Hello

[bmrdave]

Hello.
My name is David G.  I just started peritoneal dialysis on Sept. 13, 2013. My kidney failure stems from lupus that I developed at 16 years old in 1980. It had been a long slow decline and I thought I would reach my 60's before I needed dialysis but a bout with colon cancer and chemotherapy shot my creatinine up from the high 3's to the lower 8's. Luckily I still pass a good amount of water. As of now I'm still doing the manual exchanges but the clinic told me that by next month they should have me on the cycler.
I'll mainly be here looking for practical tips and suggestions on living with dialysis. If I find I have anything I can add I will do my best to do so in a clear manner.

Thank you.

[MooseMom]

Lots of people here on IHD do PD and would be glad to share loads of information/advice with you!

Thank you for joining and for offering to add to the font of knowledge that is IHD.  I have found that just about everyone who joins has something valuable to add, even if it may just be a "You're not alone!"

[bmrdave]

Thanks for the reply.

I guess I should add that my brother was on hemodialysis for three years before dying last year from a systemic infection. He developed lupus before I did and almost died from it then because it took so long to diagnose. Back then (the 70's) males weren't supposed to get lupus. When I got it they knew what they were looking for. His lupus was active most of his life while mine has essentially been in remission for a couple of decades. But damage done meant gradual loss of function, cancer and treatment accelerated it, and here I am.

Not trying to write a sob story. But you never know what information might be useful to others.

[Shaks24]

Welcome David. Glad you found this site and decided to join. I will be starting PD later this week. I hope you do well on PD and find this site very helpful.