Any Moms Know About Kidney Failure? (Edited)

From what I know from my days working in a hospital, dialysis can happen two different ways, dependant on your situation and your level of ability. Dialysis can successfully go on for many years, but the end goal is usually a transplant, barring other circumstances that would prevent it, as kidney function does not return once failure occurs. Anyhow, should you require dialysis your urologist will determine if you should do peritoneal dialysis, or hemodialysis. Peritoneal dialysis can be done on your own at home, where hemodialysis must be done at a clinic. Like another poster mentioned, it is way too much information to relay in a post here, especially since you don't know what you're up against yet. In either case, your diet will play an enormous role in your health and the success of the dialysis. Your kidneys function to clean the blood of excess nutrients, like potassium, sodium, magnesium, and water. When your kidneys fail, these things can build up in your blood stream and cause serious problems. So, dialysis acts in the place of your kidneys to remove the excess. But, you have to be compliant to a strict diet in order to allow dialysis to work best for you. It isn't an actual kidney, it's a substitute, so it works alright, but it can't perform miracles. Get with a dietitian right away to work out a plan that you can manage. It would be a good idea to do this anyhow, even if it turns out you don't need dialysis right now. A dietitian may help you to manage your diet to help keep the stones to a minimum. I very much hope for the best for you, and that you won't require dialysis to manage your condition. But if you do, make sure to work with your doctors to get the best plan of care. Ask questions until you are satisfied that you understand! Good luck!

***EDIT:
Hi,
I'm the one that replied about going to the ER.

My concern is: your symptoms of bloating/swelling/itchiness/blood in your urine, etc. This is NOT good.
And your Doctors said you might get kidney failure etc.

Any 'blockages' can damage the kidneys and/or it functioning and blocks the flow of urine etc.
Its output etc.
Failing kidneys don’t remove extra
fluid, which builds up in your body. Hence you get swelling/bloating etc.

Kidneys remove wastes from the
bloodstream. When the kidneys fail, or is impaired....
the build-up of wastes in your blood
can cause severe itching.
This is an indication, of failing kidneys.

TO ME: the Doctors should be more aggressive... in monitoring your Kidneys.
This is serious stuff.
My late Dad as I said, had Renal failure, due to Diabetes.
If not caught in time... it can really impair one's life.

try this link:
www.lifeoptions.org/kidneyinfo/pdfs/ckd_info.pdf
it details what can happen per kidney impairment etc.
(this is a PDF file per a link. It is safe. It details all the facts about Kidney failure or obstructions).

Again, I am worried, just hearing about your symptoms... and per what I saw with my late Dad.

I would, tell the Doctors, to address the condition of your kidneys and not just the stones.
A Urologist, is different from a Nephrologist Doctor specialist.
You NEED to see a Nephrologist.... per your KIDNEYS.

You NEED to see a Nephrologist. Not just a Urologist.
SINCE your Doctors, suspect Kidney FAILURE... they NEED to address this pronto.

A Urologist just deals with the bladder/urinary system. A Nephrologist, deals with the KIDNEYS.

Please tell your Doctors.
The POINT is: since they think your Kidneys are FAILING... they NEED TO DO SOMETHING about it. Not just about your stones.
These are your vital organs. Once it fails, it fails.

I just cannot understand, WHY your Doctors are not doing anything, IF they suspect that you are having Kidney failure.
-----------------------

My late Dad had renal failure, due to Diabetes.
He had dialysis 3 times a week, for half a day.
It is not fun. It is forever.
But you need it or you can die.
The toxins build up in your system, because your kidneys do not work.

IF you can get on a transplant list.
See a Renal Doctor.

Yes you DO need dialysis. If your kidneys have failed.

The Renal Specialist and the Hospital can answer all your questions.
Hospitals have a transplant department.

Per your symptoms NOW... I would call your Doctor ASAP.
Or go to the ER. Today.
Do not wait for an appointment.

You are all swollen and puffy, because your Kidneys are not functioning or there is blockage.
You need to go to an ER.
GO TO THE ER. Now.
Do not wait... for an appointment.
You need to be seen, now.

My father was on dialysis for almost four years. He had no kidney function at all. Dialysis is not fun. It is meant as a temporary way to keep a person alive until a transplant. In my father's case, it was used to keep him alive, with no hope of a transplant because he also had heart issues that ruled out a transplant.

The amount of time you spend hooked up to the dialysis machine depends on the level of toxins in your body, based on the level of your kidney function. He had no function, so was on dialysis 3x/week for 4 - 5 hours at a time. He said it makes you feel very cold. He would bring three blankets. It made him feel very tired and weak, also.

Some people can bring a dialysis machine home and do it themselves. That would depend on your condition, and what healthcare options are available for you.

If you are a candidate for a transplant, the hospital will arrange an informational meeting for you and your family members. There are a lot of things that you will need to know, about the risks and benefits to donors and to recipients. I was at a meeting like this about my father. There really is too much information to share in a post.

I don't know much about it, I'm sorry. All I know is that I'm glad your Dr.'s are being proactive here and that you receive some comfort and good news quickly. *hugs*

some info can be found here:
http://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/dialysisinfo.cfm

I know a few people that go for dialysis. You are hooked up to a mchine and it processes or something for your kidneys, helping them function. My sister goes for it and she says due to many issues, she has been put at the top of the list for a donor. From talking to people, there are different levels I guess of failure and some people I know have gone for dialysis for many years. I hope you do well and have all this stuff taken care of though it seems the docs are totally on top of it which is great.

BTW, a friend of mine used to get kidney stones horribly. Always in pain. She found out that the frozen meals and the Jenny Craig she was doing were making her sick. She totally changed her diet to more helathy selections, less sodium etc and has not had one for a while.

I know someone who had to have two kidney transplants. The first one she rejected because she had some strange issue with her blood. Had they known her issue, she would not have needed the second transplant. The second transplant worked beautifully however.
My friend's sister had a heart transplant years ago and is doing great! It truly is amazing what they can do.
Prayers to you!

There are a couple different types of dialysis. Hemodialysis and Peritoneal dialysis. For Hemodialysis the doctor will create a connection between an artery and vein in your arm, called a fistula, or an access line in your chest wall. 3 days a week you will go to the dialysis center, they will access the fistula, remove blood, put it through the dialysis machine to "clean" it and then give it back to you. Prior to dialysis you might feel unwell because your body is building up toxins. Immediately after dialysis you might feel tired or dizzy. I'm oversimplifying things but that's the basic idea.

Peritoneal dialysis is something you can do independently at home. There are different ways to do it. Some people allow the dialysis to occur at night while they're sleeping. Others continuously have the dialysis solution (called Dialysate) inside their abdomen throughout their day as they go about their business, running errands, etc. Those people need to plan times throughout the day to exchange the fluid. It's definitely a huge change in lifestyle, but it offers more independence, and people tend to feel better on a day to day basis because the dialysis occurs daily in small increments rather than 3 times a week. At work we use Davita dialysis machines. Their website has patient-friendly education. I think it is just Davita.com.

I don't have time now to discuss transplants but I will try to return and edit my response, or send you a pm.

I'm so sorry. I hope everything turns out well & it's not kidney failure.

My father has kidney failure (renal failure) and has to have dialysis 3 (sometimes 4) times a week. He says that he feels sick to his stomach afterwards. In the beginning, he had to have a surgerical (sp?) procedure to set up the injection site. I'm sorry, I'm probaly using the wrong terminology right now but they put a tube or something or other in his arm and that's how they hook him up to the machine. Anyhow, it's not fun and I feel so badly for him but it's all that's keeping him alive right now. I know sometimes he complains that they didn't take enough water (or fluid) off of him, etc. he also has to watch his fluid intake, sodium, etc. It's my understanding that they weigh them both before and after the session and chart it. The dialysis patient has to watch their weight gain as well. I don't know anything about the transplant as my dad isn't healthy enough for one :(

I hope everythings goes well and you don't need dialysis or a transplant.

My neighbor lady has been on dialysis for 15 years. I know one thing, you never pee anymore and thats why you have to go have your blood cleaned 3 times a week. She's exhausted afterwards, it takes 3 hours on the machine. She's always cheerful and as sweet as pie despite the fact that she has a shunt in her arm that is big and looks pretty unattractive, but I suppose LIFE is worth the annoyance. She's been on the kidney list since day one, but is a little overweight which puts her very low on the list, you cant be obese and get a new kidney for some reason. She has 4 kids and 3 of them are now on dialysis as well so it's a genetic problem in her family. She is 55, her kids are all in their 30's and beginning their journey of the dialysis life. A medical bus picks them up in the morning at 6am every mon, weds, and fri like clockwork.