looks like I'll be starting very soon

[Sydnee]

Went to the neph Tuesday I'm at 9% gfr. Neph wants me to get started with PD by June. Really scared. Ed seems to be doing OK on dialysis but none of my blood relatives did very well. all died in short order.

 Plus the 2 people in one house on long hoses how will we keep from getting tied up?

 Anybody know any organizations that help pay for the catheter placement surgery? We have insurance but it doesn't pay that well. We still have $6000 to pay from Ed starting in January of 2012.

[Joe]

Two people with lines getting all tangled up - brings all kinds of images to mind 

As for help with cath placement, I'd get in touch with the NKF and see if they can point you in the right direction.

Good luck!

[MooseMom]

Oh Sydnee, I don't have any answers for you, but I just want to wish you well at this scary time.  I hope you find some peace here on IHD.

[Sydnee]

I'm going back and forth with this so much. I really don't want to start. thank you MM

I did try to contact NKF they said they couldn't help but gave us 2 names to contact they were both dead ends. After quite a bit of looking on the internet and phone calls we are no closer to help then when I first posted.  Seems that no one cares until you are ON dialysis. Every single person that starts dialysis has to have surgery before they can start why isn't there help?

Anyway, just the other day I was joking once I start dialysis we can teach the kids how to double dutch.  And yes I have seen those other images too.

[AnnieB]

I don't know if this might be an option for you, but I applied for financial assistance with a local hospital, and they approved me so I will be able to have my surgery covered - otherwise I would have been in exactly the same position as you. Is there any way you could check into financial assistance in your area?

Anne

[Sydnee]

Not sure AnnieB although our hospital has a charity application They were unhelpful in the past . Last year when Ed had to start dialysis after the bills came in we asked for help. Well they didn't send the form. We had to call 5 times to get it by the time we got the form they wanted it back the next day. We sent it and found out they sent us to collection before they got our forms, Even thou we called to tell them it was on the way. It was amazing everything they wanted. Copies of titles to everything we own cars, house, account statements, retirement, property tax statements, payroll stubs for 6 months, even what we get from food stamps and lieap. In the application it never asked about expenses or how many people in the household.

We live under the poverty line for a family of 6 (which is what we are).

Oh and I know it's the hospital being hard to deal with since when we went get evaluated for transplant we asked for help from that hospital and it took much less time and we got the help we needed.
But the local (I mean the 1 within 1 1/2 hours of home) will not except payments on any bills less the $300 and all outstanding bills must be paid in  FULL within 10 months. They have always been hard to deal with but until 2012 Ed's work had really nice insurance, locally owned they would fight for the customer.