Kidney Friends

(04-05-2010 05:58 PM)AKidneyFriend Wrote: [ -> ]How much pain to accept dialysis? Any stress from receiving dialysis? If a patient does not want to receive dialysis, how the family member to do?

It's very scary to learn one will require dialysis to sustain life,
this is normal, in a way it can be even harder on family
members to watch a loved one undergo treatment, as
more often than not, patients tend to lean on and share their
feelings about dialysis, and often it may not be all positive.

Speaking to a renal social worker is a good start, for both patient
and family. No body walks in such a situation prepared, it's
impossible. Myself, I"m on home dialysis and my mom is in
hospital dialysis, I find it hard listening to how she feels sometimes,
only because you wish you can help more but really there's only
so much one can do. I try to reassure her as much as I know how,
I often will talk about what the future will one day have to offer
for people with kidney failure, this way hopefully it leaves one looking
at the brighter side of life. Just being there and offering a good ear
a shoulder to lean on is truly most important. Knowing they are not
alone can make a huge difference in a patients life.