How 5 People Felt After 50 Hemodialysis Treatments on Tablo
Summary
True stories from kidney disease patients who are living their best lives while managing their own dialysis at home, with Tablo.
Although end-stage kidney disease (ESKD, also known as end-stage renal disease, or ESRD) patients come from all walks of life, what connects them all is a desire for good health and full, normal life. Each of the individuals discussed here, and their care partner spouses or other family members, despite facing many challenges in life, are an inspiration to everyone around them. And, after going home with the Tablo Hemodialysis System, they have been able, for the first time, to fit dialysis into their life, instead of fitting their life around dialysis.
After their first 50 home hemodialysis treatments with Tablo—equivalent to approximately three months—a common thread among these five individuals is that they began feeling better than they did on their previous treatments, and also were adjusting to having more precious time back in their schedule. With this new-found freedom, they are finding ways to enjoy their favorite activities and hobbies again, as well as work and spend time with friends and family. This is very much in contrast to how they felt prior to going home with Tablo, when they were either receiving treatment at a dialysis center, or treating at home with a different dialysis machine or peritoneal dialysis, and their lives had been overtaken by their treatments. The system’s overall user-friendliness and ease of use, set-up, takedown and alarm resolution has made their adjustment to a life with ESKD easier.
Several are now also involved in patient advocacy work, as they want to give back by offering support and encouragement to new patients just entering the life-changing world of ESKD and dialysis, or those who may be considering doing their own dialysis at home. They all also point to the importance of a positive attitude, and a willingness to take charge of their own treatment and kidney health, on their own schedule, with assistance from their care partner. Tablo was designed to grant freedom of choice and empowerment to dialysis patients at home, and here’s how that is happening for five very special people with ESKD.
Dick and Liz
Richard (Dick), a kidney patient for more than 30 years, lives with his care partner and wife, Liz. For five years prior to starting dialysis at home with Tablo, Dick was on seven-days-a-week peritoneal dialysis at home, and was, unfortunately, quite sick. Then his health deteriorated even further due to a number of infections related to peritonitis. In-center dialysis wasn’t a good option either due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The timing was right for them to switch to Tablo treatments at home.
“the Tablo home dialysis machine has allowed Dick to feel good again, consistently, and to enjoy a better quality of life,” says Liz. “I am able to prime the dialyzer, while Dick takes his vital signs and weight, and set up and start treatments quickly and easily.”
“Having Tablo at home provides us with a flexible dialysis schedule, which is a huge benefit. The timing couldn’t have been better for us,” says Dick. “I would tell other patients about Tablo that it is doable, don’t be afraid of it, embrace it, get on it. The biggest difference between PD and Tablo is time: 75 hours a week versus 16. You have control over your life. And, it feels good to feel good!”
Dick and Liz are now able to play golf several times a week and enjoy other activities that they weren’t able to do when he was on PD eight hours a day and not feeling well. “We are able to once again enjoy driving trips, walks, gardening, and spending time with our children and grandchildren. Dick’s blood pressure and breathing capacity are much improved since being on Tablo, and there are significantly fewer supplies that we need to store in our home,” says Liz.
To learn more about Dick and Liz’s experience, watch the video of “Dick & Liz’s Journey from PD to HHD with Tablo.”
David
David (pictured at the top of this post) is a busy professional recording artist, music producer, radio station program director, father, husband, entrepreneur and patient advocate. He is a long-time kidney disease and dialysis patient, whose health challenges started with an unexpected diagnosis of acute kidney failure in high school, followed by a kidney transplant with his brother as the donor, kidney cancer, and a double nephrectomy. He saw a real difference and a sense of freedom in his life after switching from the NxStage machine at home to Tablo.
“The benefits of Tablo for myself, and most importantly my family, has been a true gift,” says David. “Tablo has allowed me to build dialysis around my life, rather than having my life controlled by my dialysis. This is very important to me. As a stay-at-home dad for our two children, treating on my schedule on my Tablo home hemodialysis machine has been life changing.”
“I am feeling much more in control, and better as well,” he continues. “While I was previously on NxStage at home, I felt like dialysis had taken over my and my family’s life, and our home. The technology built into Tablo, and on-demand batching makes set-up and supply storage so much easier. If I’m out of town for my music career, it’s such a relief to know that I can start treating within 30 minutes of getting home. The main thing with Tablo is that it opens up your time.”
David encourages people at risk of kidney disease to proactively take charge of their health, and encourages his fellow chronic kidney disease warriors to work closely with their kidney doctor (nephrologist) and care team in order to live their best lives.
To learn more about his journey and experiences, watch the video of “David Rush’s Journey Home for Dialysis with Tablo.”
Tracey
Tracey, a kidney disease patient for more than 15 years, feels like she has her life back with Tablo at home, after previously treating in-center and then on the NxStage machine at home. She is now able to work part-time, is a subdirector and a volunteer at her local food pantry, and a youth director.
“I can honestly say that Tablo been a game changer for me. Due to the flexibility and ease of use of my Tablo, I have my life back. I’m feeling able to do the things I love, like spend time with my children, and other family and friends. I can do things now which were hard for me to do when I was doing dialysis in-center, when I would be ‘out for the count’ after treatment, or prior with the NxStage home dialysis device. And my home doesn’t look like a hospital room,” she says.
“With Tablo at home, I feel more in control of my treatment and schedule, I’m able to have a positive attitude, and fulfill my purpose in life in being there for my kids. When they see me active, happy and content, then they don’t worry about me. It’s a blessing also that I’m able to share my experience with others. I feel as good as when I didn’t do dialysis. I really feel that I have another chance at life,” she continues.
To learn more about her experiences, watch the video of “Tracey’s Journey on Home Dialysis with Tablo.”
Joseph
Joseph has spent more than three decades with health issues including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, compromised kidney function and finally, an unexpected diagnosis of kidney failure. His wife and care partner, Sima, offers her perspective on Joseph’s outlook and condition after switching from in-center dialysis, which they found to be a cold, frightening and impersonal experience, to treating on Tablo at home for several months.
“We wish he didn’t have to do it, but Tablo helped relieve our fear of dialysis. Joseph is able to once again enjoy our children and grandchildren, he enjoys reading his beloved books, and we can go on walks and enjoy healthy meals together. He feels he is contributing to the world, it’s a big difference,” she says.
Joseph is treating four days a week, four hours a day, and Sima says that he is feeling incomparably better than he was before Tablo. “It has provided him with the opportunity for a quality life, and for that we are extremely humbled and grateful. Tablo has given us hope during a dark time in our lives, and our hearts are full of thanks that it is an option for us.”
“If someone does require home hemodialysis, we want to assure them that they can have full confidence in their medical team and the Outset Medical team, that Tablo can work for them,” she says.
To learn more about Joseph and Sima’s story, read “Hope and Humanity with Tablo Home Dialysis.”
Reggie
Reggie a professional musician for more than 50 years, has a positive, independent spirit that has helped him through the challenges of kidney disease. After previously treating in-center, he is now managing his dialysis at home with Tablo, and is happy to be empowered and in control of his health and schedule. And, he’s back to doing the things that are the most meaningful to him, including practicing guitar, teaching master classes, and soon, playing live on stage again.
With guidance from his nephrologist, Reggie has learned to adjust and personalize his dialysis, and make Tablo work for him, each time he treats. “Tablo is a gentle dialysis. It tells me step-by-step what to do on the touchscreen, and it gives me an alert if it sees something going on in my treatment that I didn’t see. We started working together, Tablo and me. That’s just amazing to me. Now I’m in charge. I do treatment when I want, I feel better, and I have a better quality of life. And I have my time back. That’s the biggest thing that Tablo gives me, time,” he says, with emotion evident in his voice.
“I’m the kind of person that likes to handle things myself. That’s the beauty of Tablo for me. It’s really been life changing,” he continues. Reggie also offers his advice to other patients who might be considering asking their nephrologist about going home with Tablo. “First, stay positive, you can do this. Also don’t be afraid of putting in the dialysis needles, cannulation is easy to do and you get used to it quickly. Then, having Tablo at home is nothing but a complete joy. You can set up your dialysis chair and space so it’s comfortable, and the supplies are not much at all. Set up and take down are very quick and easy. Tablo prompts you through everything.”
To learn more about Reggie’s journey, read “A Passion for Life: Professional Musician and Tablo Home Dialysis Warrior Reggie Boyd.”
We hope you’ve enjoyed meeting five remarkable people who are all seeing a real life change after 50 treatments on Tablo at home. As they describe, there isn’t anything more important than being in charge of your time and schedule, feeling good, and spending quality time with the people and doing the activities you care about. For exactly these reasons, there is Tablo.
Interested in finding out if Tablo is an option for you? Contact us here
Results may vary. Keep in mind that all treatment and outcome results are specific to the individual patient. Please consult your physician for a complete list of indications, warnings, precautions, adverse events, clinical results, and other important medical information. It is important that you discuss the potential risks, complications, and benefits of this product with your doctor prior to receiving treatment, and that you rely on your physician’s judgment. Only your doctor can determine whether you are a suitable candidate for this treatment.
