i have a friend who had a kidney transplant and drank regularly while on dialysis. she is still drinking, help
543437
Hey there!!\n\nI am a kidney dialysis patient waiting to get on the transplant list. I can hear the desperation in your "voice."  \n\nIn a way she is right, the doctors don't tell us we can't have alcohol.  They don't tell us not to jump off tall buildings, either!!  Most of us know the effects of alcohol and try to avoid it so we can take care of ourselves.  Dialysis clinics preform monthly labs on all of their patients, so odds are the doctors probably knew something about her alcohol use.  Also, I have seen patients that drink so much alcohol that their artificial kidney (in the machine) actually turns yellow.\n\nIt sounds like to me that she's incredibly depressed about something and is using the alcohol for pain control-either physical or mental pain.  Is she hurting physically from the transplant or other physical problem? Now that she has the transplant, is she working?  Does she feel like she has purpose in life beyond the drinking?  Kidney patients can also be alcoholics.\n\nI know it's hard for you to see her like this.  I hope that you will continue to believe in her and stick with her through whatever this is that she's going through.\n\nI am a member of two very good dialysis support groups on YAHOO both of which welcome friends and family members of dialysis patients for questions.  The first one has around 1,000 members.  The second one has about 25 members and has more of a family atmosphere.\nhttp://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/dialysis_support/\nhttp://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/A_dialysis_and_support_group/\n\nPlease feel free to join the groups and ask questins there.  We as a group can give you more information than I as a single person can.  Tell them that CosmicKelly sent ya.\n\nDon't give up,\n\nCosmicKelly :)
509262
Subject: Beware of diet soft drinks  \nDiet Softdrink is doing it...\n \n \nPlease read this! It may help you or someone you know.\n\nIn October of 2001, my sister started getting very sick. She had stomach spasms and she was having a hard time getting around. Walking was a major chore. It took everything she had just to get out\nof bed; she was in so much pain.\n\nBy March 2002, she had undergone several tissue and muscle biopsies and was on 24 various prescription medications. The doctors could not determine what was wrong with her. She was in so much pain, and so sick...she just knew she was dying.\n\nShe put her house, bank accounts, life insurance, etc., in her oldest daughters name, and made sure that her younger children were to be taken care of.. She also wanted her last hooray, so she planned a trip to FL (basically in a wheelchair) for March 22nd.\n\nOn March 19th I called her to ask how her most recent tests went, and she said they didn't find anything on the test, but they believe she had MS. (Multiple Sclerosis)\n\nI recalled an article a friend of mine E-mailed to me and I asked my sister if she drank diet soda? She told me that she did. As a matter of fact, she was getting ready to crack one open that moment... I told her not to open it, and to stop drinking the diet soda !!! I E-mailed her the article my friend, a lawyer, had sent.\n\nMy sister called me within 32 hours after our phone conversation and told me she had stopped drinking the diet soda AND she could walk!!!! The muscle spasms went away. She said she didn't feel 100% but she sure felt a lot better. She told me she was going to her doctor with this article and would call me when she got home.\n\nWell, she called me, and said her doctor was amazed! He is going to call all of his MS patients to find out if they consumed artificial sweeteners of any kind...\nIn a nutshell, she was being poisoned by the Aspartame in the diet soda... and literally dying a slow and miserable death.\nWhen she got to FL March 22nd, all she had to take was one pill, and that was a pill for the Aspartame poisoning! She is well on her way to a complete recovery . and she is walking!!! No wheelchair!!!\n \nThis article saved her life.\n\nIf it says "SUGAR FREE" on the label, DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!!\n\nI have spent several days lecturing at the WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE on "ASPARTAME," marketed as 'NutraSweet,' 'Equal,' and 'Spoonful.'\nIn the keynote address by the EPA, it was announced that in the United Statesin 2001 there is an epidemic of multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus. It was difficult to determine exactly what toxin was causing this to be rampant.\n\nI stood up and said that I was there to lecture on exactly that subject. I will explain why Aspartame is so dangerous: When the temperature of this sweetener exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood alcohol in ASPARTAME converts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. Formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants. The methanol toxicity mimics, among other conditions, multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus. Many people were being diagnosed in error. Although multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence..., methanol toxicity is!\n\nSystemic lupus has become almost as rampant as multiple sclerosis, especially with Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi drinkers. The victim usually does not know that the Aspartame is the culprit. He or she continues its use; irritating the lupus to such a degree that it may become a life-threatening condition.. We have seen patients with systemic lupus become asymptotic, once taken off diet sodas.\n\nIn cases of those diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, (when in reality, the disease is methanol toxicity), most of the symptoms disappear. We've seen many cases where vision loss returned and hearing loss improved markedly.\n\nThis also applies to cases of tinnitus and fibromyalgia.\n\nDuring a lecture,
747859
My father-in-law died waiting for a kidney sooooo, I would suggest the social worker at the hospital. Pressure the doctors who are caring for him...the dialysis unit people...\nlook here:\nhttp://www.mayoclinic.org/kidney-transplant/livingdonor.html
412418
fraking kid making us do his damn homework for him.. lazy @ss... JUST KIDDING glad to help a friend in need! here u go\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_transplant
249657
I am not totally sure about smokers, but I would say no.  I do have experience with someone trying to get on the transplant list for a liver.  I went to his appointments with him and they were very adamant that if he was drinking anything (and this included non-alcoholic beer), he would not get on the list and if he was already on the list, he would be removed.  They actually took blood work and checked for alcohol (among liver function etc).
641699
I am certified nurse assistant and from my experience I would have gave her an IV to help replenish the fluids. Confusion is often a result from dehydration also. Also I would have given her a blood and or straight cathed her (place a temporary in and right out catheter) to get a little urine since she was dehydrated I am sure she wasnt producing much if any. test just to see how far dehydrated she was so I would know the correct amount of fluids to place in her IV. She should never have been sent home like that. I see medical malpractice honestly. I am sorry for your loss.
743656
Most patients have 3 sessions a weeks lasting 3-4 hrs each usually.  They need these to rid the body of toxins and excess fluid that accumulate when their kidneys do not work efficiently.  If you try to get rid of all of that fluid too quickly the patient will have a drop in blood pressure which could cause other problems.
821375
Our bodies are made up of 90%+ of water.  It absolutely needs water to survive.  There have also been studies that not drinking adequate water enhances many aging issues of the body, backaches, loss of eye site, memory issues, and skin density.  Also many organs need appropriate levels of water to function, kidneys, liver, muscles, brain, heart, etc.  Drinking is a must for the individuals survival!  Many dont drink near enough what they should.\n\nHowever, excess drinking of water is almost always eliminated immediatly via the kidneys and urination is more frequent.  I am not sure that drinking that much is necessary and I would concider it wasteful.   However, but there might be other issues that need to be looked at.  It could be that there is an obssesive/compussive issue at play.  If this is true there may well be other behaviors that will become noticable especially if you live with your boyfriend.  Another issue is drugs,  it is believed that exessive drinking will flush the body of signs of the drugs.  This is not always true as many drugs are fat soluable and drinking water will not necessarily flush the body of signs of drug use.  Marijauana is a prime example of this.  \n\nAs far as health issues for excessive drinking might be kidney troubles after years of this?  Hormonal and electrolyte imbalances might occure if this is done on long term.  Diet will help the electrolyte issues, but long term drinking like this could have some hormonal problems.  Who knows what long term effects could be beyond this, I dont think that it has been studied too much on the long term effects.  \n\nIf he has only been doing it a short time I doubt that there will be any health issues, but again I would concider the mental health issues and possibly drug addiction issues( that I mentioned in the 2nd paragraph), as more serious concerns for this matter.  Again these are only guesses and not to be taken as official diagnosis.\n\nAdded:  Diabetes may be a possible answer but that is a lot of water even for someone with Diabetes.
577997
One of my former co-workers fiance has it now.  He was fired from my employer and I was getting pretty close to them as they were both decent people.  Anyway, she had lots of tests done.  She is a diabetic, and her one kidney isn't functioning.  They found tumors attached to her other kidney, tested it and its cancer.  She is having treatments now.  She seemed really upbeat the last I saw her.  They moved out of state in Jan. He called me about a month ago.  When they were moving, she lifted too much and has a massive amount of scar tissue.  Be positive and supportive.  Your bf needs your support and his family right now.  I'll pray for you both. ok.\nPray and take it one day at a time sweetie.  I don't know what else to tell you.
196074
Whoa, that's a pretty heavy question for this forum.  I am a nephrologist and I would love to talk to you in person if you were my patient, but not like this.  I sincerely hope you have a physician you can trust.  Sit down with him or her and talk about it.  That is all I can say...
659081
here is a webcast from the National Kidney Foundation about depression: http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=29536\n\nI couldn't find a Kidney Transplant help group, but here are some links to online depression support, including message boards and chats\nhttp://depression.about.com/cs/chat/a/onlinesupport.htm
555722
si don't have a shunt, but one of my employees, works a full time job  in my kitchen with one in her arm, she is also awaiting a kidney transplant. I would say check with your Dr, but i am sure it will be fine, good luck
338501
It depends on the patients overall condition. I have known people that were dialysis patients and they had such active lives, you'd never know they had a problem. On the other hand I have also known a few that were very ill with heart problems and such that caused them to need dialysis to live. To be safe you and this person should consult with their doctor first.
354270
First of all, do you live in US? If Yes, I,m sure his disease was caused from alchol.  I lost my uncle a year ago with the same disease,age 57. Your friend needs to go file for Government SocialSecurity Disability. Get an attorney who deals with disability cases. The Hospitals cannot turn him away. Or, they are not suppose to. Doesn't matter about the money. They(Hospitals) have ways of getting income. Programs to help,  get the Dr. to write a letter for him to send to Social Security Disability. He needs to try and get on a Donar List. They say about the Lotterys--if you don't play you can't win. Well it's sad but true , here too.\nLook into the Herbal Books, Look up liver, to see what Herbs will help the liver to function better. Usually they will tell you also what to eat, that could play a BIG part.\nBut Please don't give up. PLEASE!!! I just lost my nephew 42, He shot himself,April 3,2006. He had a bad Liver from Hepatitis 2, And was a bad bad alcoholic. He did take Milk Thistle. Said it was an Herb that was good for Liver. \nHe Just Had some family problems,along with the hard liquor. So So Sad. I've been in shock for almost 2 weeks.\nI tryed my best to Help him in a good way, and he drove to see me that very morning 90miles one way. Got 2 speeding tickets, while on his way.But I still tryed. He cryed! \nThe last trooper didn.t even ask him to get out of his car,clocked him going 92mph,he was drinking vodka,chasing it with grape soda. I was on the phone with him during the whole thing. If the officer had of done his job, made him get out, he might still be with us today. \nBut This World is here, God gave up his only son for our wrong doings, ONLY if we would love his son. Follow the 10 Commandments. Yes , he Paid it all. \nI guess it just didn't end the way I wanted.\nMay God Bless You.
1181229
I've donated plasma about 100+ times so I believe it's perfectly safe. Only stopped for medical reasons not related to my blood. Had been donating every fortnight for quite a period.\n\nBecause the blood volume is reduced it takes less to get drunk afterwards. Also your body is trying to replace the plasma without the stress of handling the alcohol.
844501
call a ronald mcdonald  house and find out - I once called a dialysis center because i had always heard to colect them for dialysis patients - the center didn't know anything unless people were selling them for aluminum
1178898
If they got help immediately, recovery will probably be relatively quick.  There are drugs that can kind of "counter" the effects of Xanax.  However, because Xanax is metabolized in the liver, an overdose can cause permanent liver damage.  I'm sure the doctor will be checking for this though.  It may be a while before your friend recovers mentally though.  I'm sure lots of counseling will be involved.  The best thing for you to do is just let your friend that you will be there (no questions asked, no matter what) if they ever need you (for anything minor or serious).  Now's the time to be a friend.