Hi, from South Carolina

[Shihtzulover]

Myhusband was diagnosed with interstitial nephritus in 1985.  I kept him on a pretty strict diet for years.  He had a heart attack in 2003, the doctors said it was related to the kidney disease.  On his birthday in February of 2008, he started dialysis.

I have handled things pretty well until this past November when his access became infected and he ended up in the hospital with blood poisoning in critical condition.  He is now on 24 hour a day IV drip because the infection was so bad that it invaded the spinal column and his heart.  Now I am having a really hard time coping.

I, myself, suffer from severe clinical depression.  I wish there was a live chat group or some kind of support group for spouses.  This whole thing has really gotten me down.

Is this the right place for me to ask for help?

[Wenchie58]

Barbie..

   Welcome to IHD.  We have an entire section here for care givers.  And you will never meet a more helpful bunch than the members here.  This is a place where you can talk, rant, cry and ask questions.  You have a lot on your plate.

God Bless.

[Bajanne]

Welcome to our community, Barbie.  I am really sorry to hear all that you have to cope with.  Some people really are given great challenges in this life.  But I continue to be impressed with the strength of the human spirit.  This is a great place for you to be.  As Wenchie58 said, we have a section for caregivers where you are free to vent and receive real support from others who are going through the same experiences as you.  In fact, you are now part of our IHD family    So keep reading and keep posting.  Let us know how your husband is doing (and how you are doing too!).
Looking forward to hearing from you 



Bajanne, Moderator

[Joe Paul]

Welcome Barbie, good to have you aboard.

[willieandwinnie]

Barbie. You found a great place for information and support. There are a lot of caregivers here (I am one to my husband who has been ill since 2001). Read back through some of the older threads as there is all kinds of information there and please come and rant away when you need too. 

[2_DallasCowboys]

Hi, Barbie,

First let me say welcome.  Then, let me
mention your screen name  Shihtzulover!
I also love Shih Tzu, we have owned them
since 1989.  I also was involved in Shih Tzu
rescue - at one time we had three S/T -
We now have Rocky, aka Mr Rocco, who
we love.
My husband also had to have triple bypass
and rite afterward his both kidneys failed.  He
was hospitalized many, many times in 06.  I can
feel your pain.
Please know this is the most wonderful family of
friends here in ref to kidney disease, and also
is a wealth of knowledge, which when you are a
caregiver is power.
Welcome, and God Bless

Anne and Les

[boxman55]

Hi Barbie, So glad you found us. Yes you are in the right place for kidney related information and support. I look forward to your posts and know that we are here to help


Boxman,Moderator

[monrein]

  to this site.  So sorry to hear of your husband's health issues and being a caregiver is not a real picnic either.  We have both patients and caregivers here and together our members have vast experience with all aspects of ESRD.  Post often.

[G-Ma]

   Good choice..this is probably the best site of people on the web for caregivers as well as patients.  I wish I had known about this when my husband was ill.
Ann

[jessup]

G'day and 

[MandaMe1986]

Hello 

[Tinah1968]

 

[Normie]

  Barbie.
You are in the right place for support and information.  We even have that chat room you are looking for.  Come on in and chat with us.
Normie

PS  My daughter has two Shih Tzus and my son has one.

[paris]

   We are glad you found us.  There are many caregivers here and they understand your pain.  Please post often and look in the chat room to see if anyone is there.  It gets busy late at night.  There is lots of good people here that will be here to support you.  Come and share. A burdon is always lighter when you have many to carry it.   




paris, Moderator