I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Introduction => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: Rain on November 06, 2011, 11:11:45 AM

Title: Hi from Canada
Post by: Rain on November 06, 2011, 11:11:45 AM
I've been around reading the forums for awhile, and posted a few days ago for the first time.

I've been on dialysis for 4 years.  In centre Hemo. (3 times a week).   I got diagnosed with renal failure at 23, but I've had kidney disease due to reflux since the age of 4. 

I work full time, dialysis part time and yet I find time for a life outside of it all.  My hobbies include cooking (now I'm takng some courses), photography, and fitness. 
I strongly believe that how you treat your body will help you feel better between treatments.  So  I eat very healthy, no process foods, and I exercise a bit every day. 

The only medication I am on is epo, and iron for my treatments. And thyroid medication for hypothyroid. I got off BP meds 3 years ago by following a fitness program.  I am currently looking at trying to heal my thyroid and get off the meds soon and so far for the last year my dosage has been decreasing every 8 weeks.  So I am on the right track.

I am on the list for a transplant. And just thinking about it give me anxiety.  I am just worried it's not going to work for me, since I've had bad luck when it came to finding a living donor. 
I look forward to being part of your family and learning a lot from others with the disease, just by reading some of the post I feel comfort in knowing I'm not the only one going through this at a young age.

Title: Re: Hi from Canada
Post by: Cordelia on November 06, 2011, 11:21:18 AM
Hi Rain, I'm from Ontario, Canada, welcome to you!      :welcomesign;    It's great to have you here with us      :grouphug;

Photography is awesome, I enjoy it as a hobby as well, hope you enjoy the site here!     :waving;
Title: Re: Hi from Canada
Post by: willowtreewren on November 06, 2011, 12:29:47 PM
Welcome to IHD, Rain!

 :welcomesign;

I'm glad you found us. Now that you have de-lurked, post often so we can get to know you better.  :clap;

Aleta
Title: Re: Hi from Canada
Post by: monrein on November 06, 2011, 12:31:58 PM
Hello from Toronto....this is a great forum and we look forward to you being a part of this community.
Title: Re: Hi from Canada
Post by: lmunchkin on November 06, 2011, 02:05:36 PM
Hi Rain & Welcome aboard!

lmunch
 :kickstart;
Title: Re: Hi from Canada
Post by: Razman on November 06, 2011, 05:54:29 PM
  Welcome aboard from another Canadian ( Mississauga, Ont ) .   You've found the best place to talk to others that understand.  It's great that you still have a life with hobbies and don't let dialysis rule it.   Please stay in touch.
Title: Re: Hi from Canada
Post by: boswife on November 06, 2011, 07:18:17 PM
welcome  :welcomesign;  hoping to see some of that photography in the near future :)  I love hearing of you taking care of your body and will love hearing more from you.. 
Title: Re: Hi from Canada
Post by: bleija on November 06, 2011, 07:26:21 PM
yup im here with ya on the young part, 21 now, been dealing with kidney failure and dialysis for 2 and a half years now... had 3 months of knowing my kidney failure before i had to chose my type of dialysis...
i am very impressed by the fact that u are on so few medications... i have supplements and high blood pressure meds basically the whole nine yards
Title: Re: Hi from Canada
Post by: RichardMEL on November 07, 2011, 12:35:52 AM
Dear Rain - hi and welcome to IHD!!!

I am going to POUR on your anxiety regarding transplant. I see it totally the other way to you (and that's easy because I'm 10,000 miles away and have a funny accent :) ). You already say you do as much as you can to keep your body in good shape - exercise, eating right etc.. This is SO IMPORTANT and you are doing yourself more good than you know - I am convinced of it.

I could not get a living donor myself - my siblings tested but didn't work out - not their fault of course. However, I kept hope up, and I exercised by walking where I could, My diet was not super awesome, but I kept my labs in order as much as I could and did my best to make sure when that call came that I would be in a decent situation to handle the transplant.

I'm 3 weeks away from my first kidneyversary! So far so good!

Yes, of course the anxiety that it may not work for you is a reasonable one - don't get me wrong, I was in the OR being prepped and had the same thoughts and wonders.. In the end though you put your trust in the team looking after you and in the universe. You're doing your part. The reality is that something like 93% of all transplants are still  working at 1 year. If you ask me that's a pretty darn awesome statistic, and given you're young and pretty healthy other than KD, that there's absolutely no reason to think it wouldn't work for you - and for a long time.

You've come this far! Try to stay positive and keep the faith. We all are on your side!

Again welcome !!

RichardMEL, Moderator
Title: Re: Hi from Canada
Post by: Poppylicious on November 07, 2011, 05:01:20 AM
 :welcomesign; Rain!
Title: Re: Hi from Canada
Post by: Ang on November 07, 2011, 03:31:49 PM
 :welcomesign;
Title: Re: Hi from Canada
Post by: Rain on November 08, 2011, 04:08:23 AM
Thanks everyone.

I've stopped lurking on the boards and am now contributing. Woohoo

The other supplements I'm on are Replavite (Vitamins) and a probiotic pill.