New from Central New York

[highway61]

Hello all,

     I am new to this board and found it by accident.

     My wife and I live in update New York, not too far from Watertown and Fort Drum.

     A few months ago I was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease. It was caused by my high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. A week ago I had surgery to have a dialysis catheter inserted into my stomach. It is starting feel ok now.

     Next Monday I will have it checked and I guess they will do a 'flush test' on it. The following week my wife and I will be going to the dialysis center in Watertown everyday for treatment and training. That is the week of 5-9 December.

     We opted for this type of dialysis since I am still working full time and trying to get to the dialysis center three days a week would be a bit problematic at best. This is particularly true since I work 40 miles away in the opposite direction.

     We would love to hear from anyone else experiencing this to know what I have ahead of me.


     Thanks.

[MooseMom]

Oh gosh, we have a BUNCH of members on this board who use peritoneal dialysis like you will be using.  tbarrett was kind enough to outline her whole experience with PD on this thread...

http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=23591.0

She loves this modality, and I know she would be very happy to answer any questions you have from a patient's perspective, so I urge you to make her thread your first stop (if you have not already done so).

I'm really glad you found us; this is the very best site on the entire web for support to dialysis patients from other dialysis patients.  I hope you find your time here to be informative and even entertaining.

We also have plenty of spouses and caregivers who post here, and there is a special section for them.  Your wife would be very welcome.

[Rerun]

Hello Highway and welcome to IHD.  I'm so glad you found us.  If you find you like this board spread the word.  It is a good board especially for new people to dialysis.  I think PD sounds like a good choice for you.  It sounds like you are not having any treatment right now?  No hemodialysis until you are ready for PD? 

Hope all goes well.

Rerun, Moderator       

[dinks]

 

[kellyt]

   So glad you found us!  This is a great site to speak with people in the same boat as you.  It's a great site for your wife, too.  Lots to learn!  Do you plan on trying for a kidney, either living or cadavar?  I look forward to hearing more from you.

[highway61]

Oh gosh, we have a BUNCH of members on this board who use peritoneal dialysis like you will be using.  tbarrett was kind enough to outline her whole experience with PD on this thread...

http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=23591.0

She loves this modality, and I know she would be very happy to answer any questions you have from a patient's perspective, so I urge you to make her thread your first stop (if you have not already done so).

I'm really glad you found us; this is the very best site on the entire web for support to dialysis patients from other dialysis patients.  I hope you find your time here to be informative and even entertaining.

We also have plenty of spouses and caregivers who post here, and there is a special section for them.  Your wife would be very welcome.

Thanks MooseMom.

     I appreciate the link will most definitely check it out. I am sooo wanting to know what comes next and what it will be like. I am hoping to be able to maintain a somewhat normal lifestyle, as much as us possible anyway.

     I appreciate my wife being welcome, We have been married 34 years and couldn't do this without her. She has had Lupus and Fibromyalgia and shown me the way all of our married lives. She really is my strength and inspiration.

     I am really glad I found this board too.

[highway61]

Hello Highway and welcome to IHD.  I'm so glad you found us.  If you find you like this board spread the word.  It is a good board especially for new people to dialysis.  I think PD sounds like a good choice for you.  It sounds like you are not having any treatment right now?  No hemodialysis until you are ready for PD? 

Hope all goes well.

Rerun, Moderator       

Hey Rerun,

     Thanks for the words of encouragement. You are right, I am not in any treatment at this time. I will be starting PD on Dec. 5th. I just got my catheter put in. I hate the waiting for the next step and wondering what it will be like.



     You are right, this is my first treatment.

[highway61]

Hi Dinks,

     Thanks for the welcome!

     I hope things are better for you. I read a few of your past posts and really feel for you. No now should have to go through that.

[Wenchie58]

Welcome Highway!  I'm south of you (a bunch), just south of Syracuse!  You're going to to love this board and the people that carouse here.  I had a transplant three years ago and am going about life as it comes.  Good luck to you with PD..I know many here love that form of treatment.

[highway61]

Hey Wenchie58,

     Nice to hear from someone relatively close. Glad to hear you have gotten a transplant. Good for you!

     I am hoping for one as well. Five family members have been turned away, but one is still in the running so who knows. But I am failing too fast to wait for that and nothing is certain at this point.

[Wenchie58]

Highway...now is the time that stubborn has to kick in.  I know there were days, weeks , even months that I thought I was done for..on my way out, but amazing things happen when we least expect it.  Feeling like crap is just that, it wears you down and beats you daily.  THen some days you get to be the tough one and just kick it right back.
Are you listed for a deceased donor transplant?  I know some think that is a daunting thing to face, the wait time is estimated in our area at 3 - 5 years, but I got the call after just 15 months.
Keep on keepin on...it's what we Yankees do!   

[Joe]

Hi there Highway hope you find IHD a good resource. I too am on PD, but I do CCPD. Agree with MMs recommendation of tbarretts walk through PD, it is a terrific resource. Hope to hear from you more.

[dinks]

Hi Dinks,

     Thanks for the welcome!

     I hope things are better for you. I read a few of your past posts and really feel for you. No now should have to go through that.

Thanks
Things got off to a rough start but seem to be getting better every week.
 

[highway61]

Hi there Highway hope you find IHD a good resource. I too am on PD, but I do CCPD. Agree with MMs recommendation of tbarretts walk through PD, it is a terrific resource. Hope to hear from you more.

Hi Joe,

     Thanks for the response. How long have you been on PD? Are you able to work as well? How has it been for you?

     Sorry about all the questions. :-)

[highway61]

Highway...now is the time that stubborn has to kick in.  I know there were days, weeks , even months that I thought I was done for..on my way out, but amazing things happen when we least expect it.  Feeling like crap is just that, it wears you down and beats you daily. 

Keep on keepin on...it's what we Yankees do!   

Wenchie I didn't mean I was giving up, I want to be with my wife too bad for that. Plus we have a pair of wonderful grandchildren to watch grow up.

What I meant was that my kidney function is failing too fast to allow me the option of waiting for a family member to qualify to be a donor. As I said five have already tried and not been able to for a variety of reasons. One is still a possibility but not certain at this point. I need something now and dialysis is the only sure option.

[Poppylicious]

  highway61!

[kevinswife]

 

[highway61]

highway61!

Hi Poppy!  Thanks.

[highway61]

Hello Mrs kevin. :-)

[justme15]

hi highway 61!

welcome to the site! I did PD before I got my transplant, and it worked very well for me.  I was able to complete grad school.  in fact, my transplant is failing now, and I hope that I will qualify to do PD again when that time comes.  I have a full time job that I would love to (need to) keep!
the main issues are the tons of supplies and boxes you have to make room for in your house, and preventing infection. 
but I did fine for the 2 years I was on it, and I'm sure you will too!

[highway61]

hi highway 61!

welcome to the site! I did PD before I got my transplant, and it worked very well for me.  I was able to complete grad school.  in fact, my transplant is failing now, and I hope that I will qualify to do PD again when that time comes.  I have a full time job that I would love to (need to) keep!
the main issues are the tons of supplies and boxes you have to make room for in your house, and preventing infection. 
but I did fine for the 2 years I was on it, and I'm sure you will too!

Hey Justme,

     Wow, it doesn't look like PD slowed you down. As I approach my time on it I sure find that encouraging. Thanks.

     We have plenty of space for lots of boxes so no problem there. My wonderful wife is a real neat freak and keeps a clean house. She takes good care of me and is already gearing up to keep me free from infection. Thanks again.

[bleija]

if ur starting out on PD i dnt think it will slow u down at all, i was 19 when i was told i would have to go on dialysis and at the time i was working full time as a patient transporter<very physically demanding> and going to scholl full time.. did that for another yearafter i started PD, and the only reason i quit that job was bc my boss was a moron and ddnt want to be flexible with my needs. any questions feel free to ask, the scariest part is not knowing what to expect

[highway61]

if ur starting out on PD i dnt think it will slow u down at all, i was 19 when i was told i would have to go on dialysis and at the time i was working full time as a patient transporter<very physically demanding> and going to scholl full time.. did that for another yearafter i started PD, and the only reason i quit that job was bc my boss was a moron and ddnt want to be flexible with my needs. any questions feel free to ask, the scariest part is not knowing what to expect

Thanks bleija,

     Hearing things like this is very helpful. I am working full time and my boss has been pretty understanding. Our work involves a lot of travel and he is OK, so far, with me not traveling while I transition to PD.

     I have a pretty good attitude and feel confident I can do this. I am sure glad that I found IHD. Being able to read posts and to people already doing PD certainly is uplifting. Thanks to all.