What makes you like and/or come to IHD

[keith]

I was just thinking and asked myself what makes me like ihd so much. At first it was a place to come and vent ,but i so became fond of some of the friendships that i've formed while on this site and most of all the fun that i have with everyone,but coming in a week i'll be gone for a while ( twirl  - u  kno  y )i just have to relax for a min. I'll holla  for the memories

[twirl]

just make sure you come back
I will miss you
I need your outlook on life
I love IHD but no so much without you and the members I have come to care about
take care
have a good 4th
PM me to keep in touch
return to us, please
see ya' dude

[MIbarra]

   Have a beer and think of us once in a while! Don't stay  gone too long!

[monrein]

Take good care Keith and post whenever you want to.

[flip]

I'm here for the atmosphere.

[RichardMEL]

I'm here because I love it when the girls flirt with me

no seriously I find it very informative to read here specially experiences of people who are going through the same thing as me.. the tips and advice and wisdom born of (combined) years and years of experience...

and the shared vents we can all relate to - fluids, dieticians, how we want chocolate/icecream/beer/bananas/etc etc etc.... hating cramps, or stupid/annoying/condescending techs/nurses... and the like.

The community is what makes this place. You know people CARE even if you've never met or talked in real life.. and are on the other side of the planet. It's special.

[lruffner]

There is a ton of info to read about, as well fun stuff too. The cool people don't hurt any either! 

[lola]

All the info, The chat room when people are in there AND when RichardMel flirts with us

[Romona]

People here understand. It is a great place full of information.

[petey]

I come here SOLELY to flirt with RichardMel -- Here's to you, RichardMel, you beast, you!         please don't tell my Marvin!

Seriously, I like coming here to read what other people (like me and Marvin) are going through.  I know where you all are, and you know what Marvin and I are going through.  That's a special thing that we don't find with our families and friends (though they are supportive, kind, and concerned -- they just simply don't know what it's like to "walk in our shoes").  I find lots of interesting information (especially in the "news" section when okarol posts articles).  I also like to think that by sharing our journey, we may be helping someone else who's "younger" (in dialysis years) than we are.

What I don't like about IHD is when some people always post negative, depressing, down-in-the-mouth stuff.  I don't like negativity; I find that it robs me of my "joy" and my positive outlook on life.  I know that we all get "down" once in a while, but there are some on here who are ALWAYS down, always negative, always hateful.  I really don't like it when someone here thinks they can get something started ("flame wars") and then get all defensive and threaten to tell the moderators (like a child tattle-telling) that you're not being nice to them.  But, I guess with every good thing, there's always some bad to it.

[rose1999]

The community is what makes this place. You know people CARE even if you've never met or talked in real life.. and are on the other side of the planet. It's special.

That says it all for me, I care about you all yet I've never met you and I know you care about me, it's a lovely feeling.  Everyone is so willing to help, share advice and knowledge .............oh and flirt  

Petey - what's it worth not to tell Marvin  Now we know why you won't let him on here, it's not to keep him away from us ladies it's to stop him catching you flirting with RichardMel 

[Ohio Buckeye]

I have gotten so much ihelpful information on this site.
I also have gotten so much encouragement and support and I feel like I have friends here.
I try to check daily to see how everyone is doing.
We will miss you Keith while you are gone.

[RichardMEL]

LMAO! Thank you ladies... I think I am getting a reputation!   

Just on the negativity thing... I think it has it's place. Being down and coping with that is part of dealing with living with Kidney Failure. I don't think there's anyone here (and that includes carers, family, friends) that hasn't felt down or depressed at some time or other about things related to Kidney Failure. I can understand not liking negative things or being negative.. but to deny it I think can be just as harmful in its own way.

One of the purposes of IHD is to allow an outlet for those feelings - and I think everyone would agree that it is better to get it off your chest (specially those women with... er.. nevermind) rather than bottle it up inside. I think that knowing that you CAN vent in here could be quite helpful to some members... specially because out there there WILl be those that can relate.

I'm not saying let's all be negative or post bad stuff or whatever... not at all... but you can't always be positive and chirpy. Well I can as long as our resident bevy of beauties continues to flirt with me... if you stop though... hoo boy I'll get NEGATIVE!!!     

[pelagia]

Let's see, now why do I like IHD?

My co-workers don't know much about ESRD, neither do my family or friends.

So I found IHD and I stayed.  There's so much to learn and plenty of interesting folks.  I discovered a funny thread the other day and the accompanying picture of some fellows in a parade on a windy day - very revealing - and it cracked me up.  Seems to happen a lot.  Maybe I can contribute something useful - one more perspective to add to the others.  And, finally, there is absolutely no place else in my life that I would be able to get away with using these little emoticons 

What more can I ask for? 

P.S. I am planning to start paying more attention to what RichardMEL is up to.

[Ang]

all  of  the  above

[glitter]

The knowledge here is priceless. I also like to follow some of the threads.....

[Chris]

I'm here to learn from RichardMel, gotta learn from someone who is a ladies man  

Well when I was first introduced to this room by a member, I thought I wouldn't fit in. Yet I find lot's of information, news and fun people. For the most part the information is not given in bland and boring way that I have found on other sites that would put you to sleep as you read it. And then there's the name of the website, who couldn't relate to that at some point while on dialysis. Dialysis is just not a bed full of roses.

[Sluff]

cause I have to.  I'm am kidding.  That thing with Richard Mel, well phooey he doesn't have a harem like I do... 

I started coming to IHD because of my kidney disease, I was told that it was inevitable to eventually be on dialysis. What exactly is Dialysis? Looked it up and here I am.  Still avoiding dialysis but, nobody will let me leave..   Truthfully I would not want to leave because the members here are so special and we have become a family. I look so forward to Chicago and Vegas. Those of you who really like it here really need to do anything they can to get to one of these meets. It puts a complete different spin on what  IHD can mean to you.

Last February we lost a beautiful Lady to this awful disease and somehow it has been a little harder coming here for some members. I say keep the spirit alive as those members that have gone before us are merely holding the gates open for the rest of us in time. They set the pace here and contributed a wonderful gift of themselves for the rest of us.

We should celebrate that, because without them in our lives there would be no IHD.

All members who are active here are so important to the survival of IHD, you all are such special people in your own way. I love each and everyone of you. Thanks for being who you are and continue to share your lives with us negative or positive.

That's enough but I love IHD.

[pelagia]

Last February we lost a beautiful Lady to this awful disease and somehow it has been a little harder coming here for some members. I say keep the spirit alive as those members that have gone before us are merely holding the gates open for the rest of us in time. They set the pace here and contributed a wonderful gift of themselves for the rest of us.

We should celebrate that, because without them in our lives there would be no IHD.

I am slowly but surely working my way through many of the older posts.  Through their own words it is possible to get a glimpse of the spirit that embodied those who are no longer part of the community - what made them laugh, how they dealt with adversity, how much they cared about their friends. This site is truly a celebration of the IHD friends that you lost. 

[RichardMEL]

Well said Sluff... I miss Nina too.. and of course the memory of Epoman is as strong as ever. This is his, and her, and everyone here's legacy.

I bow to the superior harem man... I but pale into insignificance, like honey compared to vegemite, in such company!!!

[paris]

I am here for Sluff, RichardMel, and my sweet Ken!       

I do agree with Sluff; being in Vegas and meeting face to face has made a huge impact on my life.  I am fortunate that my husband understands the importance of my friendships here.  He felt a little left out at first.  He didn't hesitate when I said I needed to go to Susie's funeral.  Not many spouses would fly across the country to honor someone from the internet.  When he saw Vandie and Okarol greet me at the funeral home, he "got it". He couldn't believe the emotions. He said people would have thought we were sisters.  We all know so much about each other--jobs, family, hobbies, pets, what we eat for dinner--that when we actually are face to face, there is a feeling being home.   

I have many heros here: most of you know who you are. You are making my journey better because of the path you have prepared for me.   I love that you allow me to have bad days along with the good.  Kidney disease isn't a walk in the park, and I think it is healthy to not like it some days.  But, my heros remind me that life is good and I can do this.   

I think I would still be in the "I think I am dying" phase if I had not found IHD.   I could write paragraphs on this subject.  If I had to put it in three words:  information, support and friendships.   Love you guys 

[twirl]

laughter and Sluff and Kimcanada and David 13 and Queen Ruth and O'karol and flip( for sure) and Ang and that is to just name a few

[keith]

cause I have to.  I'm am kidding.  That thing with Richard Mel, well phooey he doesn't have a harem like I do... 

I started coming to IHD because of my kidney disease, I was told that it was inevitable to eventually be on dialysis. What exactly is Dialysis? Looked it up and here I am.  Still avoiding dialysis but, nobody will let me leave..   Truthfully I would not want to leave because the members here are so special and we have become a family. I look so forward to Chicago and Vegas. Those of you who really like it here really need to do anything they can to get to one of these meets. It puts a complete different spin on what  IHD can mean to you.

Last February we lost a beautiful Lady to this awful disease and somehow it has been a little harder coming here for some members. I say keep the spirit alive as those members that have gone before us are merely holding the gates open for the rest of us in time. They set the pace here and contributed a wonderful gift of themselves for the rest of us.

We should celebrate that, because without them in our lives there would be no IHD.

All members who are active here are so important to the survival of IHD, you all are such special people in your own way. I love each and everyone of you. Thanks for being who you are and continue to share your lives with us negative or positive.

That's enough but I love IHD.

Sluff u said  da same feelings dat all of us here have and from me personally I would like to thank everyone who has responded to this thread and for all of de feed back and all of ur help and information  all of u have made me stronger and made me understand dat no-one is perfect not even one is out 4self 

[glitter]

 

[kimcanada]

I love having a place that people just INDERSTAND that you sometimes feel like ssh** and sometimes you feel funny, and sometimes you feel sorry for yourself, and sometimes you feel more sorry for others blahblah blah... I am just thankful I have you all