I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Introduction => The IHD Family - Our Members => Topic started by: paddbear0000 on December 09, 2008, 09:40:27 PM

Title: I'm Back Too!
Post by: paddbear0000 on December 09, 2008, 09:40:27 PM
Like cycobully, I too have been dealing with feelings of guilt from being away from IHD for so long. I've been missing you guys a lot. I've been trying to get up the nerve to show my face again. Since cycobully came back, I figured I might as well too. I'm sorry to have disappeared, but I needed a long break from IHD after some statements made towards me. I was having terrible anxiety attacks just logging on. I noticed that some people sent me PM's. I'm sorry I never got them, but I had to change my e-mail address shortly after I "left" because of getting bombarded by spam bots.

Anyway, to catch you all up on what's been going on....Well, my kidney functioned dropped suddenly about a month ago, from 20% to 14%. I've been increasingly tired and have been getting a strange taste in my mouth intermittently with a very dry mouth. I'm worried it's kidney related. I'm in the process of switching nephrologists because my last one just told me to come back in a year! I have a new appointment with my new one next week. I had put my transplant list "application" on hold since my function was steady, in order to try to have a child. That wasn't going well. Then my function dropped, so I just finished up all the tests and forms and letters that my coordinator wanted. So now I'm just waiting to hear their decision.

I also had cataract surgery in my left eye a few months ago. That led to problems. I've had fluid and blood leakage in my eyes in the past, and the surgery just started that all up again. My vision in that eye has gone from 20/25 to 20/200. I injured my shoulder and now have swelling in it. I was supposed to do physical therapy, but all those co-pays just were feasible. It doesn't bother me unless I reach behind me, so that's good. I also finally went to the dentist (I really had no choice since i had to for the transplant evaluation) and ended up needing a deep cleaning. That was torture! I also had to have a cavity filled. They now have tooth colored fillings, which is pretty cool!

I also started seeing a psychologist, partly because my SW needed me to get a letter stating that I could handle the transplant, and because my depression was getting really bad. She sent me to a psychiatric intensive outpatient program and a psychiatrist (for meds). They have all been very helpful. i thought I was having a problem with my new meds (the dry mouth), but they kept switching them, and i still had problems. I'm thinking it's the kidneys.

And finally, I now need gallbladder surgery. I had a HIDA scan done and they discovered that my gallbladder is only functioning at 13%, so it needs to come out. My doctor said it's because of my diabetes. I've been on a virtually non-fat diet for about a month now, and have lost 7 pounds. This is actually not a good thing for me, as my weight was perfect for my height. 

Again, I'm sorry for disappearing on you guys.

Janet
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: RichardMEL on December 09, 2008, 10:48:01 PM
it's good to have you back!! Hoping things go OK and your GFR doesn't lower any further!!!
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: Chris on December 09, 2008, 10:51:20 PM
Hello, and Welcome Back :waving; :bandance;

Glad you are seeing a different nephrologist. A year is ridiculous with someone with diabetes and 14% unction left. What an idiot!  :stressed;:Kit n Stik;
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: okarol on December 09, 2008, 11:40:11 PM
Hey paddbear!
Oh happy day! I am so glad to see you back!
 :bandance;
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: G-Ma on December 09, 2008, 11:48:09 PM
 :welcomesign; back and yes, sounds like you have some kidney loss side effects going on...taste being one....take care of yourself.
Ann
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: charee on December 10, 2008, 12:13:13 AM
Good to see you back :flower;
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: petey on December 10, 2008, 03:09:07 AM
Welcome home.
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: monrein on December 10, 2008, 03:37:57 AM
Nice to see you here again Paddbear.  I'm sorry you're having such a rough time.   The taste thing sounds very kidney related, mine was like I'd gargled with bleach from a metal cup.  Welcome back.
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: willieandwinnie on December 10, 2008, 03:57:55 AM
 :waving; paddbear,  :welcomesign; back. Please don't disappear anymore.  :cuddle;
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: Sluff on December 10, 2008, 05:11:50 AM
See what happens when you leave IHD.   Now I'm glad you are back and I will let up on casting bad spells. :)  I do hope you get better soon.
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: xtrememoosetrax on December 10, 2008, 06:09:15 AM
Hi Paddbear. Sorry to hear of your troubles, but glad you're back!  :cheer:  :cuddle; :grouphug;
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: pelagia on December 10, 2008, 06:19:17 AM
Paddbear - it is great to have you back.  I was considering heading to Dayton to search out that place that makes your favorite drink (something you wrote in your "about me" profile) to ask if they knew where you were.  Maybe it happens to everyone when they first get to IHD -- In any case, I noticed certain folks right away for one reason or another.  I think it is your love of dogs that made me take notice of you.  And your hutzpah!  Sorry to hear that you have had a rough patch.  Welcome back!
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: kitkatz on December 10, 2008, 06:32:33 AM
Glad you are back!  :cheer:
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: Slywalker on December 10, 2008, 09:54:49 AM
Paddbear - sorry to hear about all the tough things you have been dealing with - geesh - when it rains it pours.  Hang in there and a great big :grouphug;  for you.

 :welcomesign;  back.

Sandyb

 :bunny:
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: kellyt on December 10, 2008, 10:06:54 AM
I was wondering where you'd run off to!  It seems like you've been dealing with a lot!!!   I'm so sorry!

But I am glad you're back!!!    :welcomesign; Back!!!
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: Romona on December 10, 2008, 02:21:04 PM
 :grouphug; Glad to see you! Sorry things are so rough.
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: Sluff on December 10, 2008, 05:01:58 PM
See what happens when you leave IHD.   Now I'm glad you are back and I will let up on casting bad spells. :)  I do hope you get better soon.

Hope you know I was kidding. But I am glad you are back.  :)
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: paddbear0000 on December 10, 2008, 05:25:51 PM
Yes, I know you were kidding!

Thanks so much everyone for your support and in welcoming me back. I feel so much better knowing you aren't mad at me!  ;D  I'm just glad I'm back because I have a feeling I'm going to need a lot of questions answered and a lot of support in the coming months.
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: kellyt on December 10, 2008, 05:26:51 PM
We're ready!
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: kidney4traci on December 10, 2008, 06:04:11 PM
 :grouphug; Glad to hear from you!!!  Love your new avatar! I don't remember that one before.  Sorry to hear about the health issues.  Pray it lets up now that you are seeing a new neph.  Blessings!!
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: thegrammalady on December 10, 2008, 06:07:57 PM
glad to have you back  :yahoo; :yahoo;
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: Falkenbach on December 10, 2008, 09:53:00 PM
Well, my kidney functioned dropped suddenly about a month ago, from 20% to 14%. I've been increasingly tired and have been getting a strange taste in my mouth intermittently with a very dry mouth. I'm worried it's kidney related. I'm in the process of switching nephrologists because my last one just told me to come back in a year!

"Come back in a year" ??? When you're kidney function is 14%??? You've got to be joking! I'm glad you are getting a new neph, Janet. Let us know how it goes. You need a neph who will keep a close follow up on you. As my function dropped (don't think it was as low as yours), I was being checked every 3 months, and then every month, leading up to the transplant.
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: Chris on December 10, 2008, 10:04:50 PM
Well, my kidney functioned dropped suddenly about a month ago, from 20% to 14%. I've been increasingly tired and have been getting a strange taste in my mouth intermittently with a very dry mouth. I'm worried it's kidney related. I'm in the process of switching nephrologists because my last one just told me to come back in a year!

"Come back in a year" ??? When you're kidney function is 14%??? You've got to be joking! I'm glad you are getting a new neph, Janet. Let us know how it goes. You need a neph who will keep a close follow up on you. As my function dropped (don't think it was as low as yours), I was being checked every 3 months, and then every month, leading up to the transplant.



My local neph checked me every month post diagnosis and now every 3 months even after transplant while transplant neph is minimum 6 months or more. Diabetes and kidney failure did not mix well for me. So a neph who takes better interest in you is pertinant. Hate to know what your original neph would do if you were on dialysis.
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: Bajanne on December 10, 2008, 10:48:28 PM
Great to have you back!!  Now, please don't go disappearing again.  :cuddle;
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: rose1999 on December 10, 2008, 11:09:04 PM
I'm so pleased you're back, of course we weren't mad at you, just worried - especially when our PMs went unanswered.  You're safe and back home now  :yahoo;
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: paddbear0000 on December 11, 2008, 12:13:41 AM
Sorry about that. I had to get a new e-mail address at the time, so I never got any notifications.
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: skyedogrocks on December 11, 2008, 06:42:52 AM
So glad you are back!  Sorry about the issues you are having. 

In regards to your eye issues.  Rob is a type 1 diabetic also and had the same eye issues you are having.  Whenever his eye went blurry, it was because the blood was backing up and bleeding out (but you didn't see the blood leaking, it was behind the eye).  This was due to his blood pressure and it happened the most before his dialysis and at the beginning of dialysis when his blood pressure wasn't controlled.  Now he never gets the eye bleeds.  He also has had cataract surgey in one eye.  Hopefully that helps you out.

I had my gallbladder out 6 years ago.  Let me tell you, those attacks hurt like hell, so hopefully you can get it out before the attacks happen. 
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: paddbear0000 on December 11, 2008, 06:50:49 AM
I actually was having attacks, with both the pain and nausea. But I didn't know what it was, so that's when I went to the doctor. After he told me to steer clear of fat, I haven't had anything more than mild pain (I mean, it's impossible to go completely fat free nowadays!).
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: skyedogrocks on December 12, 2008, 05:36:41 AM
Ugh, sorry you weren't able to avoid the attacks.  I was told they are comparable to what labor pains are.  Since, I never birthed a child, I can't compare it, but it did hurt like holy hell!  I had to avoid fat/oils, spicy food, any tomato based foods.  Basically, I was on the white diet. 
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: paddbear0000 on December 12, 2008, 08:56:17 AM
I've never had a child, but I don't think mine were that bad. I still have a little function left in my gallbladder (13%), so it's not completely blocked. For the last month, I've been subsisting on pretzels, butter flavored rice cakes (fat free, but good!), turkey sandwiches with only a scraping of mayo, imitation crab, Cambell's tomato and once i while, a slice of meunster cheese sliced so thin that you can practically see through it!  I'm soooo bored with this diet.
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: Chris on December 12, 2008, 08:57:53 PM
I've never had a child, but I don't think mine were that bad. I still have a little function left in my gallbladder (13%), so it's not completely blocked. For the last month, I've been subsisting on pretzels, butter flavored rice cakes (fat free, but good!), turkey sandwiches with only a scraping of mayo, imitation crab, Cambell's tomato and once i while, a slice of meunster cheese sliced so thin that you can practically see through it!  I'm soooo bored with this diet.

Diet sounded good till you mentioned imitation crab. Tried that once and only once at the store and I  :puke; there. That was nasty tasting.  love munster cheese, that's te best one to me.
Title: Re: I'm Back Too!
Post by: paddbear0000 on December 13, 2008, 01:35:36 AM
I've never had a child, but I don't think mine were that bad. I still have a little function left in my gallbladder (13%), so it's not completely blocked. For the last month, I've been subsisting on pretzels, butter flavored rice cakes (fat free, but good!), turkey sandwiches with only a scraping of mayo, imitation crab, Cambell's tomato and once i while, a slice of meunster cheese sliced so thin that you can practically see through it!  I'm soooo bored with this diet.

Diet sounded good till you mentioned imitation crab. Tried that once and only once at the store and I  :puke; there. That was nasty tasting.  love munster cheese, that's te best one to me.

I don't like real crab (which is sacrilegious since I'm from Maryland, the Blue Crab state!). I love the imitation crab tho! The Meijer brand is far better than the Louis Kemp brand IMO. Usually I eat it mixed with lots of mayo and dill. Now I eat it with just a dab of mayo and even more dill. Meunster cheese is my favorite too.