Hypnotist and dialysis need advice...

[foxy]

My first question is does kidney dialysis hurt? My grandma is in her eighties and may need to start taking it. She wants to know if it hurts.

My second question is is there any since in going to a hypnotist? To help with depression. I have tried all the meds and nothing helps so I was just checking the options.

Thanks for any advice that I can get.

[Vincardog]

1. YEs dialysis is uncomfortable. Sitting for an hour with a needle in your

arm is not nice. I am a hypnotist. Are you ready to quit being depressed? The answer it up to you.

[foxy]

10. and then some

I've been ready but it just wont go away

[almostallhere]

2. hi foxy

you say you've tried all the meds - have you tried meds with therapy at the same time? for some people, this makes a world of difference. i don't know much about hypnosis, sorry.

[FM Arouet666]

8. Your right

Meds alone is not usually the answer. Meds and therapy is what my psychiatrist prescribes, oops, I mean my wife.

[foxy]

11. I've tried counseling

But my mind is not ready to let that be any help. I keep rebeling for some reason. It is getting pretty annoying even for me. I want help but somewhere inside me will not let myself be helped.

[kikiek]

3. It doesn't hurt. There are potential side effects & risks. She needs to

talk to the specialist about them.

[onebigbadwulf]

4. The only thing that hurts are the needles.

The pain associated with uremia (lack of dialysis) is worse than the actual procedure.


Depression is easily cured in 90% of all cases with exercise, food, and social support. If you want the hypnotist to help you, ask him to suggest those things to your subconscious.

[likesmountains 52]

5. I think that kidney failure probably feels worse

than dialysis..
As for the hypnosis..I know that it can help people quit smoking etc...probably worth a try because i know it won't make it any worse.
Best of luck with both problems..

[CO Liberal]

6. As Former Hypnotherapists....

...my wife and I can tell you that hypnosis can help you get to the root cause of your depression, and then through positive affirmations help you deal with it more effectively.

But hypnosis will not work unless you're a willing participant. It can help you, but you have to be open to the possibilities. It won't "cure" you - it will help you find a path that may relief your depression.

If you decide to try hypnosis, look for a hypnotist who is certified.

[foxy]

14. I am pretty sure I know where the root of it lies

Now it is just trying to get over it and live with which has proven to be very difficult for the past 20 some odd years. Something inside me just wont let me get over it or forget it. It has been very bothersome everyday since I was younger. Been dealing with it my own way for this whole time until I sought help from a psychiatrist and the meds.

[FM Arouet666]

7. Funny you should ask.

I am a surgeon, who has to deal a lot with dialysis. And my wife is a psychiatrist.

First, dialysis consists of filtering the blood with a machine that draws blood off, filters it, then returns it via a different line. My job is to provide access, i.e. to provide a way to hook up the machine. One way is via an hemodialysis line, this is a large bore tube that has two ports, in flow and out flow, that goes in the large veins in the neck or under the clavicle. This is painful if it is put in while the patient is awake, the more permanent lines are placed in the OR when the patient is sedated, hurts less.

However, these lines have risks, they tend to get infected. More permanent access involves placing an AV, arterio-venous, fistula. This is a connection between vein and artery, somethings with a plastic graft between, to offer long term access. This is done in the OR, some post-op pain because it is an operation. Fistulae are most often placed in the arm.

Moreover, these can have all sorts of problems. They clot, plastic can get infected etc. When the patient gets dialysis, the nurse punctures the fistula with two large needles to hook up to the machine. This does hurt, but patients tend to get used to the needles. This is done three times a week, every week, for the patients life. That is, if the patient has permanent kidney disease. Sometimes, patients have temporary kidney dysfunction, and get a line, as above, until their kidney's recover.

Your second question, my wife said she has no experience with hypnotism and depression. She does recommend therapy with or without medication, depending on the degree of depression. I, however, have been hypnotized for anxiety in the distant past. Can't say if it helped, certainly didn't hurt.

Hope this helps..... Peace

[foxy]

12. My grandma is eighty-six and just had a pace maker put in last night

Her kidneys are not function properly and she has hepatitis c. They said it looks like the kidneys are starting to look better since they put the pace maker in. I just don't know how much the doctor is hiding to make it easier on us. She says she does not want the dialysis and we think it is because she does not want the pain. So I told her I would ask you guys and let her know what I find out.

Thanks

[FM Arouet666]

15. She has a difficult problem

You mention hepatitis C, this can be mild to asymptomatic or can progress to cirrhosis and liver failure. Liver failure with kidney dysfunction is very bad, so called hepatorenal syndrome, and hemodialysis typically does not reverse the process. However, this may not be the case, though it is unusual to see someone as old as your grandma with hep C.

The pacemaker suggests some degree of cardiac disease and her kidney improvement with the pacemaker is a good sign. This suggests that her kidney dysfunction may not be "end stage" or permanent. In which case, I would ask the nephrologist what the anticipated duration of dialysis would be. Dialysis is hard on the body, it is not a natural process, and not nearly as efficient as your own kidney. Permanent dialysis in an 86 year old would not bode well in the long run. However, I have treated patients this old who are otherwise healthy.

If temporary dialysis is the case, a line hurts a bit, but the actual process of the dialysis with the line does not.

Hope this helps. Peace.

[foxy]

16. Thanks

[skygazer]

9. I've never tried hypnotism

but would be interested in knowing how well it helped. Depression sucks. :hug: Best wishes for you and your grandma.

[Zero Division]

13. Seeking out a certified hypnotherapist certainly wouldn't hurt.

I went to one for anxiety and depression. It did wonders for my anxiety, especially since most of my anxiety attacks ocurred in the inbetween state that occurs just before sleep, a state of mind very similar or perhaps even exactly the same as the state of mind one goes into during hypnosis.

As far as depression goes, I can at least say that I believe I'd likely be in much worse shape if not for the hypnotherapy. I should probably listen more often to the self-hypnosis tape that was made for me from my session. Like someone said above, you do have to put some effort in to the therapy yourself (listening to the advice of your hypnotherapist) in order for it to be fully effective.

[foxy]

17. kick for the morning crew want more input

[curlyred]

18. my mother was on hemodialysis for many years

The problems that another poster detailed regarding the fistula or graft site are realistic. There are a limited number of such sites and over the course of 17 years, my mother went through almost all of them.

As far as pain, the needles do hurt. Many patients have trouble with low blood pressure during and after a dialysis session. Most of the time my mother felt like crap after dialysis.

Hemodialysis can weaken the bones, something an elderly woman should be aware of. Most dialysis centers have social workers and nurses available to discuss the adjustments, and I would encourage your family to talk to them.

[foxy]

19. Update

My grandmas doctor says her kidneys are getting better everyday. She is not expected to have to take dialysis now.