still here

[smokinbeaver]

Been a while since me and my husband first started posting. He has been doing in center dialysis since April? Don't even remember. He has been frustrated waiting and waiting till they could start to use his fistula. They are using it, with some problems. He still has the catheter in his chest and they use it sometimes. Sometimes they use both fistuala and catheter. The neph has said his fistula has "branches" and wants him to be seen by the surgeon that put it in. It will be interesting if he does get to see him. That dr is leaving and I think that means our hospital won't have any general surgeon. The nephrologist is the only one in our city, and I think he is getting ready to retire. Don't what will happen as there are 2 dialysis centers here. Guess Jon's fistula "branches" will have to have surgery to remove them, whatever they are. Guess they will do a fistulagram to find out. My husband just wants the chest catheter out. Hes already had it infected, but lucky he didn't end up hospitalised. He also has these recurring fevers over the weekends and his these fits of throwing up with them. Goes on a few days. He was sick Christmas day. He has a couple days he feels good and then bam. He is still working, and able to work around his schedule. Got all the bills piling up with the dr visits and hospitalizations before and at the beginning of dialysis before he was approved for medicare. Wonder how the hell we will pay them and the collection agencies off.During all of this, we got custody of our Grandson! He has been here since the end of Sept. Had a great Christmas with a 10 yr old in the house. I and school are in the process of trying to find out what his learning disabilities are and whether he is autistic. He is a joy except when it comes time to work on homework. He can read good, just does not commprehend what he is reading to answer the questions. Evaluations have probably started this week. I had loads of questionaires to fill out and meet with a School Pyschologist this fri to discuss his history. It didn't help at all that the school in Mass sent his cumulative records, but they never made it here so the school has been blind on what to do for him. In the mean time, we are still trying to get medicaid for him because he has no insurance (Mass. DCF still has custody, we a guardians, grandparent foster parents) and we can't afford to take him to a pediatrican or nuerologist till we have the medicaid. Just some of the stuff going on here. Oh, and yes Jon and I are still having sex, just not that often. Having a kid in the house we have to try to schedule it around his being here, and Jon's illlnesses and work schedule. Each time we wonder if it will be the last time, but we stay hopefull.

Sharon

[boswife]

Well well, its sure good to hear from you and you sure have a bunch goen on for sure!  It's always facinating to me to read of others 'lives' and how they get through them    Guess we just keep trucken on i guess and do the best we can.  Hope it all comes together for your grandson as well.  Lots being done with thes precious angels so keep on the teachers, and keep an eye on them too    All the best with that    So good to hear that 'other' part of your life is still 'happening' for you... Ya crack me up 

[smokinbeaver]

Thankyou Boswife!

[lmunchkin]

Sorry for all your troubles, SB.  My John had branches or shoot offs.  Its just where the blood seeps out of the vein and tries to create another vessel.  His VS went in and tied them all off.  It worked great and he has not had a problem in (fingers crossed please) almost 3 yrs. It is just "Buzzing" its own little tune!

I have an Autistic grandson too! He is 10. It can be very difficult, I know!  But they are so gifted in many ways!

Praying all goes well for hubbys fistula! 
lmunchkin

[CebuShan]

When my first fistula was done, it was in my forearm. At the same time, the Dr. put one in my upper arm o develop "just in case". My forearm fistula developed so many branches (plus it developed so it only worked in reverse!) that they decided to abandon it and pull the other one to the surface to develop. That one has been working with no branching.
Good Luck to you both!

[Chris]

Hello again, nice to hear from you. Sory to hear of the troubles, but can understand the Medicaid frustration.