Newbie to the site.....fairly new to dialysis

[Luk3]

Hello,

My name is Luke and I am 41 years of age residing in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex (Lewisville).  I have Stage 4 Renal disease and was diagnosed in November 2014.  I had no idea that my kidneys were failing but always found it odd as to why I could not lose weight.....no matter how hard I tried.  However, I did this to myself due to the fact that I did not take my BP pills and was operating on blood pressure that was always about 190 or 200/100!  I didn't make anything better by drinking about 3-4 energy drinks a day!  I had it made up in my mind that if I didn't drown myself in energy drinks, I would not be able to function. 

I knew something was wrong when I started feeling real lethargic and had trouble breathing.  I stayed sick for 8 days before I finally decided to go to the hospital around the Thanksgiving holiday.  Every step I took was difficult because of my breathing.  I went into a very deep slumber one evening and my wife had the police kick the door down because I would not answer.  Since she did not have the key to the front door, she became very concerned when her loud knocking went unanswered.  The police arrived and they knocked on the front and the back door with their flashlights and I still didn't hear all that commotion.  So they had no choice but to kick the door in and I was shocked when I saw 3 firefighters and 2 police officers standing in the living room where I was sleeping asking if I was okay.  My wife was crying her head off because she thought I was dead.  It was at that point I figured that something was wrong.

The nephrologists at the hospital never made it seem like I would walk out alive.....but of course I did.  Thank you, Jesus!  After having horrible moments with PD dialysis for a couple of months, I'm now on in-center Hemo.  I am on the kidney transplant list and that will take 3-5 years!  I work for an awesome finance company and my boss is very understanding and changed my hours a few days out of the week so I can get to the clinic that is less than 5 miles from here.

But anyway.....glad to be in this community and look forward to getting to know everyone....and I do mean EVERYONE!!      

[Michael Murphy]

Welcome to IHD.  Most of here are draftees in the kidney wars.  I am glad you are doing well. I worked for the first two years of dialysis, retired because I was 64 and the company I was working for had morons running personnel.  I loved my job, UNIX systems work for 35 years.  Being retired is nice too.

[Vt Big Rig]

Welcome to the site, but sorry you had to find it.

You will find good information here. Sometimes contradictory, but always heartfelt.

I also have continued to work while doing home hemo. Isn't it nice to have a company that will work with you to enable you to stay productive through this stuff?

Good Luck and again WELCOME.

[iolaire]

Welcome, I'm glad that your work is "working" with you. I'm also 41 and employed on dialysis and very thankful that my employer of 16 or so years is working with me so I can keep my job and make my afternoon dialysis sessions.  I hope that dialysis is manageable well you wait for your time to come up on the transplant list.

[Simon Dog]

I work 30 hours a week with full benefits, and the only pushback from my employer has been "is there anything else we can do to help?".  (I resisted the temptation to say that depends on your blood type).

I have great luck to work for an extremely massive company where my use of benefits does not directly reduce my bosses home take home pay.   I've worked in companies where it does, and in those places, anyone who became a "burden" would be encouraged to leave.

[Michael Murphy]

Simon dog The question you repressed about blood type gave me the best laugh I have had in several weeks.  Thanks it brightened my day considerably.

[PrimeTimer]

Welcome, Luk3! This is a very large site with a lot of information. In my opinion, it's the best site. Sounds like you've got a handle on your dialysis and a take charge kind of attitude with speaking up to your employer about your schedule. Keep up the good work (both at the office AND at dialysis!)

[TheLivingWater]

Welcome to IHD!
God bless!

[Simon Dog]

As a relatively younger person on dialysis, you might want to consider home hemo.   For the right personality type, it can be a huge improvement in lifestyle.