Hi All,

Figured it was time for another update.  I have officially started dialysis.  I chose to go with peritoneal dialysis as it's easier to train to do at home and your body typically handles it better than hemo dialysis.  I had peritoneal dialysis catheter placed on July 22nd, and the surgery went well.  I went in for a flush and to meet my dialysis nurse last Thursday and did a full cycle today.  Everything went well for the most part, just need to work on figuring out how to make the drain more comfortable for me.  We will have at least 8 training sessions at the dialysis center before starting at home.  Once I start dialysis at home I will be hooked up to the cycler for 8-9 hours a night.  I can also do the manual method which will require at least 4 cycles a day.  

Due to how I have been feeling lately, we have decided to move to an apartment temporarily and rent our house out.  This way there will be less maintenance and work that I will need to worry about over the year while I get used to doing dialysis and since my energy level has gone down quite a bit, it's been harder to keep up at home.  We are trying to make some changes that will make it easier to do the treatment at home, including downsizing our bed so that there is more room for the dialysis machine in our bedroom.

My kidney function is down to 10% or less at this time and my creatinine is over 6.  I have had a few people reach out that are interested in donating a kidney.  They are currently going through testing at this time, etc.  If you would like to donate, you can go to umnhealthlivingdonor.org and fill out the information.  At some point it will ask for my birth date(2/25/1985).

Thanks all