Introduction from anja

[anja]

Hello Fellow Posters!  I have had the opportunity to read this board for some time.  I signed up but didn't correspond... I have learned more here than I ever could in books.  My decision to do peritoneal dialysis was based heavily on what I learned here and the preceding Brumley Board. 
I had surgery for my catheter at the first part ofJ une and by the end of June, I was doing manual exchanges.  I am so very happy now to be using the Baxter Cycler!!!  What freedom to go about my daily routines and chores( now that I have some energy again). Though I do not like being a dialysis patient,  I love P.D. with the cycler for it works while I sleep in the comfort of my own bed.  My k/tV has been 3.3 and most of the rest of my monthly labs have been good.  My biggest problem is my hgb.  Am giving myself weekly injections of Epo.  My father started Hemodialysis 5 years ago.  The biopsy on my "petite" kidneys, as they called them at Mayo was inconclusive, but they think possibly Alport's Syndrome.  I still have some kidney function so consider myself very fortunate in many ways.

[Epoman]

Hello Fellow Posters!  I have had the opportunity to read this board for some time.  I signed up but didn't correspond... I have learned more here than I ever could in books.  My decision to do peritoneal dialysis was based heavily on what I learned here and the preceding Brumley Board. 
I had surgery for my catheter at the first part ofJ une and by the end of June, I was doing manual exchanges.  I am so very happy now to be using the Baxter Cycler!!!  What freedom to go about my daily routines and chores( now that I have some energy again). Though I do not like being a dialysis patient,  I love P.D. with the cycler for it works while I sleep in the comfort of my own bed.  My k/tV has been 3.3 and most of the rest of my monthly labs have been good.  My biggest problem is my hgb.  Am giving myself weekly injections of Epo.  My father started Hemodialysis 5 years ago.  The biopsy on my "petite" kidneys, as they called them at Mayo was inconclusive, but they think possibly Alport's Syndrome.  I still have some kidney function so consider myself very fortunate in many ways.

Welcome to the site, glad you decided to finally post. As you may have noticed I recently added a "Home" section for people such as yourself. Thank you for the compliment " I have learned more here than I ever could in books." It makes me feel good to know that this site is helping so many. So welcome to our site and post often. 

- Epoman

[Rerun]

Anja, I look forward to your input. Sometimes those who are silent have lots to say once they are comfortable with the rest of us.

I'm really "nosey" and want to know more about you.  M/F?  Age?  Weight in Kilos? (Just Kidding)  What part of the world?

Welcome!   

[anja]

Thank you for the welcomes, Epoman and Rerun!   I am a 55 y/o female from the Midwest - Iowa.  I am too short for my weight  - around 79 Kilos... 5' 6 3/4 tall, blue-eyed brunette... Compared to most of you on here I should have NO complaints!  I am  So thankful for this site and all  of you sharing your stories, both good and bad.  I fear I have 3 sisters headed down the same path as I so try to learn as much as possible for them also and try to keep upbeat all the time.  Many people say you don't LOOK sick, did you start dialysis too soon?  If they only knew, huh, sure you can associate!

[Rerun]

Oh, man, three sisters with kidney problems too.  Well, have them join the site! 
(just don't tell them your code name so if you want to vent about them they will never know!!)  (Ha)   

I have 3 sisters too!   

[Bajanne]

Welcome Anja!  Yes, this site has been one of my major tools in dealing with dialysis.  Now this is so strange - I also have 3 sisters!   And I am your age plus 1.
Bajanne

[Bear]

Aah, Anj' & Baj'....I'm 57, so we're all in our 50s. But are you all still in your 20s or 30s inside your heads, like me     

[Bajanne]

20s, 30s 
You are an old guy!   I am still in my teens in my head!!

[anja]

Thanks for the welcomes, Bajanne and Bear!  I too am so much younger in my head- until I look in the mirror and reality hits.  But ,oh well, age is just a number and as long as we keep adding them numbers, the luckier we are!  We came from a great era, didn't we, good music, great cars, a kinder, gentler time... didn't lock houses, cars, and always picked up hitch-hikers without a qualm... We knew our neighbors on a first name basis (as well  as their folk's) and still enjoyed neighborhood get-togethers.  Now when I think back, I thought people in their 50's were 'getting up there'-  But that is all relative to the age we happen to be .  And I refuse to act my age!  (but have to admit, I am beginning to think my driver's license picture is frameable-as well as the weight on it) HA!

[Bajanne]

Those of us born in the 50s are the luckiest on the planet.  We have been able to appreciate both worlds.  Here we are using computers like nobody's business, but we also remember when hitch-hiking was fun and if we heard the word serial, it meant one of those radio stories we listened to.
By the way, you Aussies, we listened to Life Can Be Beautiful, Portial Faces Life, Reverend Matthew (who packed a left when needed), There is None so Blind.  Just writing them down fills me with such nostalgia!!
I used to think they were British (not being able to distinguish the accent) until I found out they came from down under.
Here is where relativity steps in.  I remember at 19 being sorry for some 25 year old ladies, thinking that they were SO OLD!!!

[calypso]

I dunno bout you all but I'm still in my 30s for real! (course in my head I'm 15)

I don't wanna grow up!
I'm a toys r us kid!
They've got the best for so much less it'll really flip your lid!
From planes to trains to video games
It's the biggest toy store there is!

I don't wanna grow up
cause maybe if I did...
I wouldn't be dialysis kid!

lol it didn't even make any sense so I changed it hehe

[Epoman]

I dunno bout you all but I'm still in my 30s for real! (course in my head I'm 15)

I don't wanna grow up!
I'm a toys r us kid!
They've got the best for so much less it'll really flip your lid!
From planes to train to video games
It's the biggest toy store there is!

I don't wanna grow up
cause maybe if I did...
I'd then be known as dialysis kid!

Yeah I'm actually 33 but I feel 74 but my mind thankfully is in its early 20's still.

- Epoman

[calypso]

Yeah I'm actually 33 but I feel 74 but my mind thankfully is in its early 20's still.

- Epoman

Well at least you've got your mind. They say that's the first thing to go, but I guess "they" lied.

Me I feel like a 33 year old. Unfortunately I feel like a 33 yr old that just got through running a marathon. My heart is racing I'm all outta breath I feel slightly nauseous and I need to go lie down in a puddle of my own drool right now.

[angieskidney]

I am 32 for real! But I feel like I am 21 when it comes to life experiences (not health related) and feel like I am 60 when it comes to my health experiences (since I have been sick since birth). Age means nothing after awhile. It is all dependent on what you do with your time.