Comments on moving on from PD

[highway61]

Hey everybody,

     I hope you are all fine. I stumbled onto this site by accident when I was first diagnosed with ESRD. I was googling around for information and ran across this site. As my kidneys failed and I went into dialysis, this site was a comfort and a tremendous source of information from a very personal level. I got so much support and help from everyone here.

    Joe was one of my biggest sources of info and support. The dude is simply awesome. HouseOfDialysis was also a big influence who led me to go ahead and try to travel on PD and it worked great. Chook was was also a big help. tbarret also inspired me with all that she had been through. There are so many others that have played pivotal roles in my short PD journey. The biggest problem with this kind of journey in the past is that you end up leaving out some special people who also made a major impact. I apologize to each of you for that.

     So what brings all of this up? Well, I am celebrating one full year of my kidney transplant. I was one of the lucky ones to have a ready donor step up and pass me a kidney. My wife's baby sister loved me enough to donate a kidney to me. On this anniversary of the transplant I took the day off from work and my wife and I drove to where she lives and presented her with a dozen long stemmed roses. She was so surprised and excited.

     So what all that have to do with this forum? Well first of all to just simply say thank you for getting through this. Also do not give up hope. Life can be very strange and take odd turns. We did not ask anyone in the family to donate, My sister in law just did it on her own. A person who volunteers at our clinic had a neighbor who found out he was an ESRD patient and volunteered a kidney. Odd things can happen from anywhere.

     But even if there is not a new bean right away there are ways to make PD more comfortable to deal with. I learned many of those ways from here. My wife devised a number of things on her own. The thing is, and I really learned this here about PD, that nothing is as bad as it could be if you take steps to make it better. For the most part, and of course there are definite exceptions, things are only as bad as you let them be.

     But on the flip side as a kidney recipient I do feel of guilty posting thing here in PD land when I spent so little time here and got so much in return. I really would have such a much harder time with it without all the help, advice, and support that I received here.

     But I still feel like I am not worthy to correspond with people still heavy into PD now that I have had a fine new bean for a whole year. I troll the message topics and add something when I think I can add something meaningful. But overall I feel like an outsider.

     Dang this has gotten long. Sorry about that. I just was reminiscing on the past year and just felt like posting something where I had received so much hope, and encouragement. You all have made the journey livable.

[boswife]

oh its not long at all    Its a wonderful read and .......... so very wonderful to hear!    It's great that you would come and take the time to share with us and your never an 'outsider'.  Only one of the lucky ones on 'the other side'    Im super happy for you and your family for this opportunity at life at its best and i wish you many many more years, a whole long lifetime with this kidney of yours.  God bless you and dont be a stranger around here.  People can always use a 'lift' and hope, and i think you have shared that beautifuly 

[Joe]

Highway, don't feel guilty posting. You've been there, done that, and graduated with honors. You've always been more than forthcoming with your advice about your experience, and that's a big help to everyone. And you still have insights to share with the new folks, so don't be a stranger.

Congratulations on a year with a new bean, and here's to many more!

[Deanne]

Thank you for checking in and for your message of hope! 

Congratulations on your one-year anniversary. 

[billybags]

highway lovely to hear from you and so pleased things are going so well. keep looking in on us.

[Whamo]

I wish you the best.  I'm glad to hear you're doing so well.

[komomai]

Aloha highway, mahalo for your story and I enjoyed your inputs.

[Bajanne]

Congratulations!!!  on your one year kidneyversary!
One thing you must understand is that this community is for EVERYONE who have/has had/will have anything to do with renal disease (even if just curiosity), so don't try to ease out of your IHD family.  We always want to hear from you.

[chook]

I don't visit this site as much as I needed to a few years ago, and have only just read Highway's post, and yes, it's an old post but I do want to reply here. Highway61 has written exactly what is in my heart about IHD - this site was my sanity in the months I faced off againt the dreaded DIALYSIS and my very short 10 month stint on PD. I was glad to read that Highway felt I'd given him some support, as I always received so much back from this site. Obviously, as here I am checking on what's doin' in IHD land. So I'm hoping Highway is still going strong and now approaching his 3rd tx anniversary. Cheers to all.

[Charlie B53]

I'm absolutely tickled that you took the time to post your success and one year anniversary! 

Both Highway61 and chook.  Once you become part of our 'Family' you are ALWAYS a part of our Family.

Hearing from you, both, really is a great relief as when someone just falls totally off the boards we often assume the worst.  Sadly thinking that ESRD has taken another life way too early.

NEVER be afraid of not fitting in here.  Just because you have a successful transplant doesn't mean you have totally beating the disease, only that you currently have it well controlled.

Stay alert, stay on your diet, exercise as you can, take good care of yourself so your new kidney can help take care of you.

And above all, keep in touch.

After all, you are STILL part of the Family.