Hello to all on the board and thanks for sharing your personal experiences and knowledge of dialysis. Your information has been very helpful in researching dialysis.
I have had ESRD since I was 3 (I am now 37). I was very fortunate to receive 2 kidney transplants and was able to avoid dialysis for many years (I did have six months in-center via Perma Cath prior to my second transplant.) The six months in-center were the worse six months in my life. I am glad to have the option of home dialysis and all the advantages it offers.
[b]Michael, welcome aboard! As you can see there are many people like you and the good news is that the internet has helped us alot is searching for answers and support.
You’ve started dialysis at an early age just like I did and we are some of many survivers…thanks to the life saving technology! I can also relate to the early dialysis experiences, I felt like dying and out of norwhere miracles happen just like that…anyway, with home dialysis being marketed more than ever before you will be able to go home and take charge of your life and health… 8) [/b]
My second kidney transplant is failing due to the nasty BK virus. Because there is no approved treatment for the virus, I may be required to be on dialysis for the rest of my life. And because I want a long and healthy “rest of life”, I am researching like a madman to determine the best modality for me and my lifestyle.
My my, that BK virus…I thought they already found a remedy for that… 
I have narrowed my selections down to two; Fresenius 2008 and the NxStage Solution One Machines.
I like the Fresenius machine because of the longer dialysis times and flexibility. I also like that diet restrictions are lessened. I have two major problems (personally) with the unit. The first problem is that I am a mobile sleeper. I move around alot while sleeping and I just can’t wrap my mind around being tied down in one position during nocturnal dialysis with the access and the blood pressure cuff. I also do not want to bother my beautiful wife during my sessions. I enjoy being close to my wife in bed and want to be ready if the mood strikes!
The second problem is that the unit is not portable. I do alot of traveling. I travel with my business (full-time)and for pleasure. I understand that I will have to curtail my travel because of dialysis but I like the idea of a portable machine, like NxStage.
I am favoring the NxStage machine. I like the ease and portability of the NxStage unit over the Fresenius. I am prepared to dialyze 6 days a week (3.5 hours per) as per my Davita clinic in Philadelphia. However, I would greatly appreciate any feedback from patients that have been using the NxStage unit. This includes diet, energy levels, ease of use and travel, storage space requirements and any personal feelings versus other modalitites.
For Example, I am under the impression that diet restrictions are limited with noctural dialysis (Fresenius). I hope some users of the NxStage can share with me their diet restrictions with NxStage (especially compared to in-center 3x/week).
I thank you in advance for any feedback you have on your experiences using the NxStage machine. I welcome all feedback, good or bad. Thanks again to everyone who shares themselves on this board. I welcome any questions.
I have been on NxStage since November 2004…am doing 2 1/2 hours 6x a week…I stopped Renegel now, I use no heparin…I use no intervenous iron, I take it orally only 2x a week…fluid intake is higher now…you may need to take supplements for protein as the extra dialysis causes your Albumin to drop…everybody is different so maybe you don’t need to…espcially vegetarians…
…very simple easy to use, took me 17 days…a smarter good head can do it faster…it squite small and easy to move around the house or even travel…no water needed, just one electrical outlet, a drain, and alot of will to do it!..
Michael
