COBE C3 Dialysis Machine

Discussions for Patients, Family, and Friends HD For Patients
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I was just talking with a technician about home hemo at the center where my husband goes.
He told me he would be using the same machine at home that he uses at the center which is the Cobe C3

Does anyone have any experience with or information about this machine such as ease of use ETC. We are both very new to this, just about two months into dialysis & wanting to go to home dialysis ASAP.

We are really interested in the NxStage, which they don’t use, but are certainly open to other options & opinions.

Jane

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Hi McJane. Have you looked in the “Find a Center” database (http://www.homedialysis.org/v1/centers/search.php) to see if there are any daily home hemo programs near you? Those will use either the Aksys PHD, the NxStage System One, or both.

You can also look on our coverage maps: http://www.homedialysis.org/v1/types/maps.shtml to see what might be closest, even if it’s the next state over…

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You know, anyone who wants to do home hemo will have to learn all about dialysis, how to respond to various problems, how to handle emergencies, no matter what machine is used. You can save on treatment setup time with machines like Aksys and NxStage, but it’s still not like plugging in a kettle. Situations WILL happen. Some people are simply not suited to it.

If it was me, I wouldn’t push anyone starting dialysis into doing it at home. Sometimes, a person hasn’t been feeling well for quite some time pre-dialysis, and it might be better to just go to the centre and relax while someone else takes care of it, where there are pros and the tools to deal with real emergencies, etc.

Some people reach ESRD without feeling that sick, but a great many people are even sicker than they think they are, and many have what we commonly call “foggy brain” due to how toxins in the blood affect brain function. They can’t think straight, and even if they wanted to, they can’t really concentrate on too many things. All they can do is to let the system take care of them. This is NOT a sign of weakness, it’s just a reality. It can take a few months, maybe as long as 6 months, for things to get better after having started dialysis. Just give it some time. It probably took a long time, many years even, to reach this point, and it will take some time to reverse it. There’s no rush. I was on dialysis in-centre for almost 3 years before I decided to ask for home hemo, and I’m really none the worse for it.

Pierre

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mcjane wrote:

My husband, the patient, absolutely will not get involved in learning anything about dialysis other than say he wants home dialysis.

I have been going to dialysis for just over a year now. When I first started I was floored and could not believe this was happening to me. I would skip treatments, 3 or 4 in a row without getting treated and it was from reading this board that I realized I had to be more proactive in my care if I wanted to live, because the course I was on was a one way path to death.

I didn’t care about any of the things I was suppose to do and I didn’t read or care to read anything about ESRD. My wife however read everything she could and would encourage me gently along the way and after a while it starts to sink in that you are going to have to try to learn if you want things to get better for you. Hopefully with a little time your husband will gain a interest in his own health and start reading the site. It is truly a blessing that HDC is available to us. :slight_smile:

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Dear mcjane
Everything Gus and Pierre said is true. It takes time first to come to terms with accepting the disease and hoping tomorrow never comes. But acceptance does come and I hope your partner comes around soon.Home training can be very difficult for those of us not technically minded but eventually things to start to make sense. Doing dialysis at home has lots of health advantages and saves time but if you are going to have to do it all for him and he is capable, then that is going to be a big stress on you and then your health may suffer. :?
I wish you well, know that people are thinking of you. 8)

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mcjane wrote:

RichnStacy, I had no idea you could skip a day or two now & then.
Probably not the best idea, but good to know it could be done. I’ve often wondered what would happen if the car wouldn’t start.

I would never, ever recommend you miss dialysis because what I was doing was extremely dangerous and it could have cost me and my family dearly.

You would be absolutely surprised at how quick the posions will build up in your system. I was being very foolish and playing with fire and I am just so thankful that I came around when I did.

To give you an example of one of the problems I had. I would have these involuntary muscle jerks to the point that I could not hold a cup of coffee in my hands. It was the posions that had built up in my system causing it. Once I started dialysis back on a regular basis I had no more problems.

Good luck with all that you are doing for your husband. Behind every man, is a good woman. Your husband is lucky to have you :slight_smile: I will keep you both in my prayers.

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Hi Jane - not the original Jane, but the new one :slight_smile:

Very nice of you to say I wrote something inspirational. I wish I knew what it was, because I might need to inspire myself :slight_smile:

Pierre

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Hey Pierre
Do you think I can use your quote in my book??? 8)

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Unless of course, you are planning on writing your own? :wink:
Beachy

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Hi Beachy.

Sure, be my guest.

Jane, thanks for reposting my original post. I didn’t remember that one :slight_smile:

Pierre

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beachy,
I’ll give you an autographed copy of my book when it comes out if you give me one of yours :lol: Better yet, any movie producers out there?-I think I could write a very realistic script :roll:

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LOL Jane , a movie! We could have lots of realistic CSI like crime scenes with blood spatter accidents in the script! 8)

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Ewww, too wicked… the next Twilight Zone… :lol: