Where is all the YOUNG CROWD !!!

[jdwills83]

im 27 and im not the youngest in my clinic... I think there is a guy there who is 24.  ANYWAYS, sucks to be young and on dialysis...but there are a few here....

[topazbeauty]

I was 22 when I started last year, and I had my transplant earlier this year. I actually kind of liked being one of the young ones. I liked that as I was going through the acceptance process to get a transplant that it got others deciding to try. I tried to keep a happy uplifting adittude at the unit and you could tell how much it meant to the other patients there. Try to make something good out of it. I would make a goal to meet one person each week. And whenever we had a new patient (no matter what age) I would introduce myself and try to help them along. Being young sucks, but use it to your advantage to raise the moral of the people around you.

It's not too bad. Believe it or not, I actually go back to visit after my transplant to see people and talk to them for a treatment.

[carson]

I was 14 when I started PD, had a transplant that lasted until I was 30, then back on PD until I was 41, now I'm on HD  and at 43 I'm one of the youngest in the clinic....it's always been that way

[brandi1leigh]

I'm 34. There's only one guy who's younger than me (I think--I haven't actually asked how old he is). I agree that all the literature is aimed at those much older! The financial coordinator and the social worker at my clinic don't know how to deal with me. In fact, the doctor doesn't seem to know how to deal with me. The questions I have are different than a lot of of the other patients. For example, will I ever feel like going back to work? Right now I'm on disability, but pretty soon I won't be able to live on that. Since almost all of the other patients are retired, I'm in a weird position.

[gothiclovemonkey]

the social worker at my clinic couldnt even help me figure out how to find child care for the times i was on treatments lol it was really bad because im too on disability, and cant afford child care on my own...

[Riki]

This is why the world thinks that kidney disease and kidney failure is an old person's disease, because there is so little information to help those of us who are younger.  It's obviously not an old person's disease, since so many of us were diagnosed and even dialyzed as children.

[RichardMEL]

I totally want to be in your unit when you wear a short skirt on the recliner!!!!! 

[gothiclovemonkey]

lol
i bet im not the only one that gives the staff trouble
its fun you guys should try it. makes everyones life a bit more insteresting and fun! hehe

[KICKSTART]

Dont talk to me about giving staff trouble .! hehe . Im sure im the youngest on my unit , i think the rest are OAP'S . My age ? well my mental age is far different from my physical age ! 

[Zach]

 My age ? well my mental age is far different from my physical age ! 

[Dianejt]

  My age ? well my mental age is far different from my physical age ! 

Yeah mentally I'm 19, although somedays I feel 80 or my body does. Really I'm 54.

[Riki]

Yep... Chronologically, I'm 32... but I"m sure my body is in it's 80s, but mentally, I'm 12..

[Beth35]

I'm in Jersey.  I live in Central Jersey near the Princeton/Trenton area.  I first started dialysis when I was 20.  It was hard not knowing anyone that was young and dealing with the same issues.  All of the folks next to me were really old and you can't really relate to older folks.  I understand that you would like someone your age to relate to.  Not like you are wishing someone to be on dialysis at a young age, but looking to find someone who you can relate to.  I wish I had that when I was younger. 

I got a transplant when I was 25 and it has lasted about 12 years.  I am still handing onto it as long as I can but my kidney is failing me again.  I just had my second fistula surgery and I should be starting dialysis again now at 36.

So if you ever want to talk about it, you have another Jersey person here!

[gothiclovemonkey]

Im 26, my body feels older, and my brain.... well... heh... my 6 year old tonight told me.. "No no No mommy, do not play with ur food!"
If that tells u anything
what is OAP? (as a guess... old BEEP people?)

[RichardMEL]

I have fun in my unit sometimes. I bring them mango hand wash from the body shop which they love. On Saturday I was naughty and brought extra "medicine" for myself (a hip flask full of vodka) because my crappy football team was playing, and they got their backsides handed to them as I knew they would. I needed to calm down. Hey, it worked my BP stayed in the perfect range and my pulse was normal... this is what a depressant does for you. Alas when I was leaving one of my exit sites started to bleed. I joked that the "medicine" had thinned my blood a bit and that's why it didn't clot very well (yes I know that makes no sense.. hey I was "medicated"  ).

The staff despite telling me it was against hospital rules blah blah blah had a laugh and let me be.

[Stoday]

what is OAP?

Old Age Pensioner.

OAP is a term of abuse in the UK, equivalent to coffin dodger; wrinkley etc. 

[KICKSTART]

Aww come on its not a term of abuse, its what people over 60 are called here !

[Stoday]

Well, a very weak term of abuse. I don't like being called an OAP even though I am one and I avoid looking in a mirror in case I see one...

[FindingNeverland]

I'm 27, when I did PD nine years ago I was 17. I don't think I'm the youngest to go to my clinic but anyone who remotely looks my age is always leaving when I see them. I'm actually older than two of our techs, I find it kind of funny.

[-Lady Noir-]

what is OAP?

Old Age Pensioner.

OAP is a term of abuse in the UK, equivalent to coffin dodger; wrinkley etc. 

 

[Riki]

I have fun in my unit sometimes. I bring them mango hand wash from the body shop which they love. On Saturday I was naughty and brought extra "medicine" for myself (a hip flask full of vodka) because my crappy football team was playing, and they got their backsides handed to them as I knew they would. I needed to calm down. Hey, it worked my BP stayed in the perfect range and my pulse was normal... this is what a depressant does for you. Alas when I was leaving one of my exit sites started to bleed. I joked that the "medicine" had thinned my blood a bit and that's why it didn't clot very well (yes I know that makes no sense.. hey I was "medicated"  ).

The staff despite telling me it was against hospital rules blah blah blah had a laugh and let me be.

My nurses would have expected me to share

[murf]

I get a little sad whenever I see younger people at the center. I am of a reasonable age and think I've had a pretty good life. But I do feel for youngsters. It is the age where they should be out clubbing, chasing the opposite sex, drinking with their mates. Not a time to be stuck in a hospital with a tube stuck out their arm. I'm on the transplant list but would happily give it up to a younger person.