For the past few years, I have had this ritual that I perform at the end of every year. I put out my home hemodialysis numbers on this blog. It's been quite an interesting exercise because I look at those numbers and get a high-level view of how things were going, and I find that others also find it useful and interesting.
The dialysis sessions I had in the US and Paris are not included in the numbers below.
Of my general medical health this year, I had two pretty bad instances of upper respiratory tract infections—a cough and a cold. Unfortunately, one of these episodes occurred during my Paris trip. Other than that, I've had some issues with bone pain, the typical kind that keeps recurring. I've done a lot of experimenting with the calcium level in the dialysate and so on for this. The other, more troublesome problem was Dialysis-related Amyloidosis. My Beta-2 Microglobulin continued to keep going haywire from time to time and then would suddenly behave without any trigger. As of now, I have absolutely no clue what causes it to go up or come down.
There was also one central vein angioplasty of the fistula I underwent, and this, apparently, was a pretty bad block according to the vascular surgeons. But apart from these things, I think the year was pretty stable for the most part.
Looking back at the numbers for this year, it paints a vivid picture of my journey.
Number of sessions: 238 (237 HDF, 1 HD)
Average duration: 7.29 hours (Range 2 - 8.75 hours)
Average Weight Gain: 3.14 kgs (Range 1.45 - 5.1 Kg)
Median Weight Gain: 2.8 kgs
Average UF: 3.13 l (Range 1.3 - 4 l)
Median UF: 3.2 l
Average Pre-HD BP: 98/62 mm Hg (Range 81/48 - 113/73)
Average Pre-HD Pulse: 89 (Range 78 - 101)
Average Post-HD BP: 90/61 mm Hg (Range 71/46 - 110/75)
Average Post-HD Pulse: 88 (Range 70 - 111)
Average RO TDS: 0.13 (Range 0 - 2)
Average Raw Water TDS: 222 (Range 179 - 321)
Complications:
Cramps: 10 times
Hypotension: 4 times
Arterial Pressure Issues: 4 times
High Venous Pressure: 3 times
Chills: 1 time
Overall, the numbers are very similar to last year.
Yes, life on dialysis is not a walk in the park. 27.5 years on dialysis is not easy. It is frustrating. The dialysis itself is difficult to deal with. On top of that, you have a host of other problems that rear their head from time to time.
However, I am truly grateful to be able to do home HDF at night, 5 nights a week. This therapy is the primary reason I am alive today. I have been blessed with a great nephrologist, some very sweet technicians and an incredibly supportive family.
Here's wishing you a wonderful 2025. May the coming year bring you much peace and happiness!
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Usha Balu.