Hello From England!

[HSM]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Hardev I'm 22, male and from Birmingham, England.

My story begins December 2005. I was working as a bartender (I was 20 back then) and quite enjoyed the job. Obviously that time of year pubs, restaurants, clubs etc are much busier and we were no exception. But different members of staff were ringing in sick everyday up until Christmas day(it seemed most were blatantly afraid of hard work while some were genuinely ill). Either way I wasn't a slacker and I worked as many extra hours as I could to help the company out. I felt the fatigue kicking in after some of those long shifts but did enjoy most of them. On Christmas day I fell ill and wasn't able to get out of bed on boxing day. I was supposed to work on boxing day but that wasn't going to happen. I went to the doctors as soon as was possible and he told me it was just a bug, then by chance he took my blood pressure and it was something like 180-170 over 90-100. He told me that was too high for a 20 year old and the testing began.

After finding the creatinine level high in my blood I was sent to get my kidneys screened. They told me they were bigger than a normal persons but of course that didn't mean anything to me at the time, I didn't know why someone would have bigger kidneys than a normal person at this stage.

After seeing a specialist about July 2006 they confirmed I had Polycystic Kidney Disease. I was seen once every few months until 2007 but did go to the hospital for some iron injections in December.

I was seen once in 2007 in February and after that my appointment in June was cancelled. The next one was re-scheduled for October but around my birthday in July I wasn't feeling too good but couldn't get the appointment moved forward.

In September a blood test appointment was sent for me to attend. (The nurse that gave me the iron injections was curious as to why nobody had followed up on my case since February, Lucky me!) The Blood test was on Monday 3rd September 2007. It showed that my creatinine level was 1087. So on Tuesday I had a Tesio Line inserted and had my first dialysis treatment. I didn't even know what dialysis was 24 hours before but now I was on it. By Friday I was registered with a dialysis unit and have been attending since September last year.

I tried to keep it short. lol. The full story is much longer, but i won't bore you guys. But I'm more than happy to tell it another time. lol. It's great that i've found this forum. I look forward to learning about everyone else's stories and where they are now. Well thanks for reading!

HSM

[Romona]

 

[boxman55]

hey HSM welcome to IHD. look forward to your posts. Please feel right at home.

Boxman, Moderator

[flip]

Welcome, HSM. I'm with you, a year ago I couldn't even spell dialysis, now I'm on it. It's not a bad ride if your spirits are good.

[HSM]

Hey Flip, I agree. I'm grateful that I'm still alive! At least our condition is treatable, there's no point feeling sorry for yourself although that is easier said than done. I think we all have days where we just want to go home. lol.

HSM

[rose1999]

Hi Hardev, I'm in England too, I'm carer for my Dad who is under the QE as no doubt you are too?  This is a great site with loads of caring knowledgeable people. 

[willieandwinnie]

HSM. You have found the perfect place for information and support. Great introduction and can't wait to read more of your story. 

[petey]

  .  Glad you found us.

[HSM]

Hello Rose, yes I am under the QE. Even though they don't have the best reputation they actually have some very caring people working for them. That's what saved me and my health.

HSM

[bolta72]

  and what a great intro, post often and the best to you.

[aharris2]

I didn't even know what dialysis was 24 hours before but now I was on it.

 
Nasty shock. Welcome, there's plenty of great people and great info here - empower yourself!

[Sluff]

Welcome to ihatedialysis.com HSM,

Is boxing day a large event in England? Is it actually Boxing  or something else? We are glad to have you here. That is a heck of a way to find out about ESRD but not uncommon. I think some of us are so busy with life we don't see the changes in our bodies until a significant episode.

I think you will like it here, because there is lots to read and many areas of interest. If you need help just ask. We are here for you, feel free to post as often as you like.

Sluff/Admin

[HSM]

Hello Sluff, no boxing day isn't really big here, I'd imagine most people are resting from the night before. lol. I was just scheduled to work, funnily enough they closed at like 2pm (after opening at 11am) on boxing day it was so dead.

Well thanks, now I've found this site I will ask away and try to contribute as best I can.

Thank You, Take Care.

HSM 

[annabanana]

   HSM!

[Razman]

Thanks for your story and welcome to IHD.  You've found a great place to ask questions and to share with others.   

[Bajanne]

Welcome to our community!  And a special welcome from one born under the Union Jack (Barbados).  I have to let you know that your intro is the kind that the founder of this site loved.  He loved a long intro.  I know that you are going to have a great time on this site.  We are not just a dialysis site - we have become a real family, with arms open to receive other family members    Please keep reading and keep posting.  Take advantage of all this site has to offer.  There are quite a few Brits on our website.  So feel at home.


Bajanne, Moderator

[monrein]

  from    Glad to have you here but not glad that you need to be here.  Keep up your spirits but feel free to complain and vent here if ever you need to.

Hey Sluff, we have Boxing day here in Canada and we also had it in Jamaica.  It originated in the Middle Ages and was the day after Christmas when they would make up Christmas boxes with gifts and food for people who were poorer or of a different social class.  When I was a kid we used to give money or gifts on that day to people who worked for us on the farm.

[Ang]

welcome  aboard  hsm

[kitkatz]

Welcome to the site.  You have been on a large adventure in kidney disease.  Dialysis is a rough life sometimes.  If you need support come on over and post.



kitkatz,moderator