From South Jersey

[big777bill]

 Going to have fistula surgery on 11/17/2011. Currently stage 4 CKD with kidneys working at about 18%. I had a liver Tx on 3/22/2005 and everything has gone pretty good with that with the exception of kidney damage from the Prograf. My neph says she thinks I'll be a good candidate for NXstage when it comes time to start dialysis. I also am on an insulin pump for about 1 1/2 years now and have been diabetic for 10 years. My wife is a nurse so that has been a tremendous help as you can imagine. We live about 30 miles west of Philadelphia and that is where I go for most of my healthcare (Thomas Jefferson University Hospital).

[ToddB0130]

Welcome.  You'll find this site very helpful.  I'm also from the Philly area !

[lmunchkin]

Welcome Bill and so glad to have you join IHD.  It will be a great asset having a "nurse" in your corner for sure.  You are same age my husband was when he was diagnosed 7yrs ago.  Iam so glad that you are considering Home D.  We started with PD, which did pretty good for 5yrs, then he went in-center for almost a year (It was awful) and now does NxStage at home.

Also glad to hear you are getting a fistula done!  They are the best access IMHO!  Some complain about the looks of them, but as I said in post earlier, I really do not care what others think of DH fistula!!  I do however care that it is working masterfully!  And I do cannulate him, with no problems!

Sorry you have these problems but you have good support with spouse and IHD.  So you will be okay!  She can join too, we have a section for caregivers such as herself.  Ive gotten alot of support and info from this site. They have been a Godsend, seriously!

Again welcome & God Bless,
lmunchkin
 

[Rerun]

Hi Big777Bill, and welcome to IHD.  I'm so glad you found us.  WOW I think dialysis sucks.......  You have a lot on your plate.  I'm glad your liver tx is going well.  This is the place to learn all about dialysis and tx for the kidney.  Stay tuned..

Rerun, Moderator      

[big777bill]

 Thanks for the welcome! It looks like there is plenty of good info on this site for me to absorb and alot of experienced people. God bless you all, I look forward to getting to know everyone better.

[Desert Dancer]

Hi, Bill! 

My husband and I are originally from South Jersey (Vineland) - where are you? I'm really glad to see you're going to Philly for your care; medical competence in SJ is non-existent and I say that from long, hard experience. Jefferson's a great hospital.

Good luck on your fistula surgery! I found the anticipation is worse than the actual surgery.

[texasstyle]

Welcome Bill! That is great your wife is a nurse and I'm sure you know it. I've gotten a lot of great support here and have learned a lot about my husbands disease. There is a section here that talks specifically about people using NXstage if you haven't seen it already. Of course we share on many topics butthat is one you'd be interested in really reading. My friend just had his second liver TP at Jefferson. After a few months of recovery is starting to do very well. Glad you're here!

[kellyt]

 

[big777bill]

 Desert Dancer I'm from Rosenhayn just a stones trow from Vineland, as a matter of fact I graduated from Vineland High in 1973. Back then the townships sent their high school age children to Vineland and Bridgeton High before Schalick High School and Cumberland Regional where built to accommodate the surrounding area. Small world lol. Your so right about the medical care down here, it's the pits! All the good Drs stay in the city or Cherry Hill area where the money is at. I don't know how long you've been gone but they built a big medical center/hospital in Vineland to replace Vineland, Bridgeton and Millville hospitals but they still aren't the best.
 Texasstyle Jefferson has a very good transplant program, I'm glad to hear your friend is doing well. I really have a lot of faith in the Drs there, I've seen them do some incredible things. I've taken a peek at the NxStage forum and I'm sure I'll be checking it out further as I learn more about all this. My head feels like it's spinning right now with the pace that everything has been going. God Bless

[Desert Dancer]

Desert Dancer I'm from Rosenhayn just a stones trow from Vineland, as a matter of fact I graduated from Vineland High in 1973. Back then the townships sent their high school age children to Vineland and Bridgeton High before Schalick High School and Cumberland Regional where built to accommodate the surrounding area. Small world lol. Your so right about the medical care down here, it's the pits! All the good Drs stay in the city or Cherry Hill area where the money is at. I don't know how long you've been gone but they built a big medical center/hospital in Vineland to replace Vineland, Bridgeton and Millville hospitals but they still aren't the best.

My husband graduated from Delsea Regional. Technically his address was Vineland but it was actually in Gloucester Township.

We left SJ just about the time they closed down Newcomb and built the new regional hospital. I understand from some EMT friends of mine that when they take people there they advise them to get the hell out - transferred to another hospital, whatever - as soon as they can, 'cause they'll kill you there. I had a nephrologist in Bridgeton almost kill me due to negligence - got all my medical care in Cherry Hill, Philly, Voorhees.

Next time you go 'down the shore' say hi to the ocean for us. And "watch the tram car, please"!

[willowtreewren]

Hi, Bill.

 

Yep, good site for info and support. You'll make new friends, too.

Aleta

[Ang]