Center first in Macomb County to offer home dialysis for patients with advanced kidney disease
For a year, Cheryl Peplinski of Warren had to live her life around her dialysis schedule because her life depended on it. Today, thanks to technology new to Macomb County, Cheryl not only feels healthier, but can count more of her time as her own.
Cheryl, 44, was diagnosed with end stage kidney failure in February 2007. Since then she had been going to a dialysis center for hemodialysis for six hours a night, three nights a week.
All that changed when Cheryl became a patient at the Macomb Regional Dialysis Center on the campus of Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Township.
The center is unique to Macomb County because it offers daily home peritoneal and home hemodialysis training. This service is in addition to the traditional hemodialysis offered at the center itself. The 8,000-square-foot center can accommodate up to 45 patients per day. The atmosphere is comfortable – not clinical – with flat screen TVs in each patient bay and recliners instead of hospital beds. An on-site physician, nutritionist and social worker add to the level of service offered to patients.
Blood flows through the kidneys, where it is cleansed of toxins. The clean blood is pumped back through the body and the toxins are collected as urine and eventually leave the body. The kidneys also balance body chemicals and help regulate blood pressure.
When the kidneys are not working properly, toxins build up and patients might have a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, nausea, decreased appetite, itching, swelling and even trouble concentrating. Patients with uncontrolled diabetes are more at risk of developing kidney disease.
Dialysis on the patient’s schedule
For Cheryl, her diagnosis was unexpected. Traveling to the center for treatment was hard on her and her active family. Her busy schedule meant Cheryl went to dialysis in the evening after work.
“I was never home. I have two kids and it meant missing a lot in their lives. It was mentally difficult. I hated not being at home,” she said.
When her doctor said she might be a candidate for home dialysis, Cheryl jumped at the chance. She said the equipment is about the size of a fax machine. Now, instead of sitting for six long hours, three days a week, she does her at home dialysis for two to three hours, five days a week. “The people at the center worked with our schedule for the training and now, dialysis is really just like an evening of watching TV at home.” Another, unexpected benefit is how much better Cheryl feels with dialysis that more closely mimics what the body does naturally. In healthy people, the kidneys are constantly filtering the blood. Cheryl said doing dialysis for shorter spans, more days per week was easier on her body.
“It’s made a huge difference. Before, I would have felt sick and weak for most of the next day. With home dialysis, I wake up the next morning and I feel fine.
She added the support system at the center is excellent and now she feels like she has more control over her disease and her life.
“A lot of people don’t know they have the option (for home dialysis),” she said. “It’s made a tremendous difference for me”
A physician referral is required for care at the Macomb Regional Dialysis Center and treatment is covered by most insurance plans. For more information, call the center at (586) 263-8350.
