Nice to meet you! Sorry that any of us have to be here.

[Chicken Little]

Hi, my name is Noel and I've been looking like a deer in the headlights for a couple weeks now.   

I've had a very slow deterioration of kidney function due to type 1 diabetes, which I've had for almost 26 years.  I'm a 43 y/o female and this is pretty much my only complication of diabetes, so I've been doing pretty well.  About six months ago the fatigue started.  I had a very stressful job and had just finished a huge project, so I assumed I was just tired from working 80-hour weeks.  Only I never felt rested, even when I wouldn't get out of my pajamas weekend after weekend. 

I had some labs run and sure enough, my kidneys were struggling.  My doctor put my on disability, because the stress of my job was not helping my condition.   So for the past two months I've been resting, watching my food and feeling worse every day.  My creatinine has gone from 4.76 to 4.93 in 2 months and they want me to get the stomach tube and start on PD ASAP.

I am beyond freaked out.  I already wear an insulin pump, so I'm used to being plugged into that.  Having a tube surgically placed and sticking out all of the time isn't something I'm mentally prepared for.  I visited a dialysis unit and I truly cannot imagine doing that either though.  I feel so sick and tired though, I don't have a choice.

I'm really trying to hold it together, but I'm a total wreck.    My employer isn't exactly understanding or supportive either.  They've moved someone from another office to replace me.  My friends and family think that's for the best, because someone with my health challenges shouldn't go back to working in that pressure cooker, but it's all I've done for the past 20 years.  I don't know how to do anything else.   I am very depressed over that too.

So welcome to my pity party.  Fun aren't I?  I hope someday to get my sense of humor back.  Right now I think it's stunned by all the toxins.     Nice to meet all of you.   

[charee]

Chicken little hope things improve but at least you have found us This is a great place to learn and do some ranting !

[Joe Paul]

Welcome chicken little, we are in the same boat with the diabetes. Thank God we still have eyesite, all fingers and toes. Kidney failure is my only complication too, not bad after having diabetes for 33 years. It takes a few treatments till you will start to feel "normal", Ive only been on dialysis now for 7 months. Hope they get you sorted out fast. Again, welcome!!

[tamara]

Hi Chicken Little

 

and no The Sky Isn't Falling LOL

[Sluff]

Welcome ChickenLittle,

Sorry for all your health issues. It gets overwhelming sometimes and you have to take time for yourself. IHD was created exactly for people like you, this has become a safe haven to rant when things get overwhelming, a source of endless information from others that are in the same stage as you are in your kidney disease.  You are not alone. the support system is remarkable here at IHD, we consider ourselves to be family.


So with that said, WELCOME to our family.

-Sluff
 Moderator

[jbeany]

 

I had to go on disability for a lot of the same reasons, CL.  I know how bad it feels to go from being productive to not having the energy to do a thing.  Hang in there!

[nextnoel]

Welcome, Noel, from another Noel!   

You've come to the best place to learn answers to questions, including some you didn't even know to ask - and to vent when you need to! I'm also diabetic, and still pre-dialysis, and I've found that the more you learn about the different types of dialysis, and the ins and outs of each, the less terrifying it seems.  People here are very honest and up-front about everything, so I know it'll be a help to you.

For now, remember to be extra kind to yourself - just by going through all you're dealing with now, you're doing far more than you think you are - and you're not alone!

Sending good thoughts & best wishes your way,
Noel
 

[angela515]

   Nice to meet you!

[mallory]

Welcome, Noel!  I understand exactly how you feel.  But, it will be okay.  I'm on PD, too.  I'm also on oxygen at night because I have decreased lung function.  So, I have one tube on the left side of my bed hooked to me for the oxygen, and another tube on the right side of my bed hooked to me for the dialysis.  I told my sister that I must look like a calf in a calf roping event at a rodeo, caught by both ends!  I thought I'd never be able to sleep, but I'm getting used to it.  And, you do feel better once you start dialysis.

Best of luck, looking forward to your posts!

[goofynina]

Hi ChickenLittle (too cute)    Welcome to, not only the best website regarding this matter, but also the BEST support group    I am sorry you are having to go through this, but take it from me, PD is soo much better than hemo and i am glad you at least get to start off with PD.   Having the tube aint that bad, i even forget its there sometimes.  You just stick with us girlfriend, we will help you anyway we can, 

[rimbo74]

Welcome ChickenLittle! 

[Rerun]

Chicken Little welcome to our site.  Your creatinine has not gone up that much in 2 months.  If it keeps going that slowly you have a few months left before treatment.  (My Opinion).  You need to talk to a few people on the different treatments (PD / Hemo / Transplant) and then decide.   I know how you feel.  They give you some "choices" but they all suck!  Just enjoy your time right now.  Rest up and go ahead and feel sorry for yourself.  You deserve it.

[Chicken Little]

Thank you for the warm welcome.  I've been reading some of your stories and feel a little wimpy now.   

I wish you all the best with your ongoing health battles. 

I spent most of today getting an Iron IV.  Hopefully that will help my fatigue.  It reinforced my decision for PD though.  I'm really not good at being attached to a chair for 4+ hours in the middle of the day.  I found myself getting REALLY annoyed by the people around me too, and I am normally a very compassionate person.   

My add-a-tube-2-me surgery is set for January 22nd.   My creatinine level isn't the only determining factor.  I'm vomiting bile on a regular basis (at least once a day) and just about everything gives me the runs.  Sorry to be so graphic, but that's what I'm dealing with.   There is nothing like feeling too weak to go throw up.  I've had just about every test imaginable.  My liver function is fine, so my kidneys are the culprit. It's not been fun always feeling nauseous, so I need to do something.   

In reading the PD books the nurse gave me, it appears you walk around all day with a gut full of fluid.  Is that right?  Did you have to get new clothes and what do you wear?  There is not a lot of room in my jeans for the tube, let alone a couple quarts of liquid.   

[goofynina]

Thank you for the warm welcome.  I've been reading some of your stories and feel a little wimpy now.   

In reading the PD books the nurse gave me, it appears you walk around all day with a gut full of fluid.  Is that right?  Did you have to get new clothes and what do you wear?  There is not a lot of room in my jeans for the tube, let alone a couple quarts of liquid.   

If you find this to become a problem, you can always request to do the cycler, that dialyzes you while you sleep 

[Chicken Little]

So you drain it all out on the last cycle?  The book I have says it stays in all day, until your next exchange.  That sounds kinda icky.   

[Bajanne]

Welcome, Chicken Little!  I saw your movie and loved it! 
You have been indeed thrown a great challenge, like the rest of us.  But I can tell you that it is all going to get better.  This is a great community that will be with you through whatever you have to go through.  It was a godsend for me when I discovered it just before I started dialysis (HD), so I know it will be a help to you too.
What about starting a topic dealing with cyclers, etc., in the appropriate section?  This section is just to introduce you to us, and us to you!
Looking forward to hearing lots from you.  Let us know how you are doing.

Bajanne2000/Moderator

[Zach]

Welcome Noel!  Good to have you join us.   

[st789]

Welcome chicken little, hope things will get better for you and it will.  You will find a lot of supports and info. from this site.  Welcome.

[aharris2]

  chicken little.....i'm still working on my intro...i'm on hd so i can agree with u is a little complicated but is got its good points too....i can sleep for 4 more hours...u can read more on my intro when its ready....for now just hang in there n enjoy this great site...and just like eating radishes i'll repeat myself  friend.

luv,

rolando

[anja]

   Noel, glad you have joined us.  Sorry that you have been thrown into the dialysis world, but read much and learn lots, it will help you .  Some of us PD patients have a daytime 'dwell' of solution, some do not.  Your PET( test for peritoneal filtration efficiency ) will determine the "prescription" your doctor prescribes.   You first learn manual exchanges then have the choice of having a nighttime cycler, then you only need to worry about your nightwear...snug and short at the waist.  Alot to take in at once, but we can associate, been there, done that.  Best of luck!