Life on Daily Haemodialysis

by Keith Reynolds

My name is Keith Reynolds, I am 68 years old and live near Bristol. I have been a kidney patient for over 9 years. I was on CAPD for over 7 years, but after a serious bout of peritonitis I had to change to haemodialysis. In 2002 my consultant asked me if I would like to go onto daily dialysis, and without much thought I dismissed the idea as something that I wouldnt like.

Subsequently on receiving the Kidney Life magazine my wife, Ann, and I decided to attend the NKF’s annual kidney conference in Coventry (2002). At this conference the first talk was given by Professor Terry Feast on the subject of daily dialysis (Click here to read the full text of Professor Feest’s talk). The benefits seemed very attractive, more independence and flexibility, better blood chemistry, and general health improvement.

The following week I contacted my renal unit and agreed to accept the offer of a home installation with a new machine. This took some months to organise. We arranged for our house to be extended to give a dialysis room. After a long negotiation with the hospital for the lease of the machine with technical backup it was at last installed in April of this year (2003), together with the installation of water supply and electricity systems etc. for the machine.

The machine is an Aksys PHD especially designed for daily home dialysis. Initially nurses from the hospital Home Team came to the house for 2 weeks training with personnel from Aksys while we were away on holiday. I then started on my dialysis at home.

It was calculated that I needed 6 days per week of dialysis at 1 hour 50 minutes a session. For the first few weeks there were some reliability problems with the machine, which meant calling the hospital at short notice to request 2 hours dialysis. This wasnt always easy, as the hospital is very busy. However, the machine has now settled down and rarely needs to have support from Aksys.

After 4 or 5 months my blood chemistry is much improved. My dialysis sessions are down to 1 hour 40 minutes. I feel very well, I am more lively and do not tire so easily. My diet is much less restrictive as my potassium and phosphate levels are much reduced. I had some concerns about needling my fistula 6 times a week, but after 8 months I am finding no problems at all with this.

I have adjusted easily to connecting up and operating the machine because it is extremely easy to use with a touch screen computer to take you through the sequence of operation. The dialyser and blood tubing set lasts for up to 30 uses, and is easy to change as the machine talks you through the process.

The flexibility of home dialysis on this machine has ensured that I can dialyse at times to suit myself.

I would recommend that if this system is offered by your Dialysis Unit, then do take up the opportunity, its worth it!

NKF Controlled Document No. 189, Life on Daily Haemodialysis, written 14 October 2003. Last reviewed 19 October 2009.

The National Kidney Federation cannot accept responsibility for information provided. The above is for guidance only. Patients are advised to seek further information from their own doctor.

The National Kidney Federation is registered in England and Wales as a Company limited by guarantee (Company No 5272349)
and awarded charitable status (Charity Number 1106735).

Give as You Earn contributions No. CAF GY511.

Page created: 14 October 2005

Last updated: 29 April 2009

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