Personally, I never went on Medicare. I was on dialysis for 9 months and then got my transplant.
But as I understand it, Medicare “kicks in” 6 months after starting dialysis, and immediately upon transplant (if not already on it). However, once transplanted, it only covers the immunosuppresant meds for 3 years, and then, the person is on their own (again, I’m on private insurance). It’s much cheaper to maintain a person with a transplant than with dialysis. Dialysis is not something I want to do again (although I will if I have to)
As for acute renal failure, that reverses (IIRC), but can turn into CRF (chronic renal failure) and eventually ESRD (end stage renal disease).
ESRD is not fun. My sister is currently on dialysis for the same problem I have (Polycystic Kidney Disease), and missed a treatment on Monday due to her access being clotted off. When she went in Tuesday to get it unblocked, she almost had a cardiac arrest (heart rate of 30) because her potassium was in a lethal range (7.1). She’s fine now after getting emergency dialysis in the ER.
Good luck to both of you!
In a sense, my friend was lucky, one of the few who could actually go OFF dialysis after about 6 months. Still running at 15% and dropping slowly from year to year and will be on it agin someday. But after the third hospitalization in 6 months for alcoholism they finally removed her from transplant consideration.
Interesting story. Glad you are here with us.
As an undergrad in the ‘70s, I had a PT job at the Univ of Michigan hospital working the front desk of their clinical research unit. We had a set of twins, one with kidney failure.
Her twin gave her a kidney, and within days, you could see the difference in the other twin. It was remarkable how this girl went from barely alive to vibrant.