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Mercurial
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Building a Zen deathray.
Hi.
« on: August 12, 2008, 08:40:50 PM »
I had a rare disease (so rare that there's not even an agreed-upon spelling) occur the summer of 7th grade, at which point it was treated with prednisone, putting it in remission until I turned 21.  Over the course of fall quarter, I went from being a good student who got up at 6:30 am every morning of every day to being a student barely able to get up by 10 am who cut class frequently.  I had no idea my kidneys were failing until I got up Saturday one morning to go to my job at the library and discovered that my vision had gone completely blurry.  A couple ricochets later, I ended up at an ER in Spokane where they told me that my kidneys had less than 7% function and that I was lucky that I hadn't had a stroke from the resulting high blood pressure (which was causing the blurry vision).

Over the next two years I pretty much ran myself into the ground trying to juggle dialysis with finishing my tech writing degree.  I ended up having a meltdown and had to leave school without finishing.  After over 14 years on dialysis, I'm back in school, working on a software engineering degree.

I got on the transplant list last June after waiting for the immunosuppressants and drug regiment to advance by a couple generations since prednisone by itself had pretty much rendered me skeletal when I was on it.  The transplant team here agrees that I was wise to wait, especially since I've been relatively stable on hemo.

Last November, I had to have a duel nephrectomy since a suspected tumor was causing my body to generate wayyy to many red blood cells due to a condition known as 'polycythemia vera'.  It had gotten to the point that I was having 200 ml of blood wasted about every 2 weeks just to get it down to normal levels.

I've worked as a librarian (boring when you can't read everything you touch), computer tech (%&(# real estate agents that need their notebook back in one hour), web designer (wild goose chase expert), yo-yo teacher, and kite store employee.  Currently, I'm just doing the school thing since that takes up about all the extra energy I have.

My friends would tell you I'm the tall, quiet guy with a darkly dry sense of humor.

Cheers,

M:>
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"Tick tock tick tock tick tick."  -   six word story by Neal Stephenson
pelagia
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« Reply #1 on: August 12, 2008, 08:47:44 PM »
 :welcomesign; to IHD.  Sorry to hear how much you have been through.  Fourteen years on dialysis makes you one tough cookie.  You'll find plenty of experience here with almost any situation you can imagine.  Others will listen when you need to rant or offer encouragement if that will help. Post often!
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As for me, I'll borrow this thought: "Having never experienced kidney disease, I had no idea how crucial kidney function is to the rest of the body." - KD
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« Reply #2 on: August 12, 2008, 09:10:02 PM »
Welcome, Merc. I think you'll fit in well here, especially with a good sense of humor.
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That which does not kill me only makes me stronger - Neitzsche
Mercurial
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Building a Zen deathray.
« Reply #3 on: August 12, 2008, 09:33:44 PM »
Quote from: pelagia on August 12, 2008, 08:47:44 PM
Fourteen years on dialysis makes you one tough cookie.!

More like a little insane.  'They're coming to take me away' is my theme-song.
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"Tick tock tick tock tick tick."  -   six word story by Neal Stephenson
keith
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« Reply #4 on: August 12, 2008, 10:36:18 PM »
 :welcomesign;
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Life ain't Life wit out Me!!! U Heard Me  
Transplanted on 12-6-2007 on dialysis7+yrs
Started Dover dialysis support group. A group for patients, familyand friends.
NOW RUN-Tel-Dat
Joe Paul
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« Reply #5 on: August 13, 2008, 12:27:56 AM »
Welcome Mercurial, good to have you aboard.
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"The history of discovery is completed by those who don't follow rules"
Angels are with us, but don't take GOD for granted
Transplant Jan. 8, 2010
monrein
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Might as well smile
« Reply #6 on: August 13, 2008, 01:15:20 AM »
 :welcomesign;   Nice to see you here and hope you'll post often.
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Pyelonephritis (began at 8 mos old)
Home haemo 1980-1985 (self-cannulated with 15 gauge sharps)
Cadaveric transplant 1985
New upper-arm fistula April 2008
Uldall-Cook catheter inserted May 2008
Haemo-dialysis, self care unit June 2008
(2 1/2 hours X 5 weekly)
Self-cannulated, 15 gauge blunts, buttonholes.
Living donor transplant (sister-in law Kathy) Feb. 2009
First failed kidney transplant removed Apr.  2009
Second trx doing great so far...all lab values in normal ranges
cookie2008
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« Reply #7 on: August 13, 2008, 05:26:03 AM »
 :welcomesign;
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Started PD in 11/07
Started Hemo in 7/08
Started NxStage 5/09
Deanne
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« Reply #8 on: August 13, 2008, 08:33:45 AM »
Welcome! You've had a very busy career life in the midst of illness!  Do you think you'll end up with a software engineer career or will you combine your job skills? Just curious because I'm a tech writer, too, and I think the tech writer field includes a lot of software engineers who came over to the "dark side"  :2thumbsup; I went into tech writing because I saw it as a career that allow me to work from home if necessary.
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Deanne

1972: Diagnosed with "chronic kidney disease" (no specific diagnosis)
1994: Diagnosed with FSGS
September 2011: On transplant list with 15 - 20% function
September 2013: ~7% function. Started PD dialysis
February 11, 2014: Transplant from deceased donor. Creatinine 0.57 on 2/13/2014
Romona
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« Reply #9 on: August 13, 2008, 09:18:03 AM »
 :welcomesign;
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paris
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« Reply #10 on: August 13, 2008, 11:14:46 AM »
 :welcomesign;  You will fit right in!  Most of us a little crazy and have a strange sense of humor.  I think you have to in order to survive.   I also have had a lot of owls surrounding me the past few weeks, so your avitar really caught my attention.  This is a great site with wonderful members, tons of information and endless support.  Post often.  I'll look forward to more of your posts.
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It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.
boxman55
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« Reply #11 on: August 13, 2008, 01:33:31 PM »
Welcome Merc, glad to have you as part of our family


Boxman, Moderator
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"Be the change you wished to be"
Started Hemodialysis 8/14/06
Lost lower right leg 5/16/08 due to Diabetes
Sister was denied donation to me for medical reasons 1/2008
Mercurial
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Building a Zen deathray.
« Reply #12 on: August 13, 2008, 07:06:42 PM »
Quote from: paris on August 13, 2008, 11:14:46 AM
:welcomesign;  You will fit right in!  Most of us a little crazy and have a strange sense of humor.  I think you have to in order to survive.   I also have had a lot of owls surrounding me the past few weeks, so your avitar really caught my attention.  This is a great site with wonderful members, tons of information and endless support.  Post often.  I'll look forward to more of your posts.

It's either laugh at it or drink--pretty much the choice doctors have to make if they're going to make a career out of it.

Tell me about these owls surrounding you...  I grew up in the county near the mountains and love to hear about sightings.

My avatar is an adult Saw-Whet owl...  I was in some undergrowth when I was about 12 and had a juvenile flit in and land on a branch right in front of me.  Very odd being eye to eye with a living creature that looks like a stuffed toy.  We stared at each other for a couple minutes, then it flew off.  I call it my spirit guide.  Apparently they aren't afraid of people and actually like their heads scritched when researchers are tagging them.
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"Tick tock tick tock tick tick."  -   six word story by Neal Stephenson
Mercurial
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Building a Zen deathray.
« Reply #13 on: August 13, 2008, 07:40:00 PM »
Quote from: cookie2008 on August 13, 2008, 05:26:03 AM
:welcomesign;

Aw.  The nurses call me Eeyore when I have a full pout going (a rare thing)...
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"Tick tock tick tock tick tick."  -   six word story by Neal Stephenson
Mercurial
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Building a Zen deathray.
« Reply #14 on: August 13, 2008, 07:42:44 PM »
Quote from: boxman55 on August 13, 2008, 01:33:31 PM
Welcome Merc, glad to have you as part of our family


Boxman, Moderator

Glad for the nice welcomes.

I kept going by your avatar and glancing at it like something was missing.  Is that a prosthetic right leg?  Does it start at the cannon, or go higher?
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"Tick tock tick tock tick tick."  -   six word story by Neal Stephenson
Mercurial
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« Reply #15 on: August 13, 2008, 07:51:59 PM »
Quote from: Deanne on August 13, 2008, 08:33:45 AM
Welcome! You've had a very busy career life in the midst of illness!  Do you think you'll end up with a software engineer career or will you combine your job skills? Just curious because I'm a tech writer, too, and I think the tech writer field includes a lot of software engineers who came over to the "dark side"  :2thumbsup; I went into tech writing because I saw it as a career that allow me to work from home if necessary.

I'm definitely aiming for a software engineering career.  I would like to pick up some machinist skills and program for a company specializing in milled metal parts.  I would have gone into radiology, but couldn't fit the 40+ hour a week 9-5 school schedule into my week.  Gigantic machines overflowing with technology make me light-headed in a pleasant way.  If there's a whiff of ozone to go with all the electricity a machine is sucking down, it's even better.

I'm going to keep how much tech-writing I know under my hat unless someone directly asks, otherwise everyone's backlog of documentation will land on my desk.  At least my personal documentation of whatever I'm working on will be well-written...  ; )
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"Tick tock tick tock tick tick."  -   six word story by Neal Stephenson
Bajanne
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Goofynina and Epoman - Gone But Not Forgotten

WWW
« Reply #16 on: August 13, 2008, 08:10:10 PM »
Welcome to our community!  Glad that you found us.  Hope you aren't too mercurial and will hang around for quite a while!  There is lots going on at this site - information, support, fun, a place to vent, rave, rage or rant.  so  please take advantage of all this IHD family has to offer  :grouphug;  We look forward to hearing more from you.  :flower;


Bajanne, Moderator
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"To be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own ...but that which is based on faith"



I LOVE  my IHD family! :grouphug;
Ang
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« Reply #17 on: August 13, 2008, 08:58:47 PM »
 :welcomesign;
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live  life  to  the  full  and you won't  die  wondering
MyRenalRomance
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« Reply #18 on: August 14, 2008, 12:10:44 AM »
 :waving;  :welcomesign;
Hello and Welcome! 
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Kidneys damaged by hypertension/scleroderma 1987
In-center Hemodialysis:  May 2007 - October 2007
Switched to Manual PD October '07 - January '08
Switched to PD Nighttime Cycler January '08
Kidney transplant from living related donor June 2008
Sluff
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« Reply #19 on: August 14, 2008, 05:27:53 AM »
Welcome to ihatedialysis.com M:>,

Oh Boy will you ever fit in around here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74jzU87QjGw

Enough said. Welcome to the craziness.

Sluff/Admin
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Mercurial
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Building a Zen deathray.
« Reply #20 on: August 14, 2008, 12:10:01 PM »
Quote from: Sluff on August 14, 2008, 05:27:53 AM
Welcome to ihatedialysis.com M:>,

Oh Boy will you ever fit in around here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74jzU87QjGw

Enough said. Welcome to the craziness.

Sluff/Admin

Er, nice boas...  o_0
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"Tick tock tick tock tick tick."  -   six word story by Neal Stephenson
carla13
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« Reply #21 on: August 19, 2008, 01:40:21 PM »
 :welcomesign;

xx
carla
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Ohio Buckeye
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« Reply #22 on: August 20, 2008, 02:36:13 PM »
 :welcomesign; Merc!
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If I must do this to live, I must strive to live
while I am doing this.
kitkatz
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« Reply #23 on: August 31, 2008, 08:52:51 PM »
Welcome to the site.  It sounds like you have had quite the adventure in illness and dilaysis.  Have a look around the site.  Lots to see.


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lifenotonthelist.com

Ivanova: "Old Egyptian blessing: May God stand between you and harm in all the empty places you must walk." Babylon 5

Remember your present situation is not your final destination.

Take it one day, one hour, one minute, one second at a time.

"If we don't find a way out of this soon, I'm gonna lose it. Lose it... It means go crazy, nuts, insane, bonzo, no longer in possession of ones faculties, three fries short of a Happy Meal, wacko!" Jack O'Neill - SG-1
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