I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: KarenInWA on January 02, 2011, 09:11:57 PM

Title: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: KarenInWA on January 02, 2011, 09:11:57 PM
Yes, I admit, it's a guilty pleasure/addiction of mine.  I hate the title, love the sordid storylines - but!  Did anyone watch it tonight?  I am just a little over 10 minutes into it, and one of the main characters, Susan, has been told she has to go on dialysis.  She was stomped on during a street riot (just go with it for now, lol) and the surgeon had to remove her ruptured kidney.  The kidney that she is left with is "deformed" and has left her with 5% kidney function.  I like it when they introduce dialysis into mainstream tv shows.  We shall see how this goes....

KarenInWA


Edited: Moved to proper section - okarol/admin
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: galvo on January 02, 2011, 11:14:35 PM
Please keep me updated on this. Do you think they intend to write her out of the show?
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: Jean on January 03, 2011, 12:05:50 AM
I was going to post on this tonite also. I am a devoted fan and would rather slit my wrists than miss it. I love the way she thinks she will get well on holistic medicines or a diet. She says she doesnt want to do D because its 6 hours a day, 4 days a week and she doesnt have time for that. Somehow I am sure she will get a transplant, immediately of course, andl literally pain free. Wish they would do just a little bit more research on it, as so many people watch the show. They will probably put in a fistula and use it the next day. Cant wait until next Sunday.
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: Poppylicious on January 03, 2011, 04:28:47 AM
Oooh, exciting.  I think we're only an episode behind you in the UK (I thought we were more but the last epsiode we saw just before Christmas was the one where Susan was trampled when the protest went wrong.) I love Desperate Housewives, mainly for its silliness; it's a bit of light relief.

My only worry is that it won't be a true portrayal, but I suppose at least it brings it into the mainstream and might get people talking, and anything which does that can only be a good thing.

 ;D
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: okarol on January 04, 2011, 01:34:27 AM
Here's an overview http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00037674.html
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: cariad on January 04, 2011, 09:26:00 AM
I was going to post on this tonite also. I am a devoted fan and would rather slit my wrists than miss it. I love the way she thinks she will get well on holistic medicines or a diet. She says she doesnt want to do D because its 6 hours a day, 4 days a week and she doesnt have time for that. Somehow I am sure she will get a transplant, immediately of course, andl literally pain free. Wish they would do just a little bit more research on it, as so many people watch the show. They will probably put in a fistula and use it the next day. Cant wait until next Sunday.

6 Hours, 4 days per week?! In-center? Already they lose points on accuracy.

I've never seen the show (thought it has been canceled, actually) but will be interested to hear where this is leading.
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: Rerun on January 04, 2011, 09:32:49 AM
I love Desperate Housewives but haven't watched for a while.  I'll have to tune in.  Thanks!
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: KICKSTART on January 04, 2011, 12:18:40 PM
I hate it when they bring D to the tv , it makes so little of it. They have done it over here .Dialysis was a breeze , in fact it looked quite pleasant ! the person got a transplant in record time . Was back to normal in a matter of a week, did show her taking medication , then that fizzled out. Now there is no mention of the transplant and she drinks like a fish in the pub every night ! The programme for you brits ...Coronation Street , the person Tracy Barlow ..remember ?
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: Rerun on January 04, 2011, 01:37:39 PM
I dobut Susan will look sick!  She may be funny as I see her running out of the clinic screaming for her life.   :clap;
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: Stoday on January 04, 2011, 05:12:44 PM
Yeah, keep us posted.

I'm not desperate enough to watch the program.
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: okarol on January 04, 2011, 06:29:39 PM
You can watch it here http://abc.go.com/watch/desperate-housewives/SH559048/VD55103853/assassins
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: RightSide on January 04, 2011, 07:11:02 PM
I was going to post on this tonite also. I am a devoted fan and would rather slit my wrists than miss it. I love the way she thinks she will get well on holistic medicines or a diet. She says she doesnt want to do D because its 6 hours a day, 4 days a week and she doesnt have time for that. Somehow I am sure she will get a transplant, immediately of course, andl literally pain free.
And of course, she'll be back to her usual lifestyle the very next day, and no need to take immunosuppressants.

On that other ABC-TV show "Lost," Locke's dad persuaded him to donate a kidney to him.  The surgeons stuck the kidney into the dad--and he left, just like that.  No rehab, no immunosuppressants, nothing.
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: MooseMom on January 04, 2011, 07:16:56 PM
I've never seen Desperate Housewives, but I do watch All My Children, and a character on that show received a heart transplant but you'd never know it.  She barely has a scar (and she wears lots of low-cut, beautiful clothes.)
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: kristina on January 05, 2011, 02:17:47 AM

I always found it very interesting that the general public remain innocent of the reality of many things,
and it is only when they come into contact with it directly that the stark awful truth hits them.

The terrible dilemma of dealing with kidney failure, and the anguish of having to go on Dialysis,
and the devastating problems which occur whilst waiting to go on Dialysis, and the life-changing effects
of both Dialysis and transplant, are not honestly and fully portrayed
so the general public would have a chance to see the truth.

This is also the same with many other health-issues.
There is obviously a reason why the truth is often hidden.
Maybe it is our nature that we generally don’t want to delve into these unpleasant issues.

Perhaps, it is because we predominantly look for the light at the end of the tunnel.
We hope, and we keep positive, about life, and this predominant thinking
keeps us away from dwelling on the negative aspects.
 
It could be a natural thing and therefore the negative aspects are not portrayed on TV etc.

In many cases with TV-programs there is considerable distortion and this is when it is wrong
because it is a lie given to the general public. If they kept the story within the bounds of reality,
even if they don’t portray the true negative aspects, this would be acceptable.

So, it is the distorted view which is misleading and upsets those of us who know the truth.
Title: Television portrayals of kidney disease
Post by: lunadatura on January 05, 2011, 10:27:17 PM
I happend to see two shows who each have a plot related to kidney disease tonight - how odd but intriguing. Unfortunately both shows had inaccurate content in the story lines.

Desparate Housewives - you can watch in on HULU - season 6 episode 11- has Susan loose a kidney due to a stabbing and had to have it surgically removed. Her other remaining kidney had a dongenital defect so she had only 5 percent kidney function remaining. She was told she needed to start dialysis and needed a surgical av shunt. She refused initially saying she could treat this with holistic means but then ended up unconscious on the hospital floor in an epilpetic type seizure (WHAT IS UP WITH THAT - how is ESRD and epilepsy supposed to be related!!).

The other show is the UNUSUALS - which I watched on netflix download - season one episode 2 -  the main criminal is the paternal head of a crime family and the family goes on a robbery spree to get money for dad's kidney surgery. There is no discussion of dialysis or UNOS wait lists. Guess the criminals never heard of medicare.

I guess educated the public about kidney disease and the actual issues surrounding ESRD dont play well on TV



Edited: Topics merged - okarol/admin
Title: Re: Television portrayals of kidney disease
Post by: The Lone IT from HM on January 06, 2011, 02:54:44 PM
that is very unusual....don't watch Desperate Housewives, but I can see the whole crime family thing....get the money and a new body part is soon to follow.  Just doesn't work for us law abiding folks.  Unless you don't mind a trip to China or India....still there is the whole money thing.
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: okarol on January 07, 2011, 01:40:55 PM
A little more info:


"Desperate Housewives" 1/9 episode - Susan's family comes to town!

    * January 7th, 2011 2:51 pm ET

On the 1/9 episode of "Desperate Housewives," Susan's family comes to town -- her mother and aunt that is!  Lesley Ann Warren will play Susan's mom, Sophie, and Valerie Harper returns as her Aunt Claire.  They come to visit her while she's undergoing dialysis.

Will either of them donate one of their kidneys to Susan?  In last week's "Desperate Housewives" episode, Susan had a terrible incident after losing one of her kidneys as a result of the riot on Wisteria Lane.  Will Susan's family help or hinder her progress in recovering?

The two guest stars are expected to be on this one episode of "Desperate Housewives," so hopefully that means Susan will successfully get her kidney transplant.

The 1/9 episode of "Desperate Housewives" airs on ABC at 9:00 p.m., ET Sunday.
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: kyshiag on January 17, 2011, 05:10:49 PM
As a lurker whose husband has been told he'll be on dialysis by February.  I was very concerned that this portrayal was untrue.  I noticed the very clean and relaxed looking center with only 3 regular patients and thought, "Hey, that's not too bad!"  Somehow I knew it was not true.  We have not actually toured a center yet but I expect it to be more impersonal and cold.
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: Jean on January 18, 2011, 12:18:47 AM
Yes, that is a lovely center that Susan goes to. So quiet and clean, and nothing but nurses all around you. And of course, she comes in for treatment dressed to kill, nobody dies, and she is able to, with just a little bit of kindness pull her fellow dialyzer out of his doldrums. And, the 6 hour shift only makes her sigh a little bit. How cool is that?
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: Poppylicious on January 18, 2011, 10:28:17 AM
I hate it when they bring D to the tv , it makes so little of it. They have done it over here .Dialysis was a breeze , in fact it looked quite pleasant ! the person got a transplant in record time . Was back to normal in a matter of a week, did show her taking medication , then that fizzled out. Now there is no mention of the transplant and she drinks like a fish in the pub every night ! The programme for you brits ...Coronation Street , the person Tracy Barlow ..remember ?
Really?! I don't remember that. Not that I'm a big fan of Coronation Street; I tune in once a year or so.  It does explain why my MiL (an avid Corrie watcher) didn't seem too fussed about Blokey's kidney problems to begin with though. 

 ;D

Desperate Housewives isn't back on UK screens till the end of March (I think) which is a tad annoying!
Title: kidney disease on Desperate Housewives
Post by: Dry-Pack-Babe on February 25, 2011, 08:18:25 AM
Is anyone familiar with the TV show DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES? One of the characters, Susan was diagnosed with kidney disease. Of course, she wants a transplant. In a recent episode, Susan used her disease to get sympathy from people.

She was in line in the grocery store and she told the lady in front of her that she had kidney disease and that she had to get to her dialysis appointment. And the lady acquiesced, allowing Susan to go ahead of her.

The scenario reminded me of a time, I stopped in a Kroger store after leaving my dialysis center. Of course, my access site was all bandaged up. I was standing behind two ladies. One asked me, "Did you give blood today?"

I chuckled. "Yeah, I guess you could say that. But actually, I went to dialysis."

She looked concern. "Oh, that's for people who have kidney disease, right?"

I nodded.

"Oh, I know a lady whose husband goes in for those treatments. He's always so wrung out. Hon, you just go on ahead of me." She moved her cart out of the way, so I could get by.

"Well, um, okay. Thank you," I stammered. The lady ahead of her allowed me to take her place. I got rung up and as I grabbed my bag to leave, one of the ladies said, "God bless, hon."

So having this disease has advantages. But I'd prefer to be healthy and just stand in long queues.

Also, in DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, a man who had loved Susan for years wanted to give her a kidney. But when he learned that he had no future with Susan, he rescinded his offer.

I seemed to recall a newspaper story about a man who gave his wife a kidney. After the transplant, she divorced him, and if I'm not mistaken, he asked that she return the kidney.  As if some judge would order her into surgery to give back a major organ.   

People do treat us deferentially because we have this disease.



Edited: Topics Merged - okarol/admin
Title: Re: kidney disease on Desperate Housewives
Post by: WishIKnew on February 25, 2011, 08:28:28 AM
I don't watch desperate housewives, but people do treat us differently.  Which beings me to a question.  Do you have places in your lives where no one knows you have ESRD?  I do and I love it.  I feel like I'm evaluated not like, "well, she does a good job for someone on dialysis", but rather "she does a good job (or bad) just like everyone else".  No qualifiers.  Makes sense?  Anyone else do this?
Title: Re: kidney disease on Desperate Housewives
Post by: tbarrett2533 on March 06, 2011, 06:45:06 PM
I think this is the WORST portrayal of ESRD-Dialysis... where is her fistula? or her cath?? did you see the episode in the treatment room?? the guy sitting down had an upper arm fistula and was waving his arms all around...ummm hellllloooooo infiltration!!!!
Did you see how slow his pump was going.... get REAL!!

how about tonight's episode???   the basket fell off of the car and what fell out?? banana's GET REAL!!!!

This actually makes me sick!!!!

just voicing my thoughts  :rant;
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: tbarrett2533 on March 06, 2011, 07:10:07 PM
Ugghhh and i just read on here that she has 6 hour treatments................ WHAT!!! OMG!!!!
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: Rerun on March 07, 2011, 07:20:23 PM
DANG, I missed it again!  I was watching the Gonzaga Basketball game.  WE WON....    :cheer:
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: huldafolk on March 10, 2011, 08:21:33 AM
What!!  No central line in her neck,  No AV fistula surg. with months to wait for maturation, no sign of discomfort or nausea, or severe weakness.,dialysis in a private room with her own machine that doesn't seem to be required to be turned over quickly for the next patient. Friends locking people into a house party and forcing them to type match , then telling one individual about another persons status regarding a match.  ALL ILLEGAL!!   How unrealistic is this show, if you are going to touch on a difficult subject , try to get it close to reality for purpose of education of general public!!
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: tbarrett2533 on March 10, 2011, 09:31:31 AM
What!!  No central line in her neck,  No AV fistula surg. with months to wait for maturation, no sign of discomfort or nausea, or severe weakness.,dialysis in a private room with her own machine that doesn't seem to be required to be turned over quickly for the next patient. Friends locking people into a house party and forcing them to type match , then telling one individual about another persons status regarding a match.  ALL ILLEGAL!!   How unrealistic is this show, if you are going to touch on a difficult subject , try to get it close to reality for purpose of education of general public!!

When you put it like this (a nice summary) I think I want to throw up in my mouth!!! This show (which I used to love) is making a mockery out of ESRD!! We have to live it, while these ppl (on the show) make it seem like its a walk in the park!!
Title: Re: kidney disease on Desperate Housewives
Post by: calypso on April 07, 2011, 04:17:54 PM
I think this is the WORST portrayal of ESRD-Dialysis... where is her fistula? or her cath?? did you see the episode in the treatment room?? the guy sitting down had an upper arm fistula and was waving his arms all around...ummm hellllloooooo infiltration!!!!
Did you see how slow his pump was going.... get REAL!!

how about tonight's episode???   the basket fell off of the car and what fell out?? banana's GET REAL!!!!

This actually makes me sick!!!!

just voicing my thoughts  :rant;

Ugghhh and i just read on here that she has 6 hour treatments................ WHAT!!! OMG!!!!

I have 6 hour treatments. I also have an upper arm fistula and since I use blunt needles I can wave my arms around. And yes my pump speed is slow. Well slower than it was in center anyway. I use a 300 pump speed. But if I were to do 8 hour treatments instead of 6 I can lower my pump speed even more. There is one patient in my unit that I think uses a 225 pump speed. I don't think you can go much lower than that though. I haven't seen the show so I don't know how low it was on the show or how much the guy waved his arms around.

Oh yeah I am in training (almost done) for home nocturnal hemodialysis using the Fresenius 2008K2 machine. I highly recommend home nocturnal hemo if you can do it. It's the best waiting list for a transplant. No diet restrictions. I will be as healthy as I can be for that transplant someday.
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: AnnaLee on April 08, 2011, 09:52:15 AM
OMG...Susan got her kidney from a neighbor who killed herself.  She(the suicide lady) went to the hospital and signed papers to give her kidney to Susan, then shot herself in the head right there in the hospital.  They have given the impression to the general viewer that you have to be dead to be a kidney donor.  Too bad they didn't do their research very well when writing his show, but, oh well, it IS just a TV show.
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: cariad on April 08, 2011, 09:58:20 AM
OMG...Susan got her kidney from a neighbor who killed herself.  She(the suicide lady) went to the hospital and signed papers to give her kidney to Susan, then shot herself in the head right there in the hospital.  They have given the impression to the general viewer that you have to be dead to be a kidney donor.  Too bad they didn't do their research very well when writing his show, but, oh well, it IS just a TV show.

Jesus Christ on a cracker. If you watch this show, please write to their advertisers. This is unconscionable.
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: okarol on April 09, 2011, 01:15:52 AM
I used to watch this show, but ever since the whole kidney subject came up, I have found myself deleting it from tivo without watching the episodes. I guess my gut feeling is correct ... it couldn't be good.
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: gothiclovemonkey on April 09, 2011, 07:04:46 AM
ive never really had cable, so i havent seen many episodes, it seemed like a cute show the few episodes id seen...
this is disappointing... but at least they are getting some word out, its unfortunate its an inaccurate protrail though.
Title: Re: Anyone Watch Desperate Housewives?
Post by: Poppylicious on April 09, 2011, 10:10:08 AM
Ack.  I've watched Desperate Housewives since the first season, but we're a few weeks behind the US so it restarts this coming Wednesday and we'll find out that Susan's kidney's got damaged in the stampede.  I sort of wish I'd steered clear of this thread (if anyone says who it was who committed suicide I shall be very very unhappy!) but I'm quite looking forward to shouting at the tellybox in disbelief and anger.

For what it's worth, Desperate Housewives has never been a realistic show and has never portrayed anything remotely believable (at least, I hope not; you lot across the pond must be nuts if it is realistic.)  I'd like to think that the ordinary Joe Bloggs in the street would realise that the kidney storyline is as much tosh as all the other toshful storylines, but I know I am naive to think this. 

Oh well, I shall now practise my best yelling at the telly voice (and hope that some of the other storylines make it worth watching.)

 ;D