Everywhere I have looked does not give me answer so please help. The person is 72 yr old female with diabetes and congestive heart failure. Dialysis is not an option as she is to far gone for it to help. No nasty responces please this is may grandmother and her doctor will not give a straight answer.
2007-02-21 04:36:50 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Diabetes
Let me give it to you straight. If she started dialysis today, on average, she would live 3-5 more years. The annual mortality rate for End Stage Renal Disease patients is 22%. That means that the average ESRD patient will live for just under 5 years on dialysis. Diabetes raises that mortality rate about 3% for a total of 25%. I'm not sure off the top of my head the numbers for CHF, but it is about another 5-10% increase in mortality rate, as the number one cause of death in ESRD patients is heart failure.
The way she will die is, since her kidneys cannot filter out the potassium she consumes fast enough, it will cause her heart to beat irregularly. If she has lost the ability to produce urine, her vascular system will become flooded with fluid and her heart won't be able to keep up with the increased volume. That increased volume will also collect in her lungs making it difficult to breath, depriving her heart and brain of oxygen. Her kidneys cannot filter out the urea her body produces, which will result in toxemia, rapidly damaging her heart, brain, and other vital organs. If she lives long enough, the phosphorus that her kidneys can't filter out, will absorb into her aorta, and causing it to calcify and harden, making it harder for the heart to supply itself with oxygen.
When you combine all these things there is little chance that your grandmother can survive very long (weeks at best) without dialysis. The sooner the decision is made, the less long-term damage will be done to her.
Dialysis is a life-changing choice - it can save her life, but in return it will be a life quite different from what she is used to. There will be dietary and fluid restrictions, more medications to take, dialysis every other day. Dialysis can save her life, but she needs to decide if this new life is worth it. I would recommend dialysis, but not to just TRY. If she's going to do it, do it all the way. Because the worst thing to happen is for her to only half commit to it, and then end up spending her last days miserable.
2007-02-21 16:34:02 · answer #1 · answered by Dave S 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Well, the reason your doctor isn't giving a straight answer is that guessing life expectancy is very far from being a science - there are often no straight answers to be given, we do sometimes attempt at a guess, but they're much more likely to be wrong that right, and are often way off the mark.
That having been said, from what you're describing, a patient in complete anuric (no urine production) renal failure who is not a candidate for dialysis has a very poor prognosis (probably only weeks or less). If it's not as severe, then I can't really tell you, I would need to know more about the case to even hazard a guess, but any way you slice it, it's not good news.
I'm sorry I can't be of more help, but I hope this gives you some kind of an idea.
2007-02-21 07:17:16 · answer #2 · answered by The Doc 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First, I want to say that I am sorry your grandmother is so sick. Secondly, I will not sugar coat this for you but, your grandma is really sick and I would say she probably won't live another year. My mom is a diabetic and had renal failure but dialysis was and option. It is always hard to say how long someone might live as people do not have expiration dates but, considering all her health problems I would say she doesn't have very much longer.
I am really sorry your grandma is sick, I hope this information helps you. I will say a prayer for you and her.
2007-02-21 04:47:19 · answer #3 · answered by Mrs. Wizard 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chronic renal failure is long-standing, progressive deterioration of renal function. Symptoms develop slowly and include anorexia, nausea, vomiting, stomatitis, dysgeusia, nocturia, lassitude, fatigue, pruritus, decreased mental acuity, muscle twitches and cramps, water retention, malnutrition, GI ulceration and bleeding, peripheral neuropathies, and seizures. Diagnosis is based on laboratory testing of renal function, sometimes followed by renal biopsy. Treatment is primarily directed at the underlying condition but includes fluid and electrolyte management and often dialysis and/or transplantation.(Merck)
There is no cure for chronic renal failure. Untreated, it usually progresses to end-stage renal disease. Lifelong treatment may control the symptoms of chronic renal failure.
Heart failure is a syndrome of ventricular dysfunction. Left ventricular failure causes shortness of breath and fatigue, and right ventricular failure causes peripheral and abdominal fluid accumulation; both ventricles are usually involved to some extent. Diagnosis is clinical, supported by chest x-ray and echocardiography. Treatment includes diuretics, ACE inhibitors, β-blockers, and correction of the underlying disorder.
Please see the web pages for more details on Diabetic nephropathy, Chronic renal failure and Congestive Heart failure.
2007-02-21 05:04:10 · answer #4 · answered by gangadharan nair 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is terrible, and my prayers are with you. However I will be brutally honest and tell you she probably doesnt have much time left. If she is a diabetic, and at that age, she isnt really a good candidate for a transplant, shes in rough shape. The kidneys filter your bodies toxins out. If there is no filter, her body will fill with toxins and will kill her. I would guess she doesnt have 3 months if she is as bad as you make it sound. I am not a doctor, but have been around many people with kidney problems. I think she should look into holistic medicine if they ever release her from the hospital! Good Luck!
2007-02-21 04:54:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-05-01 03:28:04 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-04-22 07:50:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless taken care of no expectancy at all.but dialysis alone does not keep a person alive.I have come across people with similar conditions survive for two fears without any medication but prayer as they were poor.
2007-02-21 04:46:45 · answer #8 · answered by chiratai 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2014-09-18 13:29:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
First let me say I am sorry! Spend as much time with your grandma as you can, her time is probably very limited. Your doctor didn't give you a straight answer because he doesn't have one. My dad was given 6 months to 2 years and died in 5 weeks they just don't know....just love her and spend as much time as you can with her! Make her last days special for her and you! I was glad in the end that I took off 2 weeks with my dad when he passed and I have those memories in me forever!
2007-02-21 05:09:00 · answer #10 · answered by ♥Sparkling♥Jules♥ 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋