new to site - not new to dialysis

[fearless]

I am a 52 year old female
I've been on peritoneal dialysis for 8 years and have just had a neck catheter inserted to begin hemo, as my PD had become overwhelming and was not providing good enough dialysis anymore
my moniker is "fearless" because in Chinese medicine the emotion of fear is said to damage the kidneys - so I'm set to banish all fear from my life.
And kidney disease/dialysis can be so scarey: ironic right?
But if I wasn't truly fearless before, I have had to become fearless to survive.
May we all find fearlessness in ourselves.

It makes me sad to see so many new people like myself adding themselves here - i don't like to see this evidence that kidney failure is growing in the U.S. especially.   

but i am happy that so many will reach out and try to help themselves and each other   

[justme15]

hi fearless!
I like your name and its explanation! Is it common for PD to kind of 'run its course' after a certain period of time?

[willowtreewren]

Hi, Fearless! AND

 

I like your name, because attitude makes soooooo much difference!

Although I'm sad that some many folks NEED a site like this, I am glad that they and YOU have found it.

Read through the threads and join in!

Aleta

[renalwife]

 
Welcome fearless.  Acceptance with action is my mindset.  Hope you join in and share your experiences and your life.

[fearless]

PD may "run its course" for many individuals.  I recently learned that after five years, outcomes for all PD patients go down dramatically.  However there's at least one patient at my clinic who's been on it for 10 years.  My therapy time was up near 12 hours, and 7 exchanges (although 6 were 1500 and one was only 600 - i am a small person)
The dextrose (sugar) in the solution had also caused me to gain nearly 30 lbs, and i feel I was having some negative developments from the sugar itself (have never been diabetic: but this sort of thing can spur it)
I probably should have been weaned onto hemo sooner, but my doctor was very laissez-faire about most everything.  He always seemed to underestimate the seriousness of my disease as it progressed.  He retired recently, and the doctor who has taken his patients said that it was time for me to switch - my labs have not been as good as she would expect someone on PD to have.
So, I already had a fistula and tried to start hemo last week - but the first attempt to stab blew.  I was trying to continue PD meanwhile, but had been forced to switch to the Fresenius "Liberty" from Baxter "Home Choice", and this switch had only increased my frustration and the feeling of being overwhelmed by long treatments and piles of supplies, and the daily breakdown/set-up.
So, just had a catheter put in my neck, and will begin hemo that way until fistula recovers and is more ready.
Wow, didn't realize how good it would feel to tell this little story!  It's impossible for most in my life to understand what it means. 
Thank you new friends!

[fearless]

also, I've written a post about the Baxter "Home Choice" vs. Fresenius "Liberty"

you will find it under the title:

Fresenius "Liberty" SUCKS! 

 

[ToddB0130]

Welcome to the board, fearless.  I am a newbie too (pre-D) and this board is a lifesaver.

Fear causes kidney damage, eh ??  Well THAT explains it !!  HA.  (see the thread I started called 'Irrational Fears'

Again .... WELCOME.   I'm sure you will love it here.

[fearless]

actually, the title of the post about the Fresenius "Liberty" machine is:

Fresenius "Liberty" machine SUCKS!!! (and so does Fresenius)

tried to search, but it didn't work.  But it's under the home dialysis posts

[fearless]

Thanks ToddB0130!

I will look for that post....

[RichardMEL]

Welcome fearless! It's good to have you with us.

You mention that it's sad to have so many people join up because of kidney disease - and I totally agree - but with folks like you in our community, joining and sharing with everyone, the support base of great people just gets bigger and bigger - and in this difficult world we live in I see that as a really valuable thing!!

Welcome again!

RichardMEL, Moderator

[Ang]

 

[CebuShan]

       glad you found us! Your experience with PD will be a big help to those just starting. Hope you will come back often and share with us. Again,   

[ODAT]

Hi Fearless 

My mom does in-center hemo and is doing well. It certainly is a long time to sit with only one hand available. TV and naps are her friends.

It's a blessing that your doc retired. Always good to have a fresh pair of eyes looking after your health.

[lmunchkin]

Welcome Fearless to IHD.  Hope you find answers here!  Good people & Great Site!

Welcome & God Bless,

lmunchkin

 

[fearless]

thanks again everyone.  you've made me feel most welcome.  i pray for a long future together.

[bleija]

i did PD for 2 years and my kt/v was always right below 3, and my neph always teased me tht i did baby dialysis bc my treatments were 8 hrs 4 clycles at 1800mL.... but changing topics, there was a lady at my clinic that had ben on PD for 27 years. i just started hemo about 3 months ago now, and i absolutely hate it, i am comlpetely miserable, and my neph knows it lol, but im hoping to go back to PD just having some cath issues

[fearless]

hi bleija,
At the end I was doing 7 exchanges/24 hrs - 6@1500 and 1@500.   Therapy time on the machine was almost 12 hours, and I struggled to keep my adequacy at the minimum requirement.   I probably should have switched to hemo a few years ago.  Oh well.  Also, over the course of 8 years and all that dextrose (sugar) in the dialysate, i gained 30 lbs!  Now figuring my dry weight for hemo is tough because the weight is dropping quickly.  Anyway, compared to hemo, I loved PD, and as long as a person can get what they need successfully from PD, then that would be my choice too!