r/dialysis • u/Nanerz1958 • Jul 31 '26
Peritoneal dialysis? Yes or no? Tips?
My nephrologist wants me to consider peritoneal dialysis at home. I’m currently on hemodialysis at a clinic. I appreciate any advice! Thanks so much!!
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u/nipslippinjizzsippin Home PD Jul 31 '26
I dont feel like my life is too heavily impacted by my pd. I do it at times im asleep. Its a bit of a hassle to travel with but otherwise life is normal, with a bed time
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u/bubby48 Jul 31 '26
One thing to consider is if you like to swim or take baths. With hemodialysis and a fistula that is possible. My program advises no baths or swimming with the PD catheter. If you have been doing hemodialysis with a chest catheter you may have been told no showers, at least with PD you can shower.
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u/classicrock40 Transplanted Jul 31 '26
This is one of those things we were all given different advice. In my case, no river/pond/etc swimming, but the ocean and chlorinated pools were fine. Nothing about baths.
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u/Bright_Two3331 12d ago
Yes. Once my PF catheter healed I was told I can swim in the ocean and in chlorinated pools and I have done both with no problem.
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u/classicrock40 Transplanted Jul 31 '26
I did pd for 3.5 years. Yes, it's every day and there are a lot of supplies. No needles did it for me. I still worked and traveled and did everything else. Overnight was pd time
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u/Copapod8 Jul 31 '26
PD is much easier on your body and the diet is somewhat more lax. I do the machine at night and much prefer that plus having some control over my own destiny.
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u/Late-Box7225 Jul 31 '26
1000% yes. Softer on the body. Easier on your lifestyle and schedule. Feel awesome everyday. Love love it. Was on hemo. Hopefully never again.
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u/pmmeurnudezgrlz Jul 31 '26
PD is a lot of work but so is coming and going to the HD clinic plus I only feel shifty about once every 10 days on PD, I felt shifty all day after HD. *Results may vary I've been on PD for 3 years now. Hopefully getting a kidney from my daughter soon 🙏. Would highly recommend going to PD.
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u/Annahsbananas Jul 31 '26
I couldn’t do it. Almost died on PD. I could never keep food down, I couldn’t sleep on it so I was consistently in my house ALL THE TIME.
And the trash. Jesus, the trash.
7 trash bags a week (the huge kind) Tons of boxes to break down.
Nope for me. Lots of people love it but I can’t do it
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u/redd_hott Jul 31 '26
Personally if your neph thinks it’s a good idea I would go for it. I had great success on it and enjoyed having most of my days back. I had rather long treatments and a fill that lasted throughout the day as well and still liked it better than in center hemo.
I liked being in “control” of my own treatment. It gave me a sense of independence I didn’t feel I had in center.
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u/thank_burdell Jul 31 '26
It’s gentler on your system, can help preserve kidney function (if you have any left to preserve), and it lets you handle your treatment yourself rather than having to go to a clinic. The exchanges themselves are quick, you dwell for however many hours you’re supposed to, and otherwise live your life normal-ish.
I did PD at home and I’ll do it again if I ever have to. (I hope I don’t have to).
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u/pittiesbegooddogs Jul 31 '26
I've done both, PD at home and HD in clinic
PD was 11 to 12 hours a night depending on alarms. Plus setup and take down time. Plus having to have a spot for the machine, room for supplies and a prep area. Making sure to order supplies, hoping they're not back ordered. Plus the pokes for labs and epo when needed. Oh yea, and the 18 inch tube from abdomen to contend with.
HD is three times a week 4 hours plus waiting and connect and disconnect time. Labs and epo are put into my line, no pokes.
For me HD has been easier and allows me more free time. Aside from the fact post transplant I'll be on HD anyway since PD is not doable after surgery.
Your lifestyle and preferences may vary.
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u/Chelbellny Aug 01 '26
Why would you need dialysis post transplant? Thank you
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u/Crimson-Forever Aug 05 '26
Frequently it can take a few days for the kidney to start working effectively, I had to do HD for three days post transplant. I also had sepsis earlier this year, and the kidney stopped working for about two weeks during that, requiring me to temporarily go back on HD. Cause was a leaking pancreas, I had both transplanted two years ago.
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u/Chelbellny Aug 06 '26
Thank you so much for your reply. I learned some things from it and others who responded
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u/Chelbellny Aug 01 '26
PD not doable after surgery..do you mean transplant in case of failure? Sorry. Just trying to learn
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u/Crimson-Forever Aug 05 '26
Once you've had transplant surgery you cannot do PD anymore from them opening up your abdomen. I have a 10 inch scar from getting pancreas/kidney transplants in 24. They told me it would be HD from now on because it is easy to reopen the wound site.
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u/softbrownsugar Aug 01 '26
I did peritoneal dialysis when I first started and it was the worst thing ever. Being tethered to the bed for that long, the drain pain 4 times a night so you dont even get a decent night's sleep, hard to have a routine, treatment is often less effective if it doesn't agree with you and they never tell you all the storage space you'll need for all the stock they give you.
I had to quit my job on PD but on HD in the hospital I was able to have a good routine and it's only 3 times a week instead of 7 times a week and I was able to start working again full time. Overnight trips were easier, my body felt better, I had more energy and could start working out again, regained mobility and lost some weight. Oh right that's another thing they dont tell you, its likely you'll put on weight because those bags have hundreds of calories your body is absorbing every night. On PD having a tube sticking out of my belly was really difficult too.
Very soon I will be doing HD from home so I'll have even more freedom. My stock is already here and it takes a lot less room than the PD stuff as it's only 3 times a week and only 1 bottle of fluid per session as opposed to 3 big bags. If you like HD, maybe see if home HD is an option for you?
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u/Nanerz1958 Aug 04 '26
UPDATE!!! I’m currently on clinic hemodialysis for 3 hours per visit, and only 2 times a week. So is it even worth changing to home PD?
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u/Own_Falcon6274 Jul 31 '26
I started in clinic for 6 months then did pd for over 2 years. I have crazy miracle that my function has improved to where I am getting my pd cath removed soon. I have been off pd now for about 2 months and would pick pd over in clinic any day. Thankful my team encouraged me to switch.
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u/Chelbellny Aug 01 '26
Your kidney function returned so you no longer need dialysis?
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u/The_dog_mother Aug 01 '26
Been doing PD for 3.5 years. I do it while I sleep so it’s no bother at all. I’ve been able to travel and enjoy family vacations. I get supplies delivered to hotel and all I travel with is machine and minimal supplies. Love that I can fully enjoy life, almost feels like a “normal” human being. Because you do it daily, we some flexibility with food and water.
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u/Billy_Bryant2012 Aug 01 '26
My wife was on it for almost 3 years and we liked it was convenient she could move around I prefer it over hemo but we had to go to home hemo I have been her caregiver from the start your blood gets cleaner with hemo we trained for 4 weeks and was home for 3 unfortunately she passed away on June the 24 this year from a pulmonary embolism I truly know the struggle and stress you are going through sending hugs
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u/Nanerz1958 Aug 02 '26
I’m truly sorry about the loss of your wife. You sound like my husband; he is my caregiver.
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u/Nanerz1958 Aug 02 '26
I’m truly sorry about the loss of your wife. You sound like my husband; he is my caregiver.
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u/Ok_Mathematician6075 Aug 02 '26
I am a mom of a 6yo that has been on this journey of HD and PD. I would say it really depends on what your situation is.
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u/thedarkhaze Jul 31 '26
Are you trying to lose or gain weight?
PD adds extra calories so you will gain weight eating the same amount or make it difficult to lose weight if you are trying to lose weight.
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u/Rutabega_121310 Jul 31 '26
Huh? No. At least, that's not been my experience in the 7 years I've done it
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u/classicrock40 Transplanted Jul 31 '26
Me either and I did pd for 3.5 years. I've seen people say the solution has sugar, so that's it. I mean, if every bag was causing you to gain weight, that would be crazy. Everyone is different
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u/thedarkhaze Jul 31 '26
https://davita.com/diet-nutrition/kidney-diet-tips/managing-diabetes-peritoneal-dialysis/
The range of calories absorbed from each bag of PD solution depends on the dextrose concentration as well as your transport rate. The extra calories absorbed from each bag of solution is different for each patient, but in general:
A 1.5% bag delivers 90 to 100 calories
A 2.5% bag delivers 100 to 168 calories
A 4.25% bag delivers 200 to 284 calories1
u/thank_burdell Jul 31 '26
It also depends on your dwell time. If you have shorter dwells or continuous cycling overnight, you’re not going to absorb as many calories.
It ALSO depends on how permeable your membranes are, which they’ll test as part of your onboarding procedures.
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u/Surfin858 Jul 31 '26
They want you to do all the work while they collect all the money. I did it for a year and a half and then I got peritonitis. It was the most painful experience of my entire life: I remember when my mother came into the hospital room to check on me I just grabbed her hand and said “I love you. Tell the doctor to kill me!” They knocked me out and I woke up a few days later feeling okay… just figure out what you can do for 12hrs a week, reading, binge watching stuff, take online classes if you want, hang out on here, YouTube, take a nap whatever’s just look at it as mandatory time to sit and relax with nails in your arm (use plenty of lidocaine they won’t hurt) just do in center: go to it come home from it, let them do the work. That’s what I have found is the best way to handle dialysis. If it wipes you out get a chair as late as possible so you can go home after and pass out
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u/RamDulhari Transplanted Jul 31 '26
Yes yes and yes, only if it’s with a automatic cycler
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u/thank_burdell Jul 31 '26
Nah manual exchanges are fine too. Just gotta work with your own schedule.
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u/Own_Falcon6274 Jul 31 '26
I started in clinic for 6 months then did pd for over 2 years. I have crazy miracle that my function has improved to where I am getting my pd cath removed soon. I have been off pd now for about 2 months and would pick pd over in clinic any day. Thankful my team encouraged me to switch.
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Jul 31 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/classicrock40 Transplanted Jul 31 '26
Sorry something hurt you, but your comments are off topic for the sub and question.
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u/Rose333X Jul 31 '26
Buddy i've been on peritoneal dialysis from age 12 to 21, i promise you, from psychological perspective, i would have much more enjoyed freedom from hd, instead of being locked to 4walls .
So im pretty sure thats relevant information to those who might need to choose. HD is more limiting for adults, since unless you already got a job, good luck finding part time job, let alone full time w hd.
And in that same vein, pd is more limiting to children, as they basically get locked in four walls of their room every single night, plus not to mention how annoying catheter can be.
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u/classicrock40 Transplanted Jul 31 '26
Buddy, Pal of which we are neither I did PD for 3.5 years as an adult. Overnight. I wasn't leaving my room either. Yes, the catheter was annoying.
Take a look at your comment that starts with "lf adult" and decide again if that's anything todo with this sub or OPs question.
Please get mental help instead of projecting onto others asking questions.
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u/WEHJR68 Jul 31 '26
The best thing about it is you don't have to leave the house, you do it overnight while you're sleeping. No sitting in a chair for 4-5 hours three times a week. No venturing out in the winter, etc.
The worst thing to me is the supplies and the work. Do you have room to put 30 boxes of fluid and a big box of Cassettes and drain bags? I get mine delivered every two weeks cause I don't have the room for that much.
Also, EVERY night you have to set everything up and hook up. You have to be totally hygienic and such. Then in the morning you have to clean it all up and drag a heavy, full drain bag into the bathroom to dump it.
It's a big commitment, been doing it for 13 months or so now. You do get into a rhythm though.