I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Introduction => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: YLGuy on May 31, 2009, 08:48:16 AM
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Hello,
My name is Marc I am 46 and I am a single dad of 3 (17, 15 & 11). I LOVE being a dad! I live in Orange County in southern California. On March 23, 2009 I thought I had pneumonia so I called my doctor and he suggested I just go to the ER for a chest X-Ray. I was wrong. I found out that I had congestive heart failure. They did the labs and found that my creatinine was 8.0. They then did an ultrasound on my kidneys and informed me that I was in stage 5 renal failure. I had no idea! I was stuck in the hospital for 17 days. They had to do the catheter and fistula operations both twice. I currently go dialysis 3/week for 3:15. Next week they are going to try and use the fistula that was done on 4/1/09. I am looking forward to having the catheter removed from my chest.
I am very new to all this and am trying to learn as much as possible. The sudden transition to my new life has been difficult. I stumbled across this website and began to read your posts. I believe I owe a big thank you to Epoman for starting this website along with the moderators. THANK YOU! :clap;
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:welcomesign; I feel sure that you will gain much from this site, we all do, and I look forward to your contributions to our collective experience with ESRD.
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Marc, you must be in total shock. I started dialysis 4 weeks ago first in the hospital after the Catha and fistala were put in. I'm relative new too so I have no words of wisdom for you but hoping we can ofter each other support along the way. By the way, I was 22 years your senior when I found out... though I didn't experience any of your other problems. Hang in and read what these people have to say (well, read it judicially). There are lots of good positive and helpful people on here with loads of experience.
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Welcome, Marc,
It must have been very difficult for you learning of your kidney condition as you did. My heart goes out to you and your family. We had lots, and lots of forewarning as PKD runs in my husband's family.
You'll find community, information, support, and humor here. Visit often. I look forward to getting to know you better.
Aleta
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:welcomesign; Marc. Your cute. We are so happy that you stumbled on us. We are a great group for information and support and you'll find some laughs in here too. Hope to hear more from you and let us know how you do next week. Welcome to the family. :cuddle;
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I agree! What horrible way to find out you are in Stage 5 renal failure. We all owe so much to Epoman, as well as the Moderators, for this site. It's truly a life saving, as well as sanity saving, website.
Good luck with your fistula. I hope the transition is a smooth one. I look forward to hearing more about you and your experiences with dialysis and dealing with kidney failure. :welcomesign; :waving;
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Hey, Marc, welcome aboard from a PD cycler person in Carson (right between Long Beach and Torrance). This is a great place for info and to make new friends who usually know just what you're going through.
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I had congestive heart failure too. I had the flu and it attacked my heart. I was transferred to UPMC in Pittsburgh and they straightened my heart out, but I found out my kidneys were bad. Welcome and best of Luck! :waving;
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Welcome to our community, Marc! So glad that you found us. Here is the place for information, support and even fun. We are much more than a website, as I am sure you have seen. We are a genuine family :grouphug; caring and sharing. Please take advantage of all this site has to offer, and please let us hear more from you.
How did your daughters cope with this new challenge? What about your job?
[not being nosey - just being family!}
Bajanne, Moderator
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Welcome, Marc. We are glad you joined us. There is so much information here and even more support. We are a family and we truly care about each other. This is a safe place to ask questions, vent and share. We look forward to getting to know you better. Welcome to IHD :2thumbsup;
paris, Moderator
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Marc, you found a great site! I have been a member for a short time and just reading the stories has helped me. Good Luck! :welcomesign;
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Bajanne,
I don't think you are being nosy at all. I do not mind answering any questions you may have :secret; . My daughter is the 15 year old. It was really hard on the boys and her while I was in the hospital. My mother flew out from Connecticut to care for the kids during that time. (I do not have any family in the area. My ex-wife's company moved us out here 9 years ago.) I USED to work at an animal hospital. the vascular surgeon and the nephrologist told me I should stop working there. My arms have many scars from scratches and bites from the pets I cared for. I did not want to risk my fistula being damaged or the high risk of infection.
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Welcome happy to have ya.
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:welcomesign;
Glad you joined us!
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Welcome Marc, good to have you aboard.
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Nice chatting with you Marc on Sunday night.
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Welcome Marc. Sorry you had to find out so late in the game, but it is a good thing it was found when it was. I am in Riverside, right up the street from you and also, am a Connecticut native. Good luck to you and post often. There are tons of info here.
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YL guy,
I can relate to your thrown into dialysis, that happened to me also. Yes it is a whole new world and a big change also. I just want to encourage you. You have a lot to live for and many depending upon you. Just take one day at a time and you will do just fine!
Curt
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Welcome. So pleased you found us.
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Welcome. I had a similar shock. I was working on a boat in Alaska, and I thought I had bronchitis that turned into pneumonia. I was only in 11 days, but the rapid gear switching, the loss of income, worrying about kids.
Prayers, and keep in touch.
Look into getting home on dialysis soon.