Hi everyone...Russiankids3 here with my intro

[Russiankids3]

Great site you have here! Been lurking a while and feel you have a lot to offer me.
I have a complicated family history.  Great-grandmum died in the 1920's with "Bright's
Disease" @ age 36. Her daughter, my grandmum, died in 1960's of kidney failure @
age 42. Again from what they siad was "Bright's Disease".  Her daughter, my Mum,
was diagnosed with reflux nephropathy and secondary fsgs @ age 44 ,lived on dialysis
for 5 years then died after surgery to repair her aortic valve.

I am 42. Had recurrent UTIs in late teens, saw urologist after my family doc realized
something wasn't right.  Dx'd with bilateral reflux and had urteral reimplantation
surgery @ age 22.  Cont'd with chronic pyelonephritis anyway.  Then dx'd with reflux
nephropathy with extensive scarring of both kidneys @ age 25.  At the time doc
said not to worry too much about it- he felt I could live a "very" long time without
renal failure.  Well, he was right in a way.  I've made it so far with no dialysis, but I
added secondary fsgs to the reflux about 4 yrs. ago.  I have 18% function left at
this time and am in a downward spiral.  Have uncontrolled BP even though I'm on
3 meds for it.  Also anemic and so tired and cranky!  I also was dx'd with early-onset
Parkinson's disease 2 years ago(my dad has this).  Meds working good so far.

On the brighter side I am a RN who does home health care work with ventilator-
dependent infants, children, and teens. I work only part-time now.  In 2000 my
husband and I adopted 2 Russian brothers from Siberia. At the time Yevdokim
was 9 and Vasya was 4.  I have endometriosis and after years of fertility work
we decided to go the adoption route.  Ended up searching for our sons older
sis after Yevdokim kept talking about her.  The adoption agency and the Russian
authorities never knew about her.  Some Russian friends searched for her for us
and found her after 1.5 years two hours away from where we adopted our boys.
We adopted her in 2002 at age 13-her name is Oksana.  Anyway they are now 16,
15, and 10 and keep us very busy.  This sounds awful but when I had my medical
exam done for the adoptions my primary doc, who is a friend, made no mention of
kidney disease so we wouldn't be turned down.  My husband and I felt we could
it and we have!!  Life sure is not boring with these kids around!

This is getting way too long!  Well, I'm Irish and we do have the gift of gab!!
Looking forward to talking with all of you.  Best wishes!

[Joe Paul]

Welcome Russiankids3 , glad to have you aboard.

[Bajanne]

  to our community!    Hope everything goes well for you healthwise and otherwise.  What a large heart you obviously have (figuratively speaking only!)!  This is just the kind of community for you.  looking forward to hearing more from you.

[mallory]

Welcome, Russiankids3.  We're glad to have you here!

[Sluff]

Welcome to IHD. You will like it here.

[goofynina]

Welcome to Mom of 3 lucky Russian kids   We are so happy you have found us and glad you have joined our "family"  There is alot of information here, hopefully you find something that will help you.  If you dont find what your looking for please do not hesitate to ask any one of us.  We look forward to hearing more from you.

[Rerun]

Welcome Russiankids3 to our site.  I sure hope you can stay off dialysis for a couple of more years.  You never know.  All you need is about 10% function.  You take care of yourself and if you aren't already, get on a low protine diet.  That will all change once your blood hits the machine, but for now low protine helps prolong kidney function.  Look forward to your posts.

 

[Zach]

Welcome to the community!

[anja]

Welcome russiankids3!     Glad you decided to officially join us!  ( I also lurked a while before hand to learn all I could before beginnign dialysis - questioned the 'hate' title, but totally 'get it' now!!!)  What energy you must have to keep up with your three kids!     Kudos!  Anja

[Oc]

What a story!  Nice to "meet" you, and welcome!