Patient stories: Melvin
Melvin, 71, was just "basically trying to survive" for 2 years on in-center hemodialysis. "Then, I read an article in the newspaper about a woman on home hemodialysis," remembers Melvin. "I called her center and one week after doing a walk through and looking at the training I called to say I was interested!"
In-center hemodialysis
It was in 1984 that Melvin found out he had kidney disease. "A routine physical showed an increase in protein in my urine," remembers Melvin. "I was sent to a nephrologist who did testing and a biopsy, but we never figured out what caused the problem and couldn't do anything to stop it."
In 2005, Melvin's kidneys failed and he started in-center hemodialysis 3 times a week. "It wasn't very nice," he recalls. "But where I live, there aren't too many choices about where to go for dialysis." Melvin found himself feeling terrible. "I was so weak and always tired," explains Melvin. "My wife would drive me home, it would take me half of my day off to recover, only to have to go back the following day."
In-center hemodialysis presented Melvin with other problems. "I had a problem managing my potassium level—it was always too high," says Melvin. "Also, I felt stuck on in-center hemodialysis; we never traveled because arranging for dialysis outside of the area was not always an option."
Committed to home hemodialysis
After 2 years on in-center hemodialysis, Melvin read about home hemodialysis and began to train for it. After 3 months of training, Melvin and his wife began doing home treatments for 3 hours and 15 minutes, 6 days a week. "It's been 2 years since we started home hemodialysis and I love it!" says Melvin. "It's so much better than being on in-center hemodialysis. I used to be so tired I'd come home after dialysis and sleep. Now after dialysis I go about my day."
Melvin acknowledges that doing home hemodialysis is a commitment—especially on the part of the helper/partner. "The person on dialysis and his or her partner are stuck with each other for many hours of the week, and the partner can't leave," relays Melvin. "My wife used to do my needle sticks, too, but now I do them because her arthritis got bad—I don't mind it though because the Buttonhole procedure makes it painless."
The dialysis team has also been a key to home hemodialysis success for Melvin. "It's more than you and your partner—it's a team effort that keeps you at home," says Melvin. "The doctors, nurses, dietitian, DaVita staff, and NxStage are always willing to help and very caring. There's no way I can thank them enough—I don't know how to thank someone for every year I have of life since I started dialysis 4 years ago. They should be proud of what they're doing."
Benefits all around
Now that he is comfortable and stable in his home hemodialysis routine, Melvin and his wife are planning several trips and staying active. "I do the cooking just about every day of the week," says Melvin. "My wife and I also go out to movies and go shopping."
Melvin is happy and thriving on home hemodialysis. "I have no ill effects—it's like I never went on dialysis at all," he shares. "I would never go back to in-center hemodialysis, the difference is so drastic. I can't see why anyone would not want to try home hemodialysis."