Is Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) right for me?
Is where I live right for PD?
The most important part of doing PD at home is to have a clean space for your exchanges. This space does not have to be sterile, but it does need to be clean. For many patients, the bedroom works best because they can keep the door closed and it is not a high traffic area. Also, if you are doing PD while you sleep (CCPD or APD), it is the most convenient place. You will also need space for your supplies. The cycler and supplies will take up space about the size of a dresser. A small closet works fine, but if you can't figure out a place to store your supplies, your Baxter driver can help you.
Baxter's drivers have helped people in studio apartments in New York to four room (not four bedroom, four room) houses in Kansas to a small cabin in Alaska find a place to store their supplies. The most important thing to remember comes from Ed, a PD patient, "You can always find room if it’s going to be keeping you alive."
I already chose to do In-center Hemodialysis? Can I switch?
People can and do switch. In fact, in 2009 over 4,600 people switched to PD from In-center Hemodialysis (ICHD).1 The great thing is that there are more dialysis choices today than ever before. And even though the choice you make today may not be right for tomorrow or later in your life, that's okay. What's most important is to work with your dialysis team to make sure you are on the right therapy for both your health and your lifestyle. You should also talk with your family, friends and the people important to you about your options and why you want to switch. Write your reasons down and make sure you share them with your dialysis team.
I don’t think I can do PD. Can I?
Hundreds of thousands of people from age seven to 93 have done PD over the past 30 years. If you will make the commitment to get properly trained and do PD as you are taught, you can do PD.
Why should I choose PD?
There are a lot of different reasons people choose to do PD. Some of those reasons are related to health benefits like:
- Keeping any function the kidney still has1,2
- The good that comes with doing frequent dialysis, which for some people means they have more energy and feel better
For others it’s lifestyle benefits like:
- Freedom and flexibility to set your own dialysis schedule
- It's portable so it can go where you are going (hotel, RV, airplane)
- Having your days free to work, spend time with family, travel, hang with friends and have control over your schedule so you can also see the ballet recitals, go to the parties and concerts that are in the evening
For most people, it’s a combination of both. Here are just a few reasons given by doctors and patients:
Dr. Nash (Nephrologist): “There’s more flexibility with the home therapy, even though it’s done more often than in the center, the time is more up to you. You don’t necessarily have to follow a rigid schedule, like you might at an in-center place. Some people may feel better on home therapy; because it’s done more frequently each treatment is a little less strenuous.”
Nadia (Renal Dietitian): “On a home therapy, generally, because you’re dialyzing more often, the dietary guidelines tend to be a little more relaxed.”
George: (HHD Patient) “You don’t have to leave the house. If it’s cold, snowy, wet, blowy, thunder booming and crashing and pouring down rain, no big deal. You’re right there. You’ve got your stuff. Go hook up and do it. That’s a huge advantage.”
Mother of PD Patient: “At home you have the comfort of your own bed and your own pillow and your own blanket and your family and your animals and whatever it is that makes you comfortable and at ease.”
Renae (PD Patient): “Patients should consider Peritoneal Dialysis because they can continue life as they know it – it’s not a drastic change – you still have the freedom to come and go as you please. I have a cycler at home but the cycler works for me. I don’t work for it.”
Is there a certain type of person that is the right type of person to do PD? Am I the right type of person?
There are over 100,000 people around the world doing PD and they are all different ages. All you need is a commitment to take charge of your kidney disease by getting properly trained and then doing the dialysis as you were taught. It’s important for you to work with the nurse to know what to do if something happens to go wrong.
Most patients say that first night or first day on their own is scary, but over time it gets less scary, just like anything new and different. Some people find it helpful to talk with other patients. You can ask the home dialysis nurse to help you find patients to talk to at your clinic. You can even check out chat rooms or message boards on
HomeDialysis.org. The point is, you never have to do it alone!
I’m worried about doing dialysis as often as I should. Will PD help me?
Doing any type of dialysis takes commitment and responsibility. PD is done every day and to feel your best, it’s important that you do your exchanges every day as you were taught. The thing a lot of people really like about PD is their ability to set a dialysis schedule that works best for them. It also helps that if you miss your typical or scheduled treatment time, you have the flexibility to treat when you can to make sure you are getting enough dialysis.
Are there reasons why my doctor might not prescribe PD?
Several conditions may prevent your doctor from prescribing PD, including previous abdominal surgeries or the presence of intestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease or diverticulitis. Risks of PD include peritonitis or exit-site infections. Glucose found in the PD solution may lead to high blood sugar in patients with diabetes. Every patient is different, so it is important to talk to your doctor, nurse or social worker to determine if there are other reasons why PD may not be right for you.
Dialysis is a medical treatment. Doesn’t it have to be done in a hospital or medical environment?
Over the years doctors and scientists have worked together to create new treatments that give patients the ability for self-care. Today, medical treatments that can be done at home include dialysis, diabetes treatments, treatments for hemophilia and even taking your blood pressure. This gives patients more flexibility, freedom and control to manage their treatment with minimal disruption to their lifestyle. As a result, people with diabetes, cancer and kidney disease can still travel, work, see their grandkids, garden and do all the things that help them live their life to the fullest.
Is PD safe?
PD is a proven and effective way to treat kidney disease. You will be trained by your nurse on how to safely and correctly do PD. If you do PD as you were trained (including doing the exchanges and taking the steps to prevent infection), PD is safe. It's important to remember that like all medical treatments, there are some risks. With PD these include peritonitis or exit-site infections. Glucose found in the PD solution may lead to high blood sugar in patients with diabetes. Remember, every patient is different, so it is important to talk to your doctor to determine if there are other reasons that PD may not be right for you.
If I do PD will I get an infection?
All types of dialysis carry some risk of infection. And considering your dialysis access is your lifeline, preventing infection is very important. With PD, you will be taught how to do your exchanges correctly and how to take care of your access so as to best prevent infection. Some other important things to consider and discuss with your clinician relating to infection are:
- What are the PD infection rates vs. other dialysis therapies at that clinic?
- What are the different types of infections dialysis patients can get? In some cases blood infections may be more serious
- What steps will I have to take to prevent PD infection? Can I do it?
- If I'm doing dialysis at home, am I going to be more exposed to germs than if I do dialysis in a clinic?
Can I keep my pets if I do PD?
Like anyone else, PD patients love dogs and cats, too. And while you don’t have to give up your pets, you will need to make some changes. You shouldn’t have any animals in the room during your exchange. That may mean that Fido and Fluffy can no longer sleep on your bed if you are doing PD while you sleep. It is also important to keep your pets away from your supplies. Make sure you tell your dialysis nurse that you have animals in your home so your nurse can tell you the right things to do to take care of yourself while you keep your pets.
How well does PD work?
The goal of dialysis, in any form, is to remove waste and excess fluid from your blood. PD is medically sound and has been used to treat thousands of people with kidney disease for over 30 years. With PD, patients can take control of their dialysis. Because you dialyze more often, PD acts more like your natural kidneys. And PD gives patients the freedom and flexibility to do dialysis on their schedule and still live their life as they choose (which is an important part of treating any disease). Also, data suggests PD can offer an early survival advantage, and at five years the chance of survival on either Hemodialysis or Peritoneal Dialysis therapy is the same.
Will I have a greater chance of infection with Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) than with Hemodialysis (HD)?
What caused my kidney disease?
How long before I need kidney dialysis?
Do I have the choice to stop dialysis?
What does a kidney dialysis access look like?
Kidney functions in the body.
If I want a transplant where would the kidney come from and how long will I have to wait?
Is kidney disease a death sentence? Can dialysis extend my life?
What should I do if I have kidney disease?
I like to swim. Can I swim if I do Peritoneal Dialysis?
What life changes will I have to make when I am on dialysis?
What if I don’t like the dialysis therapy I am on? Can I change to a different dialysis modality?
Can I travel on dialysis?
Will dialysis cure me? Will it make me feel better?
It's no problem traveling on Peritoneal Dialysis, it just takes more planning.
What happens if I find out about having Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) when I am in the hospital?
What is a dialysis clinic? Do I have to do dialysis in a clinic?
I am not sure I can do a home therapy. Can I do it?
What are some of the challenges of doing dialysis at home?
How much does dialysis cost and how will I pay for it?