Back on Track

[Restorer]

Since I got put on hemodialysis in May, I've been trying to transfer to a closer dialysis center. Yesterday they finally had an opening, and I'm changing centers on Friday. I'll also be changing my schedule from Tues-Thurs-Sat to Mon-Wed-Fri. This will, at least, save me money in gas, but now I guess I have to figure out about changing doctors and everything.

More importantly, I finally managed to call UCLA to reschedule the transplant evaluation appointment I missed thanks to being in the hospital in May. They were able to squeeze me in on August 31st. Now that it's looming again, it's almost all I can think about. I'm a little anxious about it. I'm going to Vegas for 2 days the weekend just before that. I hope I can enjoy it instead of being worried.

Just an update on me, I guess.

[Marina]

Hey  Ma,

congrats  on  changing  units,  hopefully  for the  better.

Enjoy your  weekend  in  Vegas.  Eval  is  no  big  deal.   I  was super  nervous  before mine,  and  it  was  a piece  of  cake!!!

Just  make sure you  let the  coordinator  and  Drs  know you're  serious  about the  transplant.  Ask  alot  of  questions and  take  alot  of  notes,  they  like  that.     I  see  the  evaluation  appt  like  a job  interview,   self-confidence  is  very  important  at this  interview.     
you'll be  fine,  so  don't  stress  and  definitely  DO  NOT  worry about  a  thing,  except  staying  healthy!!!!!!

 Take care!!

[Restorer]

Oh, wonderful. Self-confidence is something I don't do very well. 

I hope this unit change will be for the better. At least people will speak English there.

[okarol]

Glad to hear you've got a new unit. Also happy you scheduled the transplant evaluation. You should get waitlist time that dates back to when you began dialysis (this is a pilot program in Calif. and a couple other states.)
You will be fine - they just need to be sure you are healthy enough and responsible enough to get a transplant. Just for fun, check out the "What NOT to do or say at the Transplant Evaluation!" thread here http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=703.0 - 

[Restorer]

Oh boy, the same question 25 times? I'm going to have to prepare myself to be patient. I can't even understand why a nurse needs to ask me to detail all my surgeries off the top of my head every time I have a procedure, when I know they have it all in the computer. Tolerating things like that and pretending to be GREAT! aren't things I like doing anymore, but I guess I can do it for a day. 

[Restorer]

I just got back from my first treatment at the new unit, and it feels good to have two sessions in two days. It's smaller and quieter than the last one, and of course much closer.

I'm in a better mood today, so I'm not feeling as pessimistic about the evaluation as before, but I'm still a little worried.

okarol, do you have a link to information about that program? I did a cursory search while I was at dialysis, but it's hard to find things with my phone.

I was thinking about it some more, and I think the thing I'm most afraid of is a line of questioning like this:

Doctor: When did your kidneys fail?
Me: I was diagnosed in March 2007.
Doctor: When did you start dialysis?
Me: September 2008.
Doctor: Why did it take you so long to come to us for a transplant evaluation?
Me: Uhh...

I don't have a good answer for that, at least not anything that wouldn't raise doubts of some kind. I'm worried that either they'll think I don't care enough about my health, or... well, that I have other issues that need to be worked out first. Is that something they're likely to ask? In general, are they really sensitive about things that might (in their eyes) predict negligence toward the transplant? Am I just overanalyzing everything? 

ETA: Maybe I should start a new thread in the Transplant section?

[okarol]

ETA: Maybe I should start a new thread in the Transplant section?

YES - we can discuss this in the Transplant Section.  I started a new subject here http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=19903.0