why, hello there :)

[sarahmanda]

Hi, my name is Sarah and I'm very new at this. I'm 24 and live in Texas. I've has hig blood pressure since I was 15, I took meds for it through high school, but stopped when I went to college...which is what eventually led to my demise, lol. Well this is really how it all began...in late May 2008 I had been having really bad headaches, and finally went to the Dr. to find out what was going on. Having no patience I simply went to a walk-in clinic and the found out my BP was throug the roof (roughly 220/160). The doctor (who was apparently a blathering idiot) put me on 5 BP pills a day though I hadn't been on anything in 4 years...and without doing any blood tests. As my body had gotten used to my high BP it caused my kidneys to stop filtering as well. I started having what I now know were symptoms of renal failure after about a week. After about a week of the meds I dropped down to 3 a day (with doctor consent, of course) and felt a little better. Two weeks after te first appointment I returned to the clinic because I had gotted sick at work on a few occasions, but this time saw a different (better) doctor. My BP was crazy low (74/53...super low for me, even today) and he did blood tests. My potassium was at 6.4, no biggie, justthat my heart almost stopped. My creatinin was at a 6, and most of my other levels were crap too. I was sent to the emergency room and almost started on emergency dialysis then. My levels were dropping, so they sent me home and I was set up with a great nephrologist.

For two years I saw him regularly and my crappy blood levels dropped closer normal. In June of this year I had some rather stressful things occur (including going from working 30 hours a week to working 80!) and my BP shot up again. We adjusted my meds and it worked well until a new manager was hired behind my back at the store where I worked...as manager...and my stress level and BP skyrocketed. For about a month and a half I came home crying almost every day, throwing up anytime I got really upset I had horrible headaches again and I was angry all the time. Between my job and a bazillion other things my stress was at ridicolous levels. I took my BP at home on Sept 23 and it was about 215/170. I called my neph and got a appt for the next tuesday (apparently I wasn't that concerned, haha).

When I saw him it was still almost as high and he admitted me to the hospital, just to get my BP down. They did the normal labs and my creatinin (which was at my all time low of 2.6 in June) was at a raging 10. They did a sonogram of my kidneys, more labs (of course) and discovered I had about 5% kidney function. I was diagnosed with ESRD on September 29, 2010 at the ripe old age of 24 years, 4 months and 9 days old...entirely too young for this.

the catheter was inserted the next day and I had my first dialysis treatment on October 1.  After going into the hospital the vertigo I had occasionally experienced worsened exponentially, so much as I couldn't walk to the bathroom. Almost as soon as my first treatment was over and they had wheeled me back to my room I got up, walked across the room and went pee all by myself! The next day I was even able to take a full standing shower all alone without calling anyone (my sister had previously had to wash my hair while I sat on a stool in the shower). I couldn't even explain how much better I felt as soon as I had my first treatment (I'm getting teary eyed just thinking about it). Ten long days after being admitted to the hospital I was released and two days later I started my treatments in a clinic.

I've been a dialysis patient for a whopping month and a half, but I've already come to loathe my TTS mornings . However my clinic has a great staff, the nurses and techs are (for the most part) amazing. My social worker has been fantastic, and I even adore my nutritionist (though she's a bit of a stickler). But as much as I hate dialysis I'm incredibly thankful for it.

I'm glad I found this site. We continue to be optimistic about my kidneys kicking back in, but in the meantime...I HATE DIALYSIS!!!!!

[Bajanne]

Welcome to our community, Sarah!  And you have started with a great intro: the kind the founder of IHD loved!  It is great to get to know you, and it is great that you decided to join us.  We are not boasting, just stating facts, when we say this is the greatest site for information, support and encouragement.  In fact, this is more than just a site - it is a genuine family  caring and sharing.  Your part is to keep reading and keep posting.
[Could you please change the colour you used for your font; it will be difficult for some people to read. Thanks]




Bajanne, Moderator

[rsudock]

WELCOME!!! I am 26 and just finishing my 4th month of dialysis ever. you seem to have a great attitude about D. Glad you are here.

xo,
R

[YLGuy]

  What a great introduction.  I am glad you found IHD.

[kellyt]

Yes, great introduction!  Welcome!  Where in Texas are you?  I'm just South of San Antonio (Natalia).
So glad you joined this site.  I wish you the best and look forward to hearing more from you.   

[sarahmanda]

Yes, great introduction!  Welcome!  Where in Texas are you?  I'm just South of San Antonio (Natalia).
So glad you joined this site.  I wish you the best and look forward to hearing more from you.   

I'm in Abilene, but am planning to move to Phoenix, Arizona when my Medicare comes through in January. My bf just moved there for school and I'm goin to be with him as he's really been my rock since this all started.

[chook]

  Glad that you are feeling better from being on the dreaded D. And loved reading your story!

[Rerun]

Welcome Sara to IHD.  This site is the best and there are people living with dialysis and getting transplants on this site everyday.  You are young and I hope you get worked up for a kidney soon.  I was 24 when my kidneys failed and I got my transplant and it lasted me 17 great years.  I'm back on dialysis and doing the nocturnal in center strategy and it seems to work for me.  I'm 49 now.

Please come back and post often.

Rerun, Moderator        

[galvo]

G'day Sarah and . Great intro. I'd like to hear lots more from you.

[looneytunes]

      Great intro!

[boswife]

   Yep! great intro for sure     ANd GREAT attitude!!  your going to be of great help here, and others a great help to you    Glad ya found us 

[peleroja]

Welcome to the group.  Great intro.  This is a great place for information and friends.  Glad you joined!