am new and waiting for surgery for PD

[duncan reamhiar]

well here i am... already had a fistula put in my L arm for Hemo... my Neph never gave me an option for PD or HD.. just sent me to surg for the fistula...  figured it was because of all my heart troubles... (have had several heart attacks and have 8 stents in place as well)... got a new dr closer to home who told me i DID have a choice  the matter and suggested PD was a better way to go as the restrictions were NOT quite so severe as Hemo... so as the fistula is not quite matured enough yet we decided to go the PD route... will have my surg for that 9/11.. am really a bit down about the whole thing at the moment.. 1/2 way thinking about not bothering as i really can't see anything good coming out of it in the long run... ( i know a wee bit about dialysis worked EMS for over 13 yrs.. worked in a Radiology dept for 5 yrs and worked on a Surg Unit for 3 yrs).. now my mind is a bit shot these days but i still know what all this entails.. and i know all about the cramps... the pain... the misery that goes along with this whole deal.. the wife found this site and wanted me to join so i could hear from REAL dialysis patients... been there and done that in RL almost daily for many yrs... but here i am you'll find me to be very direct and very honest when i have something to say so i hope no one takes what i say as an insult... it's not meant to be... anyway 'm 56 yrs old from Mass who transplanted down to South Carolina as i met my wonderful wife and tis is where she chooses to be so this is where i am... the main reason i'm doing this dialysis is for her... for some reason she still wants me around... lol.. i used to be a piper but the 1st Neph told me i couldn't play anymore because of the fistula.. the new one tells me i may be able to ad should not give up the thought of playing again.... we'll see what comes... as of now i had my fistula put in back in June 2013...  i'm still having some issues with pain in my arm from that... 'm at the point where pretty much everything makes me feel sick.. food, drink, smells... about the only thing i can eat without feeling sick now is pudding.. jello and up til about a week ago yogurt... but now the yogurt's making me feel sick.. used to go thru 2 litres of Diet Coke a night but have cut that back to about 20 ozs and switched from the DC to Sprite or diet 7Up... guess you could say i was addicted to the Coke.. lol have been a night owl for too many yrs so now i still stay awake nights and TRY to sleep during the day.. (sleep comes very hard).. too much pain from Arthritis and my Neuropathy keeps me awake. anyway i guess this is more than enough to start out about me for now no?...

[MaryD]

Welcome, Duncan!       

Before I started PD I was always feeling nauseous - now I can pig out with the best of them.  Maybe you'll get your appetite back, too.

Again, welcome.

[duncan reamhiar]

thank you Mary.. to be honest am very worried about what this all entails.. cost .. time.. and the rest... but i guess what comes is going to come regardless..

[Joe]

Hi there Duncan, and  to IHD! I am also practicing PD, have been for 2 years. I've found that the modality is good for me. It certainly lets me have the flexibility in my diet and fluid intake that keeps life easy to live. I think you'll find that, once you get started, your queasiness will settle down and you will sleep better. I do CCPD, so am dialyzing all night while I sleep. Most nights that winds up being just fine. Some nights I toss and turn and pinch my lines causing alarms that wake me up and cause me to have to shift positions. If you have questions, please ask away - we're here to help each other get through this.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

[Bill Peckham]

i used to be a piper but the 1st Neph told me i couldn't play anymore because of the fistula.. the new one tells me i may be able to ad should not give up the thought of playing again.... we'll see what comes... as of now i had my fistula put in back in June 2013...  i'm still having some issues with pain in my arm from that...

I'm confused, do you mean the Bag Pipes? Why would your first doc think that? Sounds like you have found a better doc - I say play away, just not next door to me

The pain two months on is a concern - what sort of pain? A dull ache? Sharp pain to the touch?


The nausia should get better when you start PD

[Rerun]

Welcome Duncan.  I'm so glad you found us.  Don't worry about cost.  Since you are starting Home PD Medicare will pay at your first treatment.  (I think)  Any way you will do fine.  It is not fun and a huge time hog but stick with us my friend.

Rerun, Moderator    

[Poppylicious]

  Duncan!

[Shaks24]

Welcome Duncan    .  I am waiting for PD Catheter surgery too. I hope you decide to play the pipes again and are able to do so with no problems.