correction

[brenda seal]

Hello everyone , Let me begin by apologising - I asked a question here when this is the place for introductions , so I am sorry and can only plead ignorance .
  My husband Laurie began CAPD last week . His story is a long and complicated one , so are you sitting comfortably ? Laurie has suffered with rheumatoid arthritis for over 30 years now , he has had both his hips and both his knees replaced . These replacements were all done when he was in his late 30's and early 40's . The treatment for rheumatoid arthritis includes taking vast amounts of very harsh medication and it is these medications that have led to his kidney failure . The medical profession do not tell you when they write prescriptions that if you take this drug for a prolonged period you will damage your kidneys - they just wait until your kidneys are stuffed and then tell you it's because you have been taking Indocid or Prednisone for so many years !
  Long term use of Prednisone has also caused him other problems - including very thin skin. He therefore has a skin condition called Bowens disease which means he is very susceptible to skin cancers . Three years ago he had to have his right eye removed  as a result of a squamous cell carcinoma ( a type of skin cancer ) . The doctor who initially treated him for this was negligent and the cancer eventually ate away at his orbital bone . This resulted in a 14 hour surgery and the loss of his eye - but saved his life ! He cannot have a prosthetic eye as there is nothing left to hold it in place so he just wears an eye patch . The local children think he is a pirate .
  The arthritis  in his hands and the fact he only has monocular vision makes connecting the lines very challenging but he prefers to do it himself rather than go to the hospital for dialysis .
   Laurie delayed starting dialysis as he saw it as the beginning of the end , however , his kidney function became so bad recently - he was coping with only about 9% kidney function , that there was no choice but to begin . Unfortunately a week in and he now has an infection and is feeling very unwell . We have another bag of antibiotics to put in today so hopefully that will do the trick . I don't know how he contracted an infection so early into CAPD as we have been pedantic about hygiene and following instructions . I can only assume it's because he is prone to infection because of the rheumatoid and long term use of Prednisone , we can only hope it will not be an ongoing issue .
  Thank you for listening and we look forward to your encouragement and support .

[willowtreewren]

Oh, Brenda..... what a huge amount of difficulty to overcome.

 

I hear you about the meds and their side effects.....  If only we patients could be better informed. But then, is there an alternative? It is hard to know, and for Laurie, it is water under the bridge.

 

Aleta

[lmunchkin]

Well Brenda, Im so sorry for all this!  Hopefully the cultures will tell them something!  It will tell them what kind of infection and what caused it. Best of Luck to you both!

Please keep us posted,
lmunchkin
 

[MooseMom]

Oh my goodness...what a terrible story, so full of obstacles.  We will help as much as we can.  Please give us more information once you get it.  It must be a very tough time for both of you.

[Traveller1947]

Hi, Brenda.  So much trouble...I know you will find comfort and support here.  Regards to Laurie.

[Rerun]

Hi Brenda, and welcome to IHD.  You do have a tough road.  Dialysis is bad enough.  GEEZ  You hang in there and bless your heart for being a caregiver to your strongwilled husband.  He has to be strongwilled or he wouldn't do all this.  Bless his heart.

Lots of information here.  Stay tuned to IHD.

Rerun, Moderator   

[billybags]

I really hope the antibiotics work quickly., They always say it is "down to hygiene" What a load of sh*t. The infection could be, from the bowels, from the operation, from any where in the body. They will not have this. I pray things go well for you. It is awful having peritonitis, my husband says it is so painful. He has had three bouts in about 3 years.

[CebuShan]

      to you Brenda and Laurie. You found a great place for info and support. You've had a rough road so far, hopefully it will get some easier.