1093ras

[1093ras]

I'm new to your board. My father-in-law is 81 and has been on dialysis for over 2 years. My husband is his only surviving child and we are all really tight. His wife is his primary care giver and is doing a really good job, but my husband and I do all we can to try to lighten the load. 18 months ago, Dodd, my father-in-law, was hospitalized with a blood clot and one thing led to another, as frequently happens with a hospital stay, and he was in there for over a month. By the time he got home he could barely walk and had really been through the ringer.My hubby vowed that from now on he was going to have to take a walk every day to rebuild his strength and so, ever since then, either he or I go up there to his house Mon-Fri and walk with him as he does laps up and down the driveway (92 ft each way). He rests in a lawn chair at the end of each lap. He and his wife do the walk on weekends.
He has hated dialysis from the get go. He freezes for hours once he gets home. His legs ache and his feet are numb.He wears thermal long johns nearly year round.
We think his kidneys were severely weakened after he had a heart attack three years ago (maybe four). The docs locally did the dye test to check for blockages, found a few, then sent him to Duke University Medical Center where they had to do the test again. The dye is so hard on the kidneys and his never really regained what function they had before the heart attack.
I need to post with you guys to see if I can gain some insight, and some tips, to help him cope with his situation. He is not afraid of death and wonders why God is keeping him here. He goes nowhere that is not medically motivated. He and his wife have resigned themselves to a routine of dialysis three days a week, and tho they never traveled or visited a lot before this, they go nowhere now, altho they certainly could.
Thanks for letting me hang out with you.

[anja]

Welcome, 1093ras!  So sorry for all your troubles but highly commend you for taking the time and interest in your father-in-laws condition to come here to learn.  You have entered a great site, run by a great man and his co-hort moderators plus a  whole community of supporters that all have a wealth of information to call upon.  You are welcome to read anything that pertains to your situation as well as asking any questions.  My father is 88 and has been on hemo.  for 5- 1/5 years, directly following his triple heart bypass surgery...  I am fortunate to be on home PD.    

[Sluff]

 

[Joe Paul]

Welcome 1093ras, Good job helping him along. He will do well with help like that   

[Zach]

Welcome to our community!

[Bajanne]

  to our community.  I really commend you for your involvement in what your parents in law are going through.  My own dad died at 89 from kidney failure, but they never gave him the chance to dialyse.  They just let him go, and we still feel robbed (this was ten years ago).  There have been so many posts here about so many things.  It is going to take you a while, but concentrate first of all on those topics that are of particular help, and then go from there.  Our best thoughts and prayers go to your father in law.

[angieskidney]

 

Your father-in-law is lucky to have you and his son to care so much about his care! I wish my own family was there more for my care .. but I am still young so perhaps that is why 

Anyway, he is lucky!

Glad you are here! Is your husband going to join too?