I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Working while on Dialysis => Topic started by: KevinSherwin on December 19, 2010, 04:27:33 PM
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Im a 37 yr old male on PD for 6 months now and I'm working 45 hours a week at Costco. It is exhausting and I sleep alot but I have to earn a paycheck so It's time to man up and do work. My job is not phsically demanding but Im on my feet for 9.5 hours 5 days a week and it takes a toll. For all of you that are wondering if it can be done Im here to say yes! Its not easy but possible. If I can help anybody get through their day just ask.
Kevin Seattle WA
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Hurray for you! Take care of yourself.
I have been working the past twelve years as a teacher and on hemodialysis. It is a challenge.
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Kevin, I too am a 37 year old PD patient. I am a full time professional firefighter on a 56 hour work week. I see alot of dialysis patients at work on emergency calls....I always get a chuckle when they tell me they cant work because of dialysis. I use alot of Red Bull and coffee, keep fighting the good fight!
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WOW firefighter on PD thats impressive. You are awesome man keep it going. Hopefully you can get a transplant and be 100%. :bandance;
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Check out Jean Louis Clemendot (http://www.jeanlouisclemendot.fr/historique.php) (newest posts are in French at the bottom of the page, copy and paste into Google Translate (http://translate.google.com/#)) he uses PD and is busy sailing around the world in stages mostly alone, he leaves from Singapore on January 13th! He's already been across the Atlantic, through the canal and across the Pacific.
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even though I am one of the folks that work while on D please don't make light of the folks who don't work. some folks have a really hard time on D and are in and out of the hospital a lot fighting for their lives. I am blessed that I have had an "easier" time, but there are days I would love to quit my job and just focus 100% on myself.
xo,
R
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rsudock- I agree that there are some D patients that truly need disability, I have seen and worked with them and it puts things in focus for me, and reminds me to not miss meds or treatments. This small percentage of D patients I have delt with are fighting an uphill battle for sure and I have no problem with them using the system to survive, that is what its for. But there are more that just give up and use D as an excuse for everything. I have asked a few of out "regulars" why they are not on a transplant list....answer.....If i get a transplant, I loose my disability! OMG they might have to earn a living!!! NOOOOOOOO!!!!
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I have asked a few of out "regulars" why they are not on a transplant list....answer.....If i get a transplant, I loose my disability! OMG they might have to earn a living!!! NOOOOOOOO!!!!
It is sad and unfortunate that so many people who end up on the system can't envison what their life could be like if they were healthy...it is like they are scared or something of change. Some of us are so fortunate to dream of a different life. A life full of hope and promise....even if it means finding a J O B. :)
xo,
R
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I wonder the same thing about some of the people in my dialysis center. Knowing that everyone responds to treatment differently, I know not everyone can handle work and dialysis together.
But aside from the physical impact of kidney failure, I wonder if "attitude" is the prevailing factor.
Some folks just give in to their misery. Some folks decide it's nice to not have to work. Others can't envision a different life once they fall ill.
Others, like myself, and many on this board, embrace every bit of life that's there. I own and operate a very busy business, servicing clients with magazine graphic design and marketing work (with my wife), am launching a new information product this month, play bass guitar, and participate as much as possible with family activities, including a Bahamas cruise in November. My time in dialysis is spent catching up on my reading and planning, and once I buy my new laptop, working on projects (I do the graphic design).
Occasionally, I'll have a "bad day" on the machine, such as yesterday, when they challenged me a bit too hard. But it's a rare occasion when I am not doing something during treatments.
Others on the early shift work and read as well. No one on my shift does.
So many sleep, and lose valuable time that could be spent in LIVING! — even while hooked up.
I don't mean to seem unsympathetic, and I'm not, because I know how bad they feel. But there were times, pre-D, when I felt so bad, all I wanted to do was stay in bed, moan and groan, and feel sorry for myself. But I dragged my anemic butt out of bed and proceeded to serve my clients, earn an income, be with my family, and be a part of life, rather than give in to the diseases I have (such as diabetes for 30 years and congestive heart failure for the last five — both of which will kick your back end if you let them).
It's a personal decision, and I never say anything to those who give in to the disease or just cannot do more than exist.
But it's not the way I would do it, and I respect others of the same opinion.
gary
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I don't mean to seem unsympathetic, and I'm not, because I know how bad they feel. But there were times, pre-D, when I felt so bad, all I wanted to do was stay in bed, moan and groan, and feel sorry for myself. But I dragged my anemic butt out of bed and proceeded to serve my clients, earn an income, be with my family, and be a part of life, rather than give in to the diseases I have (such as diabetes for 30 years and congestive heart failure for the last five — both of which will kick your back end if you let them).
It's a personal decision, and I never say anything to those who give in to the disease or just cannot do more than exist.
But it's not the way I would do it, and I respect others of the same opinion.
Well said, Its a matter of personal character and moral standards. Keep on Truckin!
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Kevin, I too am a 37 year old PD patient. I am a full time professional firefighter on a 56 hour work week. I see alot of dialysis patients at work on emergency calls....I always get a chuckle when they tell me they cant work because of dialysis. I use alot of Red Bull and coffee, keep fighting the good fight!
No red bull..... not good LOL :-)