Hi - I'm Noel!

[nextnoel]

Hello all, and thanks so much for this site!  I have been reading it for awhile now, and am so pleased to be allowed to join; thank you!

My name is Noel (with 2 dots over the e, but I can't figure out how to do that with this program).  I am 61 (or as I like to say, "60-freakin'-1"), female, and am not yet on dialysis, but the day is coming.  I was found to have high blood pressure (210/155) during a routine physical about 7 years ago (have never had symptoms of any kind), and it's been a struggle ever since to control it; decrease in kidney function has been happening gradually, but is still pretty high.

I have been happily divorced for over 30 years, have a grown daughter, and work full time in Washington, DC - a good thing for so many reasons, including that I only have access to a computer at work, although I find this site so interesting and informative that I am trying to figure how to buy a computer for home!  I'm short, blond, plump (OK, I'm being kind here), and look perfectly harmless, but in reality, I'm a Force To Be Dealt With, and the older I get, the more comfortable I am letting that side of my personality show!

When my nephrologist first mentioned the likelihood of dialysis at some point, I absolutely freaked out, in my own way (I'm sure my face looked perfectly calm, but in my mind, I was screaming and running out the door, down the street, and into traffic).  I was very seriously considering refusing dialysis when the time came, but I started reading up on it anyway; what I read in the usual medical literature didn't change my mind - there were too many things I needed to know and couldn't find out.  Then I came across this site, and my whole attitude has changed!  I have a more realistic idea of what dialysis will be, and I feel as if I will be able to advocate for myself when the time comes - I don't do "helpless" very well, and for me, knowledge = confidence!

So thanks again for the openness, humour, good will, and knowledge you all are so willing to show - that takes guts, and I'm sure there are many others who haven't yet joined that are benefitting!








 

[Sluff]

Welcome to IHD Noel.

[angela515]

Welcome Noel 

[paris]

  Enjoyed your post.  Love you sense of humor!

[nextnoel]

Thanks for the welcome - it's good to be here!

[Zach]

Welcome to the community, good to have you here!!!
 

[okarol]

Hi Noel,
Welcome! There should be a club called "I'm a Force To Be Dealt With" - and I'd like to join!
You need to be tough to deal with dialysis techs!
~Karol

[nextnoel]

Thanks, Karol.  That club sounds good to me - I wanna be President (no, make that QUEEN)!

[charee]

 

[Fox_nc]

 

[kitkatz]

I want to co-president of the club of "A Force To BE Reckoned With".   Welcome!

[goofynina]

Excellent intro Noel    Welcome to our awesome website/support group.   Please feel free to post any questions, comments or concerns of your own, i am sure you have many questions regarding what lies ahead (dialysis)    And if you dont find what you are looking for, dont hesitate to ask,  we would be more than happy to help you out...  Looking forward to more of your posts. 

[Rerun]

Hi Noel(..over e)

Welcome to our site.  You should be on a low protein diet to preserve what function you have left.  If you aren't already then ask your Nephrologist.

I worked for USDA for lots of years so I know a few people in D.C. over in the Ag Building.  I was there a few times for work.  Spent lots of time looking through the Smithsonians.  Neat City if you like history.

Glad you came aboard!   

[Bajanne]

Welcome to our wonderful community.  I am so glad that you have joined us.  And you have done so at the best time - before dialysis. There is so much to be learnt here (as you have already seen).  I can see that you are going to be an interesting addition to our community.  I am looking forward to hearing a lot from this Force To Be Dealt With.
 

BTW, you can make an ë by holding ALT, inputting 137, and releasing ALT.

[angieskidney]

Hi Noel!! You should check out the chatroom sometime and the games and the .. oh heck just everything!! 

BTW, you can make an ë by holding ALT, inputting 137, and releasing ALT.

Epoman probably prefers sticking to letters that'll work on everyones computer though   It's all good!

*tries that ALT thing (knows that used to work on older computers before Windows)... ë WOW IT WORKS!!! THANKS Baj!!

[Joe Paul]

Welcome Noel, good to have you aboard.

[Fighter]

Hi Noël (notice the spelling, much easier on a French keyboard )!

Happy to have you aboard, you'll know everything there is to know about dialysis when you eventually get to that point...

[anja]

   Noël, glad you have joined our community, you will continue to benefit from it as you already have.  Attitude is so very important and knowledge can make you have powerful confidence!  Stay strong!     Anja

[nextnoel]

Thanks, everybody!  What lovely welcomes - you guys sure know how to make a newbie feel at home!

Rerun, your low-protein diet advice is good.  I was diagnosed around the time my daughter, Marie, went vegan, and she was learning to cook lots of healthy non-meat, low protein dishes.  Fortunately for me, she remembered what I had tried to teach her about sharing, and for a few months, she made me the exclusive beneficiary of her cooking overflow.  My GFR actually went up about 7 points!  I'm not quite as good about it now that I do most of my own cooking (and succumb to fast food sometimes), but I still tend to stay away from meat, and go light on the eggs & cheese.

BTW, I'm too dumb to do the 2-dots-over-the-e even with instructions.  I hold ALT, input 137, input e - and get a drop-down menu!  Meantime, I have copied someone else's successful "ë", and I won't worry overly about it - it seems as if you all know who I am, anyway!

Thanks again!

[sandman]

 

[mallory]

Welcome, Noel!  Wow, believe it or not, my first boyfriend's name was Noel.  I hadn't thought about him in a long time.  I was in first grade, after all, but I was sure he was the one for me.  Then I made the mistake of throwing his new cowboy hat in the creek and we were finished.

Glad you're here, great first post!

[angela515]

 

[jasperkat]

Welcome Noel!
I am also new to the Membership.  I lurked for a while.  Never stop advocating.  I am the bane of their existence in my husband's dialysis unit.  I question everything.  Given that they can remember which arm the fistula is in I figure it is necessary.
Jasperkat

[jedimaster]