Meet the wearbear

[wearbear]

Hello
I am Joe aka wearbear.
I'm 45 year old and have been living with kidney failure since I was 26.
Cause of failure was IgA, diagnosed in December of 1985, during Christmas break of my freshman year of college.
I had my first dialysis treatment on January 11, 1994. That was hemo in center.
I switched to CAPD in March of 1995.
Had fungal infection in May 1998 and went back to in center hemo.
Kidney transplant July 21, 2000
That kidney started to fail in 2004 and I was back on in center hemo in November 2005.
Started training for home hemo, NxStage, on November 5, 2012.
Tomorrow first run at home with NxStage.
I'm married to a wonderful man, Mitchell, who is also my dialysis partner and has been a driving force to help me bring my dialysis home.
I'm not entirely sure I want to go through another transplant, if my results with home hemo are as good as others that may be where I stay.
Oh and I've worked full time almost the entire time I've been on dialysis, I've been very lucky in having employers who have been accommodating of my medical needs.

[boswife]

Beautiful picuture!!!  and    Sounds like you have some good things going your way (as well as the not so good  but.... ) Im glad you found your way here    We are nxStagers too (almost 2 years  )  and im so glad that you have a willing partner to work with you.  I was one of the slower ones to adapt, but thats just my personal fears not hubby's whos the D man  .   I will love hearing how your doing as it is a wonderful wonderful mode of dialysis and will just flow with your life once ya adjust to it all.  keep in touch, and once again... 

[Poppylicious]

  Joe (and Mitchell!) Lovely to have you here with us.

[Rerun]

Wearbear, welcome and God Bless.

Rerun, Moderator         

[drgirlfriend]

Hi wearbear! Welcome & great picture! I'm sure you have plenty of good info to share. My boyfriend was diagnosed in his mid 20's, too. I'd be very interested in hearing about your mental and emotional journey.

[MaryD]

Welcome, Wearbear!     

[MaryJoe]

Hello Joe, welcome to IHD.   

[cassandra]

Welcome to the site Joe 

take care Cas

[lmunchkin]

Hello Joe and you have come to the right site for sure.  I believe you will love NxStage.  Sounds as though it will fit your schedule perfectly.  I pray so at any rate.  Like Boswife, we are nxstagers too.  I love this modality. We liked PD too, but just wasn't dialysising my John as well as it should have, but it did last 5 years.  Since doing NxStage, all has gone great.

His labs are as close to perfect as you can get.  His meds have been changed to "as needed" instead of constantly taking everyday.  The only meds he takes everyday is his binders & plavix. He hasnt been in the Hospital or Er since Feb 2010, that I attribute to NxStage.  No chance of catching something from another by being at Home. He started out 6 days a week, but over time, he has finally gotten to 3 on & 2 off.  Neph approved this prescription, with the understanding that I will hook him up on an off day only if he needs it.  Well guess what, in over a year that he has been doing it 3on2off, I have only had to do him 3 times that I felt he needed it (fluid or BP too high ect....).
I give my husband alot of credit though. He is doing what he needs to do to keep from having to do it on his days off!  Im so proud of him. Plus, he does as much as he can to help, so that I dont get caregivers "exhaustion".  It can get very overwhelming at times, but he does try to do alot, and for that Iam greatful.

You ask us anything you want.  Us NxStagers are more than willing to help when we can! Iam a Die Hard NxStager for sure. Will advocate for it always!  Or till another Dialysis method comes along......l0l

Again welcome & God Bless,
lmunchkin