Hi again friends,
I must say that I know that I have been lucky.
If you are "entitled" to kidney failure then PKD is your best bet (if they let you choose).
PKD comes with higher rate of aneurysm and mitral valve failure – not me.
I have nothing extra- no diabetes, heart or whatever.
And I was lucky to meet to most wonderful woman in the www. (After divorcing the… err… let's say, the opposite
).
On the first time we met I knew that it was
it. We talked for about 8 hours, and of course I told her that dialysis would be in my future. That was 28 years ago and we still continue to talk a lot.
And while I am the optimistic type I had quite a few rough moments when the first and second transplants failed, accompanied by severe sickness and numerous surgeries, and she was there, waiting outside the OR for hours, helpful and cheerful (and crying when I couldn't see). Btw, coming to the US saved my life, as at that time there was no effective antibiotic against my bug. I was 3 years on Cipro, which back then was experimental, until a new drug cured me once and for all.
And I have been lucky being treated in one of the best hospitals and dialysis units in the US (Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit MI).
And lucky enough to be an expert in my field (software for machine tools) so I could make a decent living and support my family.
The third transplant wasn't smooth, the kidney didn't deliver, the surgeon said 50-50 and I watched the twin towers collapsing while in the hospitals.
But that was almost 5 years ago and counting.
Prednisone was stopped after 18 months and now I take 3x500 mg cellcept and 2x1mg rapamune. No moon-face, no weight gain, no hair loss.
The name Epoman reminds that in 1987 I was the first volunteer to test EPO in my unit. My Hgb was 6 and I received 2 units of blood every other week. With such a low blood count you have no desire to do anything. The Epo study was doubly blind, but after 3 weeks I had no doubt that I was on the right stuff
Lately I was lucky again – 7 weeks ago I tripped and twisted my ankle. But fortunately I found myself sitting on the floor, no broken hips, no ribs, no nothing. After 6 weeks with a boot I can now put on the shoe, at home for now.
And if this post is a little long - you ain't heard nothing yet.
Altogether I put about 700 K of text on my website.
I try to focus on my blessings, but probably anyone has to get his/her share of troubles to appreciate their blessings.Gil
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