Here I am

[kitkatz]

I just found this site.  Great place!   My tale begins in 1998 in November.  I went to the emergency room for a severe, serious backache and ended up with kidney failure, double pneumonia, and heart failure.  I died, however the angels and I agreed I needed to do more things here so here I am still kicking.  I have been on dialysis for seven and a half years. Seems a century, not nearly a decade.  It sucks, sucks, sucks!  I am very pushy for my rights as a patient and often scare off new techs in the unit.  All I want from them is respect and care they would want themselves.  GRRRRR!  Nice to know there is a site to vent on.

Kitkatz

[kitkatz]

Let me continue the introduction here....
I am a 6th grade  special education school teacher.  I changed jobs when I went on dialysis from a teacher of the severely handicapped to an RSP teacher.  This job the kids do not spit, grab hair, or need diaper changing.  Been at it for seven years now at the same school. I guess they like me there.

I am known as the big mouth on the dialysis unit.   I should get along fine here.

[Sara]

Welcome, I like you already!    My husband is the one on dialysis, but will go along with whatever flow the medical personnel push him into.  I, on the other hand, question everything, and I'm sure they hate me by now.   

[Epoman]

Welcome to the site I'm glad you found us. You didn't mention your age? also you said: "All I want from them is respect and care they would want themselves." that is so true, I think that's what we all want. Again welcome to the site. Don't for get to tell your fellow patients about our site.

- Epoman

[Rerun]

Kitkatz,

Just remember, you are the customer!  You are "paying" them.  You are a "tax payer." 

My best friend was a Special Ed teachers for 15 years and now is in regular ed.... first grade.  I've heard the stories! 

Anyway, welcome to the site and vent all you want!   

[anja]

Welcome to the board, Kit, I am rather new here but have lurked in the wings for some time.  Lots of wonderful , experienced people here-glad you're joining us!   Anja

[kitkatz]

Okay Been reading posts and thought I would continue the saga here.  Happy times today.  I have two children. The oldest is 20 years old, the youngest is 19.  Danielle, my oldest, is a massage therapist living in San Jose, CA. She is looking for full time work.  Anyone live in the Bay area know where a job is available??? Just being a Mom here. LOL   The youngest, Maria, is enrolled in the Milwaukee School of Engineering in Milwaukee, WI.  Mucklucks and snow dogs!  Yep, a native born California went to Wisconsin!  She says to not talk to her about cold! She now knows what cold is at minus 23 degrees.  BRRRR   She is doing well and is happy.  That is all I wanted for my kids be happy and out of my house!   
    I am now an empty nester with my hubby of 20 years.  We have made is to 20 years and are pretty happy together.
     Dialysis is taking a toll on the sex life though.  My skin itches and I hate to be touched when I am itchy.  "Scratch scratch"!  I will start a thread on this if I get to figuring it out.
Well that is the intro on the kids.  I have three cats and a dog.

[kitkatz]

I thought I would spill some more thoughts about my life here.
I was thinking the other night that when I was a kid no one told me that the medical problems and symptoms I had were not my fault.  I must have missed that lesson.  I always blamed myself and it took a great many years to come to terms with what was done to me as a child in the medical hospitals as I grew up.
I also figured the financial hardships from the bills were my fault, too. This is lot for a little kid to carry , but I soldiered onward.
 I was incontinent for years due to low nerve control in my bladder.  I was threatend with punishment if I wet my pants or sat on furniture and wet it.  To this day I avoid sitting on nice stuff, even though I no longer have the problem. I have a memory of my grandmother making me wear my wet underwear around my neck around her house to stop me from wetting my pants.  I was teased mercilessly throughout elementary and junior high schools.  I had girls in junior high pulling up my dress to see if I wore diapers. It was a rough time. At age 12 it was solved with a Urostomy. 
The bladder refluxed into the kidneys from age 2 to 12.  Geez you would have thought I would have died after ten years of it.  I guess my spirit and soul had work to do even at a young age.

I have told you people things I have never, never told anyone in my entire life.  Maybe it is the incognito of the message board that allows for honesty.  I am now 43 years old and have learned a lot about myself and my growing up years.   I have learned about forgiveness and love. 
Sometimes I stand back and look at the world and I see the wonder of it all.
Then I plunge back into reality and just wonder what happened?

Katherine

[Rerun]

That is what this board is about.  A place to write down your thoughts and share feelings and experiences.  It is hard as a child to be sick because you don't quite know how to tell the adults what is wrong.  It sounds like you are giving back by being a Special Ed teacher.  You have more understanding than others what they may be going through with physical problems that some of your kids live with. 

Look back only to give yourself strength to go forward!   

[kitkatz]

    I got tired of being on the fourth page!

[thegrammalady]

welcome and vent away

[kimcanada]

What a great intro, its nice reading about a name that I have seen the entire time I was hiding mostly in the games room.

 

Kim 

[angela515]

  LOL, I didnt get to say it when u first posted, as I wasnt here yet

[mcjane]

You've come a looooong way baby.

[Ohio Buckeye]

I'm glad you bumped that up Kitkatz.
Never read your intro.
It does make me feel sad how you were so mistreated.
I'm sorry you had to go through that.

[okarol]

  I'll match your bump and double bump ya!   

[Sluff]

If Victor doesn't mind I will hump you too  I meant bump.  Welcome to IHD. 

[kitkatz]

Bad admin! 

[oleboy]

  to our family.








EDITED: fixed smiley tag error-kitkatz,moderator

[annabanana]

what a cool thing to be bumped up like that!
Gives me, a newbie, the chance to say
Welcome! Kitkatz!

[paddbear0000]

If Victor doesn't mind I will hump you too  I meant bump.  Welcome to IHD. 

  Sluff you're horrible! 

[MyssAnne]

LOL!!

Welcome, Kitkatz, after having been on here how many years???  We'll see how long this thread can continue!!!!

 

[Bajanne]

   Just realized I never welcomed you to IHD!!!   Please forgive me!    Welcome to our community!  We are so glad you decided to join us.  Please keep reading and keep posting.



Bajanne, Moderator

[KT0930]

I joined sometime after you bumped it the first time, Kit.  Interesting to read about you after all this time. Thanks for sharing!

[kitkatz]

Thanks to everyone who rewelcomed or welcomed me. I love it here at IHD.com.