Hello I would like to introduce myself and my husband as well

[JackandMinda]

I found this site a while back and read some postings and me and my husband laughed and cried but have never participated.
I go by Minda and my husband goes by Jack and we are from Charleston, WV.
I have a long story but I will make it brief for now.  My husband is a hemodialysis patient since 08 when he was diagnosed with ESRD.
We have been through quite a bit in the last 4 years and I say "we" because he is part of me and I am a part of him.
He HATES DIALYSIS and HATES HOW IT MAKES HIM FEEL AND HOW IT RUNS HIS/OUR ENTIRE LIFE. 
We also are very thankful and know how fortunate we are to have a dialysis center 15 min. away and thank God daily that we are blessed to have dialysis as an option.
My husband has had a liver transplant 25 years ago and does not particularly like to talk about a transplant although that is what we are praying for. 
He has had multiple surgeries in the last 4 years mostly due to fistula problems and permacath problems.
Jack was in the US Marine Corp. and became ill while stationed at Camp Lejeune NC where there had been contaminated water on the base since the 50's.  This is when he first had his liver transplant while on active duty.  His renal failure has also been linked to this tragedy that has caused so many deaths and diseases and many many heartaches.  (fyi the US Government has ignored the scientific findings and has not yet taken any responsibility)
I am sorry to rant and rave right off the bat but as you all know living with dialysis or having a loved one on dialysis is a tough life. 
My heart breaks for Jack everyday and he will not complain if he is in pain.
During his entire life he has dealt with sickness and worked very hard to get his degree and became a pharmacist and it breaks his heart that he cannot work and provide for his family.  I went back to college two years ago to finish my degree and I have one more class and my internship to do to finish but HAD to drop out this term because of so many issues.  I am really anxious to get back to work myself and bring in some much needed extra income (we have two teenagers Hannah, 17 and Britton, 16) but his sickness has taken a toll on my health as well and I am having some health issues.  I am hoping it is going to result in  something that can be easily treated but cross your fingers there may be some surgery in my future.  This will be very hard because the nurse is not allowed to get sick! (and I am not insured)
And just think all of this going on in the middle of some MAJOR home construction!!  This is another completely different matter that is driving me to the brink of insanity but my husband who is completely stubborn added some more surgeries to his list because he tore a muscle in his stomach and it got very infected and created a mass of blood.  They had to go in and open him up and clean it out and drain it.  So while in the hospital at that time one of the dialysis techs stuck right through his fistula.....and it was completely ruined!  He ended up having 7 procedures this summer.  The A/C decided to quit working in our money pit of a house that week and the doc said "oh he can't go home and be in this heat!"  So we ended up living at a hotel this summer right beside the hospital for about a mo. and half. 
Please understand that I am not complaining just looking for a friend that may understand and from what I can tell there are a lot of you on this site that do!
We have a lot to be thankful for in our life we have beautiful and healthy children and we have a love and faith that gets us through our ups and downs. 
BTW.....HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE

[billybags]

  to the site Jack and Minda, seems like you two have been through the ringer. I agree it does break your heart when you think how life was before dialysis but it is the hand you have been given and you have to play it. Is there any chance of a transplant? Look forward to your posts.

[willowtreewren]

 

Hi, Jack and Minda.

Laughing and crying over what you read here is a part of it, isn't it?

I'm glad you posted! Welcome!

Aleta

[wvgirl]

I am new here too, and wanted to tell you that I am just getting ready to start dialysis and live in WV also. I am really far from the Dialysis centers and don't think I will be able to do home dialysis for a while due to lack of space and my own darn fears. I am about halfway between Parkersburg and Charleston which are 60 miles away and about 40 miles from Ripley where I think they have one. I am getting alot of much needed help and support here. Welcome!

[MooseMom]

Oh my...you two have really been through the wars.  I've heard of the water contamination problem at Camp LeJeune.  What a frustrating situation.

I'm very glad you've joined because, yes, we all know that dialysis and kidney disease make life just that much more of a challenge.  And you have discovered what many families have now learned, that this disease hits not only the patient but also the entire family.  The really crappy thing about how dialysis is delivered in this country is that it disables people and plunges them into poverty.  You can't work because you have to conform to a clinic's schedule to get your life-saving treatment.  There are many patients and families who are looking into doing dialysis at home so that they can work toward rehabilitation, not just survival.  To be able to go to work and then come home and dialyze over night is what would be great for so many patients.   I hope that one day, your husband will be able to get back to work and that dialysis won't keep him from that goal.

Take care, and thanks for posting.

[Traveller1947]

Welcome, JackandMinda!  Life certainly is a struggle, but on this forum you'll  find many new friends who understand your situation and are generous in their support.  There's lots of humor here too, as you've discovered.  Write often.  Wishing you all the best.

[Poppylicious]

  Jack and Minda!

[monrein]

  to IHD and let me add that it is just fine to complain, rant and do whatever helps.  Laughing is good too of course and you will most definitely find supportive friends here.   

[lmunchkin]

Welcome Mindy!  I hear your frustrations and can tell you that as a spouse to one who is on D , you make it through with your faith, friends and of course IHD.  It isn't easy, but with your love and understanding of each other, you will get through this!

Just know that we are here for you and you are not alone!

Again Welcome & God Bless,
lmunchkin
 

[boswife]

welcome and oh boy, have you found a place here that is going to help you so much.  It's going to help you feel so much more 'normal' in this life we all seem to share parts of.  And yea, it aint easy, but it is do-able    Glad ya decided to post, and 

[Rerun]

Hey you two, welcome to IHD.  I'm so glad you joined us.  You have a right to bitch a little.  My gosh what a ride you have been on.  I hope you get well and off to work and out of the house for a little bit.  I hope things even out for your husband too.  So glad you are here.

Rerun, Moderator   

[jbeany]

 

OH, yeah, lots of us on here on "active duty" in the daily war against dialysis! ( Hmmm....does that make my transplant leave or only partial duty status?) Welcome to the site, and feel free to rant away - we all love a good rant, and we all have vented a few of our own!

jbeany, Moderator

[looneytunes]

Hi JackandMinda and welcome to you both!