New member from Washington State

Hello all,

Just recently found this board so i'll get to introducing myself.

I have been doing In-center Hemo for 13 years. Diagnosed with ESRD in September of 1998. I was on the transplant list until the 14th of December 2011 when I was told I was permanetly removed from the list. Along the way there was several screwups that kept me from getting a transplant. Twice I had to start over as they lost my records and a few doctor screwups, plus living conditions factor into those 13 years. I will admit that since the 14th I have been angry.. and unfortunately not just a little bit with how things turned out for the transplant list.. mainly because the things that happened were beyond my control.. and with my Health that's not a good option I like to try and remain in control with how my life is.

I am also a Type I diabetic for 35+ years and using a Insulin Pump. Have all the wonderful complications that go along with that and some stubborness when it comes to my Health.. But that Stubborness is what has kept me alive.

I have had 3 strokes since Starting Dialysis and was paralyzed for 3 years. Told I would never walk again, but I showed them how wrong they can be. Went from Paralysis to a wheelchair, then got sick of hitting my head trying wheelies in the waiting room of my treatment center so worked on walking again.. while i'm no olympic runner.. I can walk with minor assist from Leg braces.

Other wonders of Dialysis has to be all the heart attacks I have had along the way as well. I know Diabetes plays a big part in that, but it seems once I started Dialysis some things progressed alot faster down hill then I had hoped for. I stopped counting those after a few dozen, I figured hey this might be bad luck to count. Since then, guess what? No more heart attacks, although I have had to have a few proceedures done to patch me up in that area still. So take that as a lesson.. don't count health issues.. your body doesn't like it.

Now the living condition is playing back into things with the Dialysis and trying to get it figured out with my in-center Social worker but yet again it's looking gloomy. Lately have even been checking out places wooded near my Center for a living situation. I started Dialysis that way and at this point looks like I may be going back to that way as the government has done so many cuts in it's budget. I am only hoping that I don't have to be that down on my luck again because after 13 years I am not in the health that I was then.

I would be really interested in hearing how others are coping with living situations. For me I have no family or friends behind me for support so everything I do, including the will to continue has been for myself. I think i'm rambling now, so I'll stop the introduction before none of it makes sense.