I have been on dialysis since 2/14. I was first diagnosed with AKI and all the docs thought my kidney function would return. BUT, at the end of six weeks my diagnosis was changed to ESRD. I have a GFR in the 10 to 12 range - which means I do have some residual kidney function and I continue to make a normal amount of urine.
I am very interested in stem cell therapy. I read quite a bit about research but none about real treatment or trials. Has anyone here had any direct experience with stem cell therapy and or stem cell trials? I would sure like to hear.
Thanks.
I’m so sorry that your kidney function did not bounce back the way you’d hoped it would. That must have been a pretty nasty surprise. At this point, stem cell therapy is still experimental. I haven’t yet heard of any clinical trials with people. The Renal Support Network has a good article about the process here. http://www.rsnhope.org/programs/kidneytimes-library/article-index/stem-cell-research-and-kidney-disease/.
In the meantime, which type of treatment are you doing, and how does it fit with your life? Are you able to do the things that matter most to you? If not, you may want to look at different options. Here’s a tool to help: http://www.mydialysischoice.org.
I’m so sorry that your kidney function did not bounce back the way you’d hoped it would. That must have been a pretty nasty surprise. At this point, stem cell therapy is still experimental. I haven’t yet heard of any clinical trials with people. The Renal Support Network has a good article about the process here. http://www.rsnhope.org/programs/kidneytimes-library/article-index/stem-cell-research-and-kidney-disease/.
In the meantime, which type of treatment are you doing, and how does it fit with your life? Are you able to do the things that matter most to you? If not, you may want to look at different options. Here’s a tool to help: http://www.mydialysischoice.org.
Dori,
Thanks for getting back. I’ve got to think that somewhere on the planet stem cell has been tried with humans for kidneys. It is a very well respected treatment for some cancers and heart problems. Your reply is pretty much what I’ve seen in my own research. I will probably reach out to some of the centers that are doing the research to see what kind of response I get. That would be Harvard (Brigham & Womens in Boston) and USC. By the way, there are plenty of quacks that offer stem cell as a treatment. Here is one that responded almost immediately to my request for info – http://bit.ly/1fWRcXE.
Regarding my current dialysis, yes I am very pleased with my treatment. I started in clinic and was there from about 4/14 until 5/15 when I began PD. The people in the clinic were great but, I am not a fan of in-clinic – at all. I did not have any bad experiences but I do believe that in-clinic is sub-standard treatment – not to mention the interruption it has in your life. In fact, I believe studies on mortality point that out.
I switched to PD on June 1 and have never looked back. I am on a cycler with hopes of reducing my time by going to manual exchanges. If that does not work, the cycler is great and I can sure live with it. For me, it was much more simple as compared to home-hemo. There are clearly pros and cons of both. I’m sure some people have good reasons for staying in-clinic but for the life of me (literally) I don’t understand why more don’t go home.
Thanks.
Hi Max. I don’t understand why more folks don’t leave in-center and do a home treatment, either. PD is about equivalent in terms of toxin removal to standard in-center HD, but with MUCH better fluid management, so most people who use it feel a lot better as long as they still make some urine. If/when that stops, if a transplant isn’t yet in the works, you may want to think about doing home HD, which gives you good fluid management and a lot more toxin removal. I thought of you just now when I saw this brand new article: http://www.nephrologynews.com/ips-cells-represent-new-area-kidney-care/.
Dori,
Thanks for the article. It is like all the other articles I have read. There are no trials and no indication of when something might be available.
On another note, PD has worked great for me. I make normal amounts of urine and have been since my DX. My residual is 2.5. So far, the only downside is travel. I can switch to manual from my cycler when I travel but I am not keen on the idea of keeping fluid in all of the time. Actually, it seems hemo might be a better choice for travel. One could do home hemo when at home and in clinic when traveling. I made several trips while in clinic and it always worked out very well. I’m not happy about the travel with PD.
PD with a cycler is very simple and easy to use. I like that part compared to home hemo.
Thanks.
Hi maxwell, over the past few years stem cell therapy has shown great progress in the recovery. They are now a reality not experimental anymore. Hope you make the most of it. Best of Luck!!