I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Introduction => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: kperkins on November 28, 2006, 06:34:27 PM
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Hopefully I am doing this correctly. If not let me apologize in advance. In 2002 at the young age of 44 I had a "Coronary Event" (Polite term for a heart attack). I was clinically dead for long enough for them to stop attempts to revive me. For some reason my heart started again after they stopped. Guess it just wasn't my time.
Fast Forward to summer 2005 felt sick nauseous when my stomach was empty. Real run down and tired too. The Diagnosis- Stomach Virus. Throughout the summer I kept getting sicker and sicker. Finally the steps at work were too much.(I repair electronics equipment in an Air Traffic Control Tower) 91 steps to the top. Each flight of steps put me out of breath and almost to tired to continue. But I managed to keep going. Even on a level floor I could only walk about 20 feet or so before I had to stop and rest.
Numerous doctor visits didn't help. One night My wife took me to the emergency room where I was told I was OK but I "looked like I was losing blood" and that I should call my family doctor in the morning. Mighty nice of them to send me home. Went to see my family doctor, He had a new intern who asked one key question. "Did anybody do blood work." When I said no she ordered it and they finally did something. That evening the phone rang and a Doctor from the Medical center called and said that "I needed to get there immediately" I told him I was tired and I'd be in tomorrow. I asked him why and he was elusive, finally he told me my kidney's had stopped functioning and that the levels were so bad that I "may not be here tomorrow"
So in I went with creatinine at a level of 15 and a B.U.N. of 148 So I started dialysis on 1 DEC 2005 Did hemo for a few months but between work and dialysis I was never at home it seems. I started PD in March, and thats where I am now I still work full time and and I get some fishing in at times too. My levels are good now except for phosphorus which I am working on . Just started Sensipar last week
Thats about it, didn't mean to be so long winded
Keith Perkins
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Hi Keith and welcome to our site. You story sounds SO familiar to mine. The words "did anyone do bloodwork on you" is exactly what happened to me right before I was to die!!
Please go back to your profile and put in your gender. I know it is obvious now, but in other posts we may need to know. Thanks!
:welcomesign;
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hi Keith
How fortunate you are to survive the coronary event. My brother (46) had such an event and they worked til
they revived him but he live for 13 yrs after that in a vegetative state. and then kidney crisis. You must be
strong with a strong will to live and you were right, it was not your time. Glad you are doing well, working,
getting to fish some. Sounds like you'll have lots to share and hopefully we'll have helpful info and
support, encouragement for you. Welcome!!!!
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:welcomesign; Keith, and congratulations on getting through your first year (anniversary in 3 days) of dialysis in such good shape! Your intro summary was very well written and informative. Glad you joined our community!
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Thats about it, didn't mean to be so long winded
Not at all - we like when you introduce yourself with a detailed story. Thanks for sharing with us. Your experience reminds me so much of mine. I mean having to rest after just a few steps, etc. It was awful.
We are glad to welcome you to our community. I am sure that you will find much to edify, inform, amuse. Please let us hear lots more from you.
Welcome!
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Welcome to the community!
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:welcomesign;
I remember when my hemoglobin dropped so low and I still tried to keep my 12-hr shift job. I know what it is like. But for them to never have done bloodwork?? Is that common in the USA? Here they would have ordered bloodwork in the Emergency Room .. but I know it is different in Canada.
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Welcome Keith, good to have you aboard.
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Welcome to IHD Keith
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:welcomesign;
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Welcome, Keith! Great first post. That's kind of what happened to me, only mine was not nearly so bad. I was sick and they thought it was my lungs, so I was going to a lung specialist. One day he was out of the office and I was so sick I really needed to see someone, so they had me call my primary care physician. She did a lab test and called me and told me my kidneys were failing, along with my lungs. It was a total surprise to me! No one had even checked my kidneys.
Glad you're here, looking forward to your posts! :welcomesign;
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I'm speechless. As sick as you were not one doctor thought to order a blood test. What is wrong with the medical profession anymore. I would think that should be standard procedure.
That was a good post, Keith. The longer the better.
Welcome to a very friendly place.
Jane
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:welcomesign;
Good to have you! You will find lots of info and support here.
It's interesting that you chose PD* and are doing so well; this might encourage others to look into it.
DeLana :grouphug;
*I've always wondered why so few patients start out on PD, or even give it a try after PD nurses talk to them.
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Hi Richard, Well, let me start off by saying i am so very happy to have you here with us and i look forward to your future posts. Please keep us posted on how things are going with you. I am glad PD is working for you, keep on keepin' on my friend :2thumbsup;
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Keith, welcome to IHD :welcomesign; Wow, your story was very interesting - sometimes I think we survive in spite of our health care providers, rather than because of them! Glad you were so strong!
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What a story New Guy - you're lucky you didn't go into congestive heart failure. Thank you for sharing.
Sensipar - what a wonder drug that is - if the cost of it doesn't kill you. I'm on 60 mg and it's over $600 Cdn. Thank G-d for drug plans.
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:welcomesign;
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:welcomesign;
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Hi keith and :welcomesign;
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:o Welcome to our world. It's not always easy but we manage to survive just as you will. Don't give up...we never know what lies ahead.
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Hey Keith,
Welcome to IHD. :welcomesign;
Mike
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:welcomesign; Keith, I've been brought back twice!!! It's the Third time I'm worried about ???
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:welcomesign;