For those who have experience of haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, what would you want someone new to dialysis to know?
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Be prepared for a whole new timetable in your life all around your dialysis. You will have to possibly change your diet and remember to drink more water, if home dialysis you need to be prepared for a lot of boxes that seem to invade your house and having technicians in daily if you are on automated dialysis - I guess it gets easier the longer you do it and it becomes a way of life!
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I did both Haemo Dialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis and maintained full time employment wirh both. For me, both treatments were effective and I coped with each, which is not alwaysyhe casefor everyone, I know.
I would consider this: Haemo is generally 3 sessions a week, 15 hours away from home and family, but you get 4 days free. Travelling abroad is difficult, sitting still is difficult and occasionally there may be technical difficulties… but you are surrounded by qualified staff to look after and help you.
Peritoneal Dialysis is 7 sessions per week, generally 7 hours each, but you can do this at home yourself and it happens whilst you are asleep. There can be technical difficulties, which will wake you up, but you have a guide to help you and a 24 hr help line to call if you need additional technical assistance. Your machine is the size of a desktop printer, so you can take it away with you but you will also need to rake your required fluids with you. You do need a lot of storage space for all your fluids, bags and lines stock (half my garage)
Everything considered, I preferred Peritoneal Dialysis. But we are all have different needs and preferences.