Bob's Blog

[BobN]

My first post here.  OK my first post anywhere.

I'm new to the blog stuff.  Not new to dialysis. 

I'm an otherwise healthy (evidence later) 53 year old male (couldn't tell from the name, right?) on dialysis.

It's semantics, but it's important.  I don't define myself as a "dialysis patient".  I'm "on dialysis".  I feel better already.

I've been on dialysis for a total of 4.5 years.  I was on for a year in my 30's, then I got a transplant from my mother.  What a gift.

The kidney worked great for 16.5 years.  It finally petered out in August of 2006.  I've been back on the big D ever since.

I've always been on hemodialysis.  In center.  Is it a pain to burn 4 hrs three times a week?

Yep.  But from my perspective, it's the least of all evils.  I figure, I'd rather just get it done and then go on with a semi-normal life the rest of the time.

I treasure my Saturday-Sunday, and honestly rarely think about dialysis, other than the ever-present dietary restrictions.

I'm employed full-time.  I have an officer-level position at a Fortune 100 company.   

I could write an entire blog (and maybe will some day) on being in a high-visibility, high-responsibility position while being on dialysis.  It certainly presents its challenges that I'm sure are familiar to people visiting this site.

Oh yeah, before I forget, my evidence of being healthy.  My wife and I are in first place in a mixed-doubles tennis league in Texas.

OK, it's a beginners league, she's a top-notch player, and I'm a complete hack, but still, first place is first place, right?

Anyway, I try to stay active as part of my effort to keep dialysis from running my life.

Which brings me to what brings me to this site.

I have mixed feelings about the concept of Ihatedialysis. 

On the one hand, the actual process of dialysis is about as much fun as falling out of trees. 

But really, aside from the sticks, pain, dizziness, nausea, crampling, vomiting, fainting, and itching, what is there to complain about, right?

On the other hand, can we really complain too much about a medical-miracle process that, let's face it, keeps us alive.

If the good Lord were smiling on us differently and we were born, say around the times our parents were born, and dialysis were in it's infancy, and our kidney problems struck us at the same stage in our lives, it would more than likely be syonara.  (Don't know if I spelled that right, but you get the idea.)

So, there are times I hate it.  But more times than not, I'm very thankful for it.  I try to live life to the fullest when I'm not on dialysis.

Well, as much as you can live life to the fullest without pepperoni pizza and beer.

Anyway, I like the blogs.  Definite group therapy feel to them.  I'll try to stay in touch with feelings on worklife, diet, exercise and anything else that pops up.

I hope everyone out there stays healthy, stays active, and finds a reason to laugh every once in a while.

Thanks for reading.

[willieandwinnie]

  Bob. Glad you joined us. We are great for sharing information and giving loads of support. Hope you post often. 

[Wenchie58]

  Bob.  Glad you joined us.  Yes, first is first!  lol

[Joe Paul]

Welcome Bob, good to have you aboard.

[Zach]

What?  You mean you gave up pepperoni pizza and beer?
No way!  Just don't be a slob about it.  One slice and one beer.

Then later a good tennis workout till you sweat.

Great to have you here!
 

[paris]

Welcome Bob.  This is a great site, full of information and even more support.  We share good times and bad.  The ones with experience help the members dealing with a new problem.   I learn something from here everyday.  We all really do care about each other.  So glad you joined our family.   






paris, Moderator

[monrein]

Nice intro and nice to meet you here.  I look forward to hearing more about you handle everything and stay plugged in to life despite the massive "inconvenience" that D presents.

[David13]

Welcome, Bob.  This is a great place to learn, to share, and to get support.  I am sure your perspective will be a welcome addition.

[petey]

Bob --
Like you, my husband Marvin (he's the patient) and I don't hate dialysis.  While we don't enjoy the process itself, we sure do enjoy what dialysis gives us (14 years of "extra" life for my Marvin, who started in 1995 -- that's 14 years and still counting...).  Marvin's also 53 years old and stays busy, busy, busy (doesn't work, but volunteers extensively in our community -- mostly coaching youth baseball teams).  Our life is good -- dialysis and all.

Marvin says he's not a "dialysis patient" -- he's a "dialysis survivor."

And, I know what you mean about being born now instead of when our parents were.  Marvin's dad died of "uremic poisoning" (official wording on his death certificate) after having multiple heart attacks (stress of a body full of toxins for so many years and no dialysis) in 1970.  Marvin was a teenager when his dad died.  Dialysis back then was not for the poor, working man.  Marvin says, "There's no telling how many more years Daddy could have had if dialysis had been an option for him like it is for me."

We're so lucky, and it sounds like you think you are, too.

[st789]

Welcome, you had a good run with your last transplant. 

Hope you will get another transplant in the near future.

Again, welcome to the site.

[Romona]

 

[dwcrawford]

Hi Bob... so we are the newbies???  I've not been considered a newbie for a long, long time. 

Thanks for your comments.  I'm on here looking for inspiration, motivation, etc.  I have one of the better Nephrologist  (I know that is not how to spell it but maybe the "spell checker" will fix it for me) in Houston along with an excellent Internist.  I've been doing so well with  my type 2 diabetes for such a long time that  this all came as a shock to me.  I've just attended a couple of classes presented by the DaVita group in the Medical Center.  It is associated with Methodist -- so more or less I'm in good hands.

I am trying to figure out how to do the home dialysis but it is out of my reach I suppose since I live alone, an really, really, really old and have no family, etc. to work with me.  Anyway, I'm still exploring this.  I'm supposed to  have a fistala (another spelling problem I'm sure) in a couple of months.  We shall see.

I feel fine except I'm a little tired.  I feel as if the old neuropathy from the diabetes is coming back but at this point I don't know what is real and what is imagined.

I suppose I'll just real these messages and try to learn the difference between threads and blogs and maybe pickup on a few ackronyms.  So many little faces.  Let me choose one!!!

[G-Ma]

 

[TeenHatesDialysis]

  Bob!

Thanks for joining the group! I think it is great the you have a successful career, go to hemo dialysis 3 x per week and stay active playing/winning tennis! Is there special vitamins that you take??? My teenager has a difficult time getting through 4 H.S. classes with hemo dialysis 3x/wk and maybe one social activity per week. I know that dialysis impacts people diffierently, but if you have the secret to getting energized while on dialysis, PLEASE LET US IN ON IT.    I hope that you post often.

[BobN]

Thanks to everyone for the welcome messages from my introductory blog yesterday.

I also posted to the "Working While on Dialysis" blog yesterday.  You may find some of my work experiences interesting.

I'll try to keep in touch fairly regularly with other dialysis-life related issues.

Stay active.  Stay happy.  And stay in touch.





EDITED: Merged Topics - Sluff/Admin

[Bajanne]

Welcome to our community, Bob!!  I am so glad that you found us and decided to join us.
I see that you understand the conflicting nature of the name of our website.  Epoman chose that name for shock value. I think you are going to like it here.  As they say 'You don't have to be crazy to be in the IHD family, but it certainly helps!' 
Seriously, this is an excellent place for information and for support.  That is why it is more than just a website - it is a genuine family    Just keep reading and keep posting, and you will see. Please take advantage of all this site has to offer.
Looking forward to hearing from you.



Bajanne, Moderator

[Dan.Larrabee]

Welcome Bob.