Kidney function at 24%

[Guest guest]

My 84 year old father has high blood pressure, diabetes, atrial fibbrilation

and now low kidney function - 24%.

Does anyone know how long it will be till he will need to have a fistua.

What about dialysis. He asks me these questions and I do not have any

answers.

Thanks - Bonnie

[Guest guest]

Hi Pierre,

He will be seeing the kidney specialist in two weeks. The last time he saw

him he said to not have bloodwork done in his right arm - try to keep it

healthy. At the time we had no idea why. Do you think it would be for the

fistula.

At 24% can you guess how long he has if he would go on dialysis and how long

if he chooses not to go on dialysis.

Also, Pierre, I hope you are doing well with your dialysis.

Take care. Bonnie

[Guest guest]

I'm not a doctor Bonnie, but I think at 84, it will be very difficult to

say. They may not be able to perform fistula surgery. People that age,

especially diabetics, may not have veins that are suitable for this. Most of

the people that age I've seen at my dialysis centre - and there are some,

since it's also an acute dialysis centre in a hospital - have dialysis via a

catheter inserted in the chest or jugular. Is he getting any kind of

geriatric care at present? Has a nephrologist seen him yet?

Pierre

Kidney function at 24%

> My 84 year old father has high blood pressure, diabetes, atrial

fibbrilation

> and now low kidney function - 24%.

>

> Does anyone know how long it will be till he will need to have a fistua.

> What about dialysis. He asks me these questions and I do not have any

> answers.

>

> Thanks - Bonnie

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Bonnie.

Yes, that could only be in anticipation of a fistula or a graft. They don't

want too much scarring from needle pricks or IV locks in there, as it can

make it impossible for a fistula to develop properly. But that's just the

kidney specialist. They don't do those themselves. A vascular surgeon does,

and decides if it is practical to do one. It may or may not be, and only a

vascular surgeon who does this kind of thing can really tell if the veins

are suitable and there is a likelyhood of success. If the veins are too

small and weak, it might not be possible to do a fistula. At least, that's

how it works in my part of the world. If not, there's always a gortex

graft - which is really just an artifical vein they put in there instead of

a fistula (which uses a person's own vein. But it doesn't end there. A

fistula also has to be exercised and developed. It can take a couple of

months or more for this.

For a younger person, at 24% kidney function, dialysis could still be more

than a year away. It's hard to predict in the case of an 84 year old

diabetic. Only his kidney specialist, looking at some numbers over time,

would be able to make a prediction. I hesitate to guess, but, maybe 6-12

months (depending on how early or late they start him on it). But any other

illness that happens along could change that in a hurry. Once the time comes

that dialysis is needed, if he were to choose no treatment, it could be a

matter of days, weeks or even months, depending on how much kidney function

is left at that time. Some people are able to go for quite some time with

very little kidney function, if they follow a very strict diet, but those

are pretty rare, I think.

Pierre

P.S. I'm doing relatively well on dialysis so far. But I've only had 6

sessions. Thanks for asking.

Re: Kidney function at 24%

> Hi Pierre,

>

> He will be seeing the kidney specialist in two weeks. The last time he

saw

> him he said to not have bloodwork done in his right arm - try to keep it

> healthy. At the time we had no idea why. Do you think it would be for

the

> fistula.

>

> At 24% can you guess how long he has if he would go on dialysis and how

long

> if he chooses not to go on dialysis.

>

> Also, Pierre, I hope you are doing well with your dialysis.

>

> Take care. Bonnie

>

>

>