[Egon]

I think most people don't understand that dialysis is not some easy maintenance program for people waiting for a kidney transplant. Dialysis often takes a terrible toll on the patient's health, not to mention their quality of life, though it is miraculous in that it can extend someone's life.

An alternative to hemodialysis is peritoneal dialysis which, although it's lesser known and not as widespread (yet), avoids some of the negative side-effects of hemodialysis.

[Shellback Chuck]

Yea, peritoneal is a lot better, spend twice as long hooked up to a bag and then walk around with a tube sticking out of your stomach.

[1lawlady]

Oh that it were so...p.d avoids some of the negative side effects of hemodialysis. As a current p.d. patient, awaiting a transplant, I can say that we develop a completely different, yet even more debilitating, constellation of side effects. If I had to choose again, I'm not certain which way I would go. I never thought I'd get to the place where I thought hemodialysis looks good. It's not that I'm unthankful for this life-saving process. We have a good and gracious G-d, who I know will see me through.