Hi!

[skyedogrocks]

Hi,

My name is Larraine and my husband Rob has been on dialysis for just over a year.  I am 37, he is 39.  He ended up with kidney failure due to being a diabetic for over 20 years.

Since you will most likely never see my husband posting on here (typing isn't a strong point of his!), I would like to do the introductions.  I have to say, dialysis does suck.  Rob still works his full time job as an electrician and was going to dialysis 3 nights a week.  He just started the Nx Stage Home Dialysis.  The pros is that he feels so much better, no cramping and has been taken off 2 blood pressure pills.  The cons, I feel like our whole world revolves around this machine.  In reality, I know this is what is keeping him alive, but right now it seems like we live, eat and breathe the dialysis machine.  We have been told this will get better.

Enough about that.  We have been married for almost 5 years, it's the 2nd marriage for each of us.  We feel like it was destiny though, that brought us together.  His mom and I share the same first name (although we spell it differently) and birthday.  Weird huh?      He is the best thing that has ever happened to me and we are just so deeply in love.  We can't have biological children, but we are hoping to adopt this year.  We plan to adopt through the state.  We are so eager for our family to expand.  We do though, have 2 dogs...Skye a 10 yo lab and Luke a 2 yo german shorthaired pointer. 

Rob doesn't share the same blood type as his parents and sister.  However, we are the same blood type and even a 3 out of 6 tissue match.  Another reason we feel we are made for each other.  Unfortunately, I have to lose weight in order to donate.  So that is happening, slowly but surely.

It's nice to  have others to talk about as they go through this.  Sometimes we feel so alone, because others just don't know what to say.  My husband is just amazing though, he has the best outlook on life and is so positive.  We have never let this disease affect our life.  Don't get me wrong, it has been tough.  He had to deal with the mood swings, the minor depression, the menu restrictions, etc.  But he and I prevailed.

I look forward to getting to know all of you.  This is a great site! 

Larraine

[KICKSTART]

  you will find this a useful place to ask any questions and get loads of support!

[Joe Paul]

Welcome skyedogrocks , good to have you aboard.

[Laurie]

  to IHD

[Sluff]

Thank you for introducing yourself,skyedogsrocks,   it is the best way for us to get to know you better. Whatever your reason for joining our family here at IHD, I hope you find everything you need, but most importantly I want you to feel comfortable to ask questions and come back and post often. We have a caregiver section also for you to enjoy.

Here is a link to help you out.

Site rules: http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=540.0



Sluff, Adm

[okarol]

    Hi Larraine,
Welcome to you and hubby!
You will find good info in the transplant section as well. http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?board=27.0
Good luck to you both,
Karol


okarol/moderator

[lola]

 

[goofynina]

Hi Larraine,  Welcome to ihatedialysis.com. It's great having you here, so much info to read and hopefully you will have some to share as well.    Who knows, maybe, just maybe your hubby will come and read some too, i sure hope so    Looking forward to hearing more from you soon 


Goofynina/Admin.

[skyedogrocks]

Thanks for the warm welcome!  I look forward to talking to you all!   

[keefer51]

Hello Larraine and Rob. Welcome to this site. My exwife and i couldn't have children either well it was really me. So they decided to operate. My kidney failed and that put me on dialysis for a year. I had a transplant from my brother. It was a perfect match. The transplant lasted over ten years. I am now on dialysis for three years. The first time i worked full time. This time i can hardly walk. I am tired all the time. I am 51 now and by my self. I can't really give up because i don't know what tommorrow brings.

[kitkatz]

     Welcome to the IHD.com site! You will find a lot of helpful information here, as well as a lot of information of all types of dialysis.  Our administrators are Goofynina and Sluff. The moderators are Bajanne2000, Kitkatz (ME), and OKarol.  We are here to assist you in any way if you need help on the site. 
Let me give you a brief overview of the site.
There are lots of interesting discussions in the off topic area: http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?board=5.0.
 There is even a story being written by our members in this area: http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?board=17.0
Home dialysis discussions are in this topic: http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?board=25.0
The area that generates a lot of discussion about dialysis is the general discussion topics:
http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?board=2.0
This area of the forum is where the meat and potatoes of the dialysis world are discussed by the members. 
Feel free to post anything you want to discuss or if you have a question.
There is also a search box at the top of the boards to help you in finding topics of interest or answers to your questions.  You can refine your search, too.

I hope this short tour has helped you become better acquainted with IHD.com.

There is also a topic on adopting children in the forum. We have a few members who are looking into it, also.



kitkatz,moderator

[Bajanne]

Welcome to our community!  This is just the place to be for anyone dealing with this renal challenge.  This site was a god-send to me as I prepared for dialysis and it continues to be a very important part of my life.  We have become a real family here, with all the advantages of family - love, support, togetherness, fun.  so take advantage of everything.


Bajanne, Moderator

[Hawkeye]

Hello and 

[kelliOR]

Happy to have you here!  How wonderful that you are a half match for your honey  !
Looking forward to hearing more from you,

Kelli

[Wattle]

 

[Earlinda]

  to IHD!  I would like to hear more about your home dialysis adventures.   I am going to be starting training for NxStage in either September or October.

Earlinda