Mike in Nawlins'

[mholiver]

 Hi my name is Mike and my story goes back to year 2000 at age 42 my career of choice was a personal computer analyst and I had many jobs throughout my career here in the New Orleans mostly because of shifting economical environment.  in the year 2000 my seventh job ended with the company being sold to a conglomerate.  bipolar runs in my family and at that point it reared his ugly head at age 42 with some unfortunate circumstances through two years of mania and one year of depression I became unemployable but meds  allowed me to at least function. 
I am very blessed with a very supportive family who loves me unconditionally through all these challenges to cope with the bipolar and the mental anguish felt.  my drug of choice became food. you see I was scared of the addictions of gambling drugs and  illicit sex as some bipolar patients in a mania state practice but living in New Orleans the biggest enjoyment and calming affect was food, arguably the best in the world.  so I began a regiment of unhealthy eating over many years the first consequence of that was diabetes. I'm  type two diabetic at first it was  mitigated with pills and medicines and then grew to the need for injecting insulin.  I am currently on a very high dose of Lantus every day from those 17 years of not taking care of myself  being driven mainly by the bipolar.  I ended up in kidney failure. 
now there's a unfortunate story that goes with that bottom line my doctor did not seem to have read my blood labs for a year while I was in failure in January 2016 I had a fairly normal kidney function and by December 2016 it was down to 20% without my being notified.  I do believe if it was made clear what direction my health was going in and how drastic it was going to change  I would've at least had a chance to make changes to healthier practices to mitigate that but it was not the case.  by February I was down to 17% and was told dialysis was at Inevitable. 
after some back-and-forth with family and doctors I determined my bipolar and agoraphobia would not allow me to leave my home for a dialysis center three days a week for treatment among strangers without my service dog.  as so an at home treatment being PD,  it became my attempt at treatment and mitigating like kidney failure.  I couldn't be happier with the center that I was assigned to including my doctor and my nurse who is walking me through PD training.  first it was a week of manual PD  which for a number of reasons I came to hate and would no longer continue.  I was put on an accelerated cycler training and now I am on the cycler for a week and it has been going very well. 
I am Blessed with my family and especially my wife who make sure I am kept healthy and have all the support in the world above and beyond the call of duty.  so I'm currently on PD with the evaluations continuing on how effective it is. The answers are not in yet.  I hope that it is as I don't wish to ever have to go to a center for treatment   thank you for accepting me to the group  and I look forward to meeting you all in cyberspace.
 as an aside what I'd like to do for fun and in many cases can no longer.  number one is ride my motorcycle often sometimes long distances with friends and to visit other places and experience many scenic & twisty roads.  I used to ride 25,000 miles a year and when I can  traded in my Yamaha sport tourer it had 180,000 miles on the odometer.  because of my weakening I bought a can am spyder trike to try and I didn't really like it much but then had a  lapse of attention and was in an accident and it was totaled.  that was the last time I rode. 
my service dog is a basset hound and my breed of choice.  my family and I help rescue dogs including my Bassett and I work as a ministry to rescue hound dogs.  we used to foster them on their way  being adopted to their forever home but now I just do transport in my minivan from shelters to the vet hospital for treatment as they come in to rescue. 
my other ministry is support of the military and for years I was with the Patriot Guard Riders which is a veterans motorcycle group that serves as honor guards at military funerals. 
I am now 59 and because of my health have had to curtail many of these activities.  over the years the summer hear in the deep south gradually did so anyway but with weakening strength more and more I find that necessary.
I am blessed with 2 loving daughters in their early 20's.  My wife & I are married 30 years.

[cassandra]

Welcome to the site Mike

   


I hope PD goes well for you.

Take care, Cas

[Charlie B53]

Hi Mike!

Welcome to the IHD Family.  You will find us to be very accepting and this can be a great place to blow off a bit of steam when it feels like the world has been crushing in on you.

Everyone is very willing to share most everything.  The total shared experience can be a huge help when encountering a new problem.

Sorry you totalled your Spider.  My second 'owned' bike is my 79 Harley which I bought new while working at a Dealership long long ago. She doesn't get many miles on her every year.  I feel that weak I'm not so sure that I trust myself.  She AIN'T stock, and runs quite well.

I hope to see you posting often.

Take Care,

Charlie B53

[kristina]

Hello mholiver and welcome tho IHD
I also hope PD goes well for you and many thanks for your kind work to rescue dogs
and helping to look after them until they are being adopted to their forever home.
Greetings to New Orleans and all the best wishes from Kristina.

[OldKritter]

hello and welcome

[kickingandscreaming]

Welcome, Mike.  I also do PD and have rescued dogs including my current 15+ year old squeeze seen in my avatar.

[mholiver]

who I am SlaveHooman to :

the basset is Alley Oop (6) my psych service dog
the Queen is the bagle (beagle basset...white)...Jenni Lynn (13)
the brown/white hound is Walker the Walkerhound from Walker, LA (12) (Walker Elvis)
the brindle (on floor) is athletic Gracie Mae who is a Mountain Curr...breed bred to hunt/tree bear in NC

[Jean]

Hi Mike and    to IHD. We are glad to have you here, not you being ill, just you coming to the best kidney group ever!!! That is quite an intro you have and thank you for working with the dogs. We look forward to many good chats with you.

[mholiver]

from New Orleans, twice a year I would ride to visit the Smokey Mountain National Park, usually a 4 day trip.
here, I'm on my favorite road anywhere, the Cherohala Skyway at it's peak
and on the Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap with 318 curves in 11 miles, is America's number one motorcycle and sports car road. Designated US 129

[mholiver]

as an additional note, I express my life primarily on facebook
feel free to friend me (you might have to message me who you are) at mholiver@cox.net
you'll see my basset as my profile pic and American Flags in my cover pic

[smartcookie]

Hi, Mike!  I help with a dog rescue in South Carolina!  I do transports when they come through my area.  My dog, Heather, came from there.  She is a standard poodle collie mix and was in a dog hoarding situation.  She is the sweetest!  Your dogs are beautiful!  I have always wanted a basset!