a straight line and the doctor could use it to predict when I got to the point of needing dialysis. She said that she had never seen this done previously. It might give you the time frame you seek. |
| scott | Re: Mother in renal failure (Currently 0 replies) Posted At 15:19:15 05/15/2003 When my kidneys were failing, I graphed the chemistry readings according to date. I think I did BUN or creatinine. It was a straight line and the doctor could use it to predict when I got to the point of needing dialysis. She said that she had never seen this done previously. It might give you the time frame you seek. |
| Susan Mickelson | Re: Uncle in renal failure (Currently 0 replies) Posted At 10:44:30 10/22/2003 My uncle in in the final stages of renal stages. He is going home today with Hospice care. He is almost 80yrs old and his quality of life has not been good these last 2yrs. He is ready to die. I live out of state and spent the last two days with him saying good bye. My question is, none of us really knows what to expect between now and when he may go into a comma and finally death. What kind of pain or symptoms will he suffer? |