I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Introduction => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: MIbarra on April 17, 2008, 07:25:35 PM
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Hello all!
I can't believe I am just finding this site! I love it!
Well, a little about me. I'm 32. Live in TX. I'm a 2nd grade teacher. My 1 year kidney transplant anniversary is coming up in just over a week. (I call it my kidney birthday because I feel born again!)
My kidney failure roots -- from about 4 years old to about 10, I had many UTI's, reflux, bladder infection, the doctors reattached both ureters to help prevent reflux... Around the age of 18, the urology department of an army hospital (actually the chief of staff of his dept.) said I was ok and didn't need to be checked up in his department anymore. The reflux and other stuff caused the kidney disease which wouldn't have been too bad except for my doctors now think it caused high blood pressure that went undiagnosed for about 10 years which in turn caused a horrible amount of kidney deterioration. Of course you know this is cyclical.. Poorer the kidneys got, higher the blood pressure, kidneys got worse, BP... on and on... Until I was about 23 and in my first year of teaching, I saw a doctor about a germy virusy thing one of my kids had given me. She took my blood pressure one time and said there's a problem! Finally after a few weeks of blood tests, ultrasounds, etc she told me I have kidney disease. Shocking news for me at this time. She said I'd be just fine! No problem! Referred me to a urologist who also said I'd be just fine no problem!
Thank GOD, I moved to the Houston area. I found a great neph who got me on the transplant list immediately. My kidneys continued to get worse and eventually I wound up on dialysis for 2 years. (My new neph couldn't believe I continued to teach small children and stay on full time through the whole dialysis ordeal -- not to mention took on grade level chair and changing grade levels.) I waited a total of 5 years to get a kidney! Got a call one morning before Saturday dialysis that there was a cadaver match for me! 4 out of 6 match! I had the transplant the next morning... Rejected it for about 3-4 weeks and finally it started working. There've been no problems since. The prograf made my blood sugar go crazy! I was diagnosed with diabetes my last year on dialysis. It was diet control until after the transplant... Other than I feel great! I'll take the tiny insulin needle twice a day over those whoppers in the fistula any day!
Anyway, I'm really glad I found this place.... looking forward to reading and posting in this community!~
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:birthday; Congratulations on your transplant. We have remarkably similar medical histories. I got my first transplant when I was 31 and it lasted me perfectly for a solid 23 years. All the best.
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:waving; Hi MIbarra,
:bestwishes; Happy Kidneyversary! My daughter just celebrated one year on Jan. 16! I hope you have many more good years! :clap;
Welcome to our family!
okarol/administrator
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:bestwishes; happy anniversary - here's to many, many more.
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:welcomesign; MIbarra. Glad you finally found us and Happy Kidney Birthday. :birthday; We have a lot of teachers here on IHD (gotta love them), and we are just the greatest support group going. Again, Welcome. :cuddle;
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Happy kidney anniversary and Welcome to ihatedialysis.com MIbarra,
Glad to see your kidney transplant is working out well. Just what we needed another school teacher... :rofl; j/k. We do have several teachers here. Hope your kidney lasts a lifetime.
Sluff/Admin
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:yahoo; Good for you! :welcomesign;
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Welcome to our community! Here is one of your fellow-teachers (high school). You have found a great place for all those connected to this renal challenge. We are so glad that you found us. Great intro! Just the kind the founder of this site, Epoman, loved. I look forward to hearing much more from you. :grouphug;
Bajanne, Moderator
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welcome to IHD so glad you found us.
Boxman, Moderator
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Happy Anniversary! :2thumbsup; :welcomesign; to the site.
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Thank you all! I look forward to reading and posting!
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:birthday; kidneyversary
EDITED: Fixed smiley error - Sluff/Admin
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Hi and :welcomesign; . My husband had the same type of problem with reflux and high blood pressure. He didn't have to start dialysis until he was 38. Been on dialysis for 11 years this summer. First PD, then in center and now nocturnal home hemo. I am a grade 2 teacher too!!! :beer1;
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Del,
I'm waiting for the summer! My little kiddos are getting so wiggly and squirmy -- more so than normal! Always happens around this time. I bet yours are too!
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Welcome MIbarra! :welcomesign;
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Welcome to the site! another teacher on board! Great! Maybe we can share lesson plans and ideas. I teach sixth grade! I have been on dialysis nine and a half years and still teaching. I know it can be done! My neph calls me his well patient. I just giggle at him. Transplant must be great! Keep up the good work!
kitkatz,moderator
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It has been two years since the transplant! :cheer: I celebrated with cake at work and of course I wore my "I think of my donor everday... Be an organ donor." shirt to work and all the kidney related gear I have. I also said a quiet prayer for my donor and his family.
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It has been two years since the transplant! :cheer: I celebrated with cake at work and of course I wore my "I think of my donor everday... Be an organ donor." shirt to work and all the kidney related gear I have. I also said a quiet prayer for my donor and his family.
Yay! Got any pics? :pics;
Happy kidneyversary - I hope you have many, many more!! :bandance;
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Congratulations!
I just luuuuuuv transplant stories. Thanks! :thx;
Aleta
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Congrats MIbarra!
YOU ROCK!!! :flower;
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You are an inspiration! :yahoo;
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:birthday; to MIbarra's kidney!
:cheer:
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:flower; Wishing you many many more kidniversaries. :flower;
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:clap; :yahoo; :bandance; :cheer: MIbarra. May you have many many more. :cuddle;
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:bandance; :bandance; Yey for Kidney Birthdays! :bandance; :bandance;
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Kidniversaries ROCK! Hope you get to enjoy many more. Bless you and your donor.
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:clap; :2thumbsup; :yahoo;
This is a great read. Glad all is going so well for you and your kidney :thumbup;
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Happy birthday to your kidney (does it have a name?). Many happy returns of the day.
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happy kidney birthday to you
happy kidney birthday to you
you look like you have a working kidney
and you pee like one too
and many more
:flower; :flower; :flower;
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Go, kidney, go! :cheer:
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Thank you all!
"Buster" the kidney continues to work -- not perfectly -- but all is good.
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:flower; :flower; and many more..... :)