Jane~

My mom was on dialysis (peritoneal ) for the last 5 months of her life. I should say she started out on hemodyalisis then had a tube put in her stomach by her belly button for the peritoneal. Hemodialysis seems to drain a person quite a bit. You go about 3 times a week and you start feeling better the next day then have to go in again.. back to drained feeling. The Peritoneal is a more natural way of removing the toxins from your system. This is done about 4 times a day. The exchange ( draining out a bag of fluid and then putting a new in) takes about a half hour 45 minutes. A person can be more active this way .. and can do this on their own or with someones help. She did very well with this. But eventually her heart just gave out and that is why she died. I agree with Perna that people can live by doing dialysis forever. Make sure she knows her choices. And her son knows them too. I hope the best for all. Take care.

Hugz
Bethy