Hello i'm new

[deamarie]

Hi I've found some great info on this site.  My husband is 42 he got really sick in May 2012.  We went to our family doctor and he was told he had high blood pressure,diabetes, and had blood in his urine.  After seeing many doctors we were told he had issues with his kidneys, congestive heart failure and needed a stint.  Long story short he had the stint was told everything went good kidney function was okay he then started feeling bloated and gained about 14 pounds in fluid.  Our kidney doctor wanted to do a biopsy but was stopped by the heart doctor because my husband was on plavix.  We then decided to go to a much larger hospital for a 2nd opinion.  We just walked into the emergency room and my husband was admitted to the coronary care unit.  We were told his kidneys were failing.  A biopsy was done and he started dialysis in the hospital.  The biopsy findings were really never 100% clearly explained we were told that all my husbands signs and symptoms looked like a disease called minimal change disease that they would start treating with steroids and he would have to do dialysis 3 times a week so we start our 3rd week of dialysis tomorrow.  We are very scared and new to all this.  My husband has always been a hard working active full of life person now we are just kinda lost.  I am doing everything I can to keep his spirits up but sometimes I find myself needing my spirits lifted.  That's why I wanted to join you.

[M3Riddler]

Hi I've found some great info on this site.  My husband is 42 he got really sick in May 2012.  We went to our family doctor and he was told he had high blood pressure,diabetes, and had blood in his urine.  After seeing many doctors we were told he had issues with his kidneys, congestive heart failure and needed a stint.  Long story short he had the stint was told everything went good kidney function was okay he then started feeling bloated and gained about 14 pounds in fluid.  Our kidney doctor wanted to do a biopsy but was stopped by the heart doctor because my husband was on plavix.  We then decided to go to a much larger hospital for a 2nd opinion.  We just walked into the emergency room and my husband was admitted to the coronary care unit.  We were told his kidneys were failing.  A biopsy was done and he started dialysis in the hospital.  The biopsy findings were really never 100% clearly explained we were told that all my husbands signs and symptoms looked like a disease called minimal change disease that they would start treating with steroids and he would have to do dialysis 3 times a week so we start our 3rd week of dialysis tomorrow.  We are very scared and new to all this.  My husband has always been a hard working active full of life person now we are just kinda lost.  I am doing everything I can to keep his spirits up but sometimes I find myself needing my spirits lifted.  That's why I wanted to join you.

Deamarie,

The best thing for you and your husband is education. Dont wait for the professionals to come to you and teach you. Try to learn as much as you can on your own. You also should not be afraid to question anything your husbands docs say.  The more you know, the more you will be told without asking. 
Was your husband ever informed about the different dialysis options other than in-center? This is law that they must do this and often do not.

Welcome to the group!!!

///M3R

[Sydnee]

M3R is right educate  yourselves. My husband started dialysis in January 2012. This site is a great place.
Have you thought about home dialysis at all?
There is no reason why your husband can't still be how you described him. best of luck and Welcome.

[lmunchkin]

Welcome Deana!  I know this is very scary stuff for not only your husband, but for you especially.  It is a tough thing to watch your loved one go through these things.  Go to our caregiver section.  It is where I go to learn different coping mechanisms with this dreadful disease.
Just love one another through it.  Educate yourself.  It will help in the long run.  Know your options and learn the pro's & con's of each option.  This is an excellent site for learning too.

In the meantime, just take care of yourself.  Get some "me" time as much as possible!  When or if he dialysis's, he will start to feel better and will be surprised at just how sick he was.  Dialysis is not thrilling at all, but it is not the end of the world either!Hang in there Deana.  It will get better over time!

Again Welcome & God Bless,
lmunchkin

[chinksnicky]

Welcome,I agree,try to learn as much as you can,they seem like they don't always want to tell you what you need to know,just ask anything here and someone will have an answer,someone here has been through it before you,Good luck      Nick

[Grumpy-1]

As has been said - learn all you can.  Ask questions of everyone - the DR, the nurses, the clinics, and here!!!!.  Also, take care of yourself, you do your hubby no good if you make yourself sick (both from worry and not taking proper care)  Check in on the site often.  Don't be afraid to rant or rave about the stresses, the downs and then turn around and support someone else - that will lift your spirits as well.   Keep smiling and keep on going.  Grumpy

[Joe]

WhatGrumpy said, and