I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Introduction => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: bwisern on January 10, 2009, 06:56:24 AM
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Hi everyone, glad to have found this site. Let me introduce myself. The name is Bren, and I am the mother to 3 great kids: 2 boys and a girl, and married my husband since 1995. I am also an RN, but primary background is OB, general Med/Surg. In 1997 hubby was diagnosed with IgA Neph with renal insufficiency at the age of 27. For the last 10 years we have been on the roller coaster of CKD. Have retired 2 great Neph's and breaking in the 4th one (we won't talk about the first one, the only thing he did for us was get the kidney bx and confirm the diagnosis, other than that he was a quack!!) Over the last 2 years we were on the roller coaster fluctuating creatinine levels and of "better get the shunt in........no, let's wait". In July of '08 he reached 14% function, was feeling like crud, but his doc wanted to wait 2 months to see if his creatinine would drop back down. Well, it didn't so he had surgery on Sept 19 to have his PD cath and AV fistula placed. He has been doing PD since October 6 and just got set up on the cycler in December. He still hasn't gotten much energy back, having pain on the cycler. Now is looking at having to have a second surgery on his AV because it may have a vein branching off of it.
He was devastated when we had to start dialysis. ( I say "we" in starting dialysis, because he is the patient, but it does impact all of us). I tried to tell him that it isn't a "death sentence" but is his life line. I think he is adjusting. I am glad for a place like this to get info, support and vent when needed. (I am in the need of a serious vent right now) I welcome any, all advice from anyone who shares our fears, concerns, experiences. I hope to make contact with other spouses, as I truly think that we need to support each other.
Thanks for the op to intro myself!
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:welcomesign; Bren. I am so happy you found us. Lots of great information and support here. I too am a caregiver (not a nurse though, so you have an advantgage there) to my husband. He lost his kidneys suddenly in 2001 and we went on home hemo in 2003. He received his transplant in Sept 07 and we are still having a rocky road. This is a great place to rant and there is a caregivers section for just us. You should have your husband join also since I'm sure he would get some great support from the members here. Hope we hear more from you and you post often. :cuddle;
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:welcomesign; Bren, you and your family are already on the roller coaster so you might as well be on IHD which should help to level out some of the bigger bumps with great information and support.
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:welcomesign; this is the best possible place to land
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:thx; for the replies, I have been reading through alot of the boards and don't feel so alone now. It is great being a nurse, I have the background to help, but other times it's a hindrance also. There have been times that because I am a nurse, I don't feel like we have been fully informed, it's assumed that I know what to do.....I have delivered babies for the last 8 years. there is a BIG difference from a uterus and a kidney ;D. Hubby is not a man of many words, but I hope that he will check this site out. I am heading over to the caregiver site- i need to purge some feelings and don't want to do that here LOL
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Welcome, Bren. You have found the #1 place for great information and shoulders to cry on. Keep us posted on how hubby is doing.
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:welcomesign;
Welcome to the group!
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It is a roller coaster ride but you found the best place to talk to others that will understand. :welcomesign;
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Welcome Bren, good to have you aboard.
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G'day and :welcomesign;
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Welcome Bren, We love ranting women on this site. We already have a few pros so join in. I look forward to your posts
Boxman,Moderator
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:welcomesign; Bren, my husband Otto is on Home-Hemo...... vent away :cuddle; Amy(lola)
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:waving; Hi Bren and family!
I am also on PD. The rollercoaster gets easier the longer you have been on the ride! :cuddle;
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:welcomesign;
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:welcomesign;
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:welcomesign;
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:waving; Bren and family
A PD and a fistula. My neph told me only one or the other. I haven't said anything YET but have to ask him what will i do if my Cath screws up?? I would like to have a fistula in case of an emergency. Better that then the other option.
Hope to see you all around the boards and welcome.
P&K
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Our surgeon said that is the only way he would do it, and it makes sense to us. It has time to mature and no real care for it other than the exercises, and if we ever need it, it's there. If your under anesthesia why not do both. Have to let me know how it goes!
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Welcome to our community, Bren! I can see that you already 'get it'! This is the place to be. I hope that your husband will take some time to check us out. This is a great place for information and support and an excellent outlet for ranting and venting! We are more than a website; we are a genuine family :grouphug; Keep reading and keep posting. Let us know how you two are doing.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Bajanne, Moderator
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:welcomesign; We are glad you joined us. Your husband is fortunate to have you. Being the caregiver is hard. This is a great place for both of you. Post often :grouphug;
paris, Moderator
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Hi, Bren! Welcome to our family.
I, too, am a caregiver (to husband Marvin, who started on in-center hemo in March of 1995 -- got a living donor -- ME -- transplant in July of 2000, and has been back on hemo since October of 2003 -- HOME HEMO since July of 2007).
I like the way you said "we" because I feel like I've been right there with my Marvin every step of the way. It's his body, but the disease affects us both.
I'm a high school English teacher, but many days, I feel like a nurse (I have read and researched so much about kidneys, dialysis, transplantation, etc.), and, of course, I'm his dialysis partner six days a week. I know way more "medical" stuff that your average school marm. Ah, well, such is my life.
I look forward to your posts.
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Hello Bren
I am a caregiver too
And a Medical Assist in L/D
Meconium happens, eh? ;)