I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Introduction => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: carla on February 03, 2008, 04:56:53 PM
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I have had kidney problems for a long time, when in August last year I found out my creatinine was 3.2 and my bun was 58. My numbers have been getting worse every month and now I am meeting with a surgeon for a fistula. I was shocked and saddened to learn that there is nothing that can be done about my situation except dialysis and transplant. Though I am thankful we have those options I feel the kidney industry seems to have stopped at those two things and leave it at that. I believe one day a cure will be discovered, just like they used to say that brain cells didn't regenerate and spinal cord cells didn't regenerate and the liver didn't regenerate and they have been proved wrong. Because of this and the fact that I didn't really feel that bad, I was confrontational with my nephrologist.
Now however I have become anemic and have high pth levels and I have, as they say, got religion. I have accepted the fact that I have to have dialysis and really hate it, though I know I need it. I work full time in a stressful job which I like for the first time in my life and I am afraid I will have to give it up and live on disability and spend every waking moment worrying if I will live or die. My nephrologist told me when I was in the hospital last week about a nephrologist who is in his seventies and had a transplant 30 years ago and is still working as nephrologist and that gave me hope, because being a neprologist is a lot tougher than my job.
I have lurked on this site for a while and have learned a lot. I am proud to be a member and wish I could have joined when Epoman was still alive. That is all I have to say now. Thanks for keeping this site going whoever is doing that. :waving; :waving;
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Welcome Carla, good to have you aboard.
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:waving;
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Welcome Carla. there are people on this site that work and have dialysis. seek them out for encouragement...Box
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I have been on dialysis for nine years and am still working as a teacher. It can be done. Take care of yourself. :welcomesign;
Kitkatz,moderator
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:welcomesign;
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:waving; Hi carla,
It is an overwhelming diagnosis, to hear that your life is forever changed. Thankfully there are treatments for kidney failure, and it's one area of medicine where there's lots of research ongoing. This gives me hope that better solutions are coming!
I am glad you decided to join IHD and I hope you find good support from the wonderful members here!
Welcome!
okarol/moderator
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:welcomesign; This is the place to be for support, knowledge and power. I relate to the "am I going to live or die" thoughts. I am making choices everyday to help me live and this site gives me strength on days that I have none of my own. There are so many people here that are heros and role models. Your anger can be a good thing. It will make you learn and do everything you can for YOU. So glad you joined this marvelous family :grouphug;
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Welcome, Carla!
Yes, it can be done, working AND dialysis!! It's hard, but it is workable.
Hang in there, ask questions, both of your neph AND of us!!!
Have you gotten training in what is involved with dialysis? Do you know what to expect?
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:welcomesign; You are among friends here.We learn from each other and continue our path.
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:welcomesign;
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Welcome Carla.
Home dialysis can make it easier to continue to work. Has anyone talked to you about PD? There is research that shows peritoneal dialysis can help maintain residual kidney function. The more kidney function you can keep the better. Some research is showing that more frequent hemodialysis does the same thing.
Getting a fistula place is a good idea even if you choose to start dialysis using peritoneal dialysis.
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:welcomesign; aboard
EDITED: Fixed Welcome Icon - Sluff/ Admin
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Welcome Carla to ihatedialysis.com. So happy you have found us. You will find alot of answers here (even to question you have not yet asked) We have an awesome group of people here, they are the BEST support. If there is anything in particular you are looking for and just cant find, Please do not hesitate to ask, any one of us will be more than happy to help you out any way we can. See ya in the forums.
Sluff/ Admin
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Welcome Carla. Your fears are valid. All those things can happen. My advice is get on that transplant list as soo as possible. Seattle is a great place to be for kidney advances.
Kidney research has stopped because there is good money in dialysis and drugs!
Welcome to IHD. I'm looking forward to your posts.
:welcomesign;
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Hi Carla, and welcome aboard. Your Neph wasn't kidding about the Neph with the transplant, We saw him weekly when Sharon was still going the in-center dialysis (using NxStage at home now) He is a partner with our Neph here in Everett, very outgoing, very hard working and always cheerful.....
Tom
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:waving; Hi Carla,
I agree with you I feel like things around me seem so high tech and dialysis seems so primitive to me for some reason even though I know there is a lot of science behind it. I wish there were better solutions but as you know there are not right now . I do hope we can live to see major leaps in technology to replace the functions of major organs .
Maybe the news will be revealed on IHD :) we can hope!
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Welcome! Leep the stress level down, when your body is stressed it is unable to do the natural healing that is meant to happen. ALso, stress increases hormone production and that increases inflammation and other things that you don't need right now. Try to find time for yourself!! Keep posting - peace and love!
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Welcome Carla!
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So glad you found this site. It is a great place to begin your education on End Stage Renal Disease. I agree with you that it seems like there hasn't been much advancement regarding treatment of kidney disease, but at least technology to keep us alive is out there. Wishing you all the best.
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:welcomesign; to IHD. I've been on PD since Oct 2007 and still work a full time job as a Revenue Analyst. I hope you will find this site very helpful. Look forward to your posts.
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Thanks so much for all your responses, you guys are awesome, I plan to do a lot of posting. :2thumbsup; :thx;
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:beer1;
I am from Salem oregon wondering if you from near here?
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Thanks so much for all your responses, you guys are awesome, I plan to do a lot of posting. :2thumbsup; :thx;
That is what we like to hear!! Post away!
Welcome to our community! We are so glad you decided to join us. Pre-dialysis is an excellent time to check this site out. Knowledge is Power, we always say. Looking forward to hearing more from you.
Bajanne, Moderator
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:welcomesign; Carla. Glad you found us. We are a great group.
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Welcome Carla. :waving;
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:welcomesign;
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Carla, what is your Avatar? Is it a white clood cell?? Or what?? Just curious.
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:welcomesign;