Does PD really give you more freedom?

[Des]

I have now been thinking..... I don't think PD offers you more freedom.
Because you HAVE to do a certain amount of exchanges every single day. You can't take a day off. If you are on the machine you still can't go out in the evenings as you need to start that machine a certain time?

Please tell me exaclty how you have more freedom because I don't get it... to me it seems that your whole day is now filled with "where to do my next fill" "when do do my next fill" 

[del]

Des , my husband did not feel like he had more freedom on PD. It was with him everyday - no days off at all.  it did make travelling a little easier. You could just take the bags with you and do exchanges where ever you wanted.  He liked (as much as you can like) in center hemo because he got a break - a day in between when he didn't really have to think about dialysis.  It was a nuisance though when you wanted to travel and had to make arrangements at other centers or when the weather was bad and he still had to get to the dialysis center over an hours drive away.  On nocturnal he feels like he has more freedom and has no dietary restrictions but you are still tied to a machine!!  There are nights when he hates the machine and wishes he could give it all up but that ain't happening!!  No matter what type of dialysis you are on your life is restricted.  Kidney disease sucks no matter how you look at it!!

[mcclane]

i agree with del.

doing dialysis (regardless if it is pd or hemo) is time consuming and a PITA. 

I was on pd, and now I am on hemo.  There are advantages/disadvantages of both. 

when i was on pd, i did both manual and cycler.  I liked the cycler as it gave you time to do whatever during the day.  But you're right, because you have to hook up each night, your evenings are shot.  On most nights (i was doing 8 hours when i was on the cycler) I would hookup at 9 pm, so that means by 5 am the next day i would be done.  One thing I did notice was the cycler was noisy.  So i banished it from the bedroom to the living room (I used 2 patient lines, which would be more than enough tubing to reach from the living room to the bedroom).

On pd, travelling is 'less' restricted.  You can either do manual or cycler (i never did the cycler when travelling, the machine was heavy enough and i didn't want to lug it around).  But doing manual, you're always worried about your next exchange, so in that regard, it was kinda tough to enjoy yourself on holidays.

sleeping while a tube is attached to you (pd, hemo) does take some getting used to.  I learned to sleep on my right side or my back, because the way the tubing was situated, if i slept on my left I would squish the tube leading to the machine screaming like a banshee ('blocked tubing').

[Poppylicious]

Des, I think it depends completely on the person and their situation.  For Blokey (and myself) PD allowed less freedom.  On haemoD we get our weekends to ourselves with no worrying about anything other than medication.  Two evenings a week are ours too.  BUT, PD (if it had worked and fitted in with us) would have saved our petrol bill and given us the opportunity to go away for more than two nights at a time. 

If you have to do dialysis then you pick the one that suits you and gives you the 'freedom' (or as much of as possible) that you want.  There's no easy answer to your question.

[jeannea]

I think the "more freedom" comes in your diet and fluid intake. Because you dialyze more often, you can eat and drink with more freedom than on hemo.

[lmunchkin]

Des, my hubby did all "3" and he doesnt like being attached to the machine Period!  But really, what other choice does he have.  Now after 7 years, he has settled on NxStage at home!  It is very portable but still a job to travel anyway you look at it! If he had it his way, he would stop and just die! He feels like it is the best thing that could happen to him, cause he feels he is really not living now! He hasnt stopped because I don't want him to!

I know you are upset and rightfully so!  You have kidney disease!  Kidneys are a Vital organ, you must have them in order to live! We have a very dear friend that has lung disease.  He has been waiting for someone to donate a lung!  He has even offered to donate a kidney to someone that would donate their lung in return! But what are the chances of that?

Doing D at home is alot better than going in-center!  Let me explain why I feel it is better! #1 You can control your own treatments  #2 You control the time #3You get a better dialysis with out all side effects. #4 You can get so good at it that you don't need most of the meds you are on 5# You are at HOME, eating and doing whatever cause you are in your own elements #6 We can and will travel with this portable machine.  And there are probably more but Im not in "book" mode right now, but maybe others can add to it!

But the freedom that most refer to is not from D. itself, but from haveing to go somewhere to be done!  Now all this being said, I must be honest, it takes a commitment from all involved.  If you choose to do PD or Home Hemo you will have to have some storage space. Not as much for Home hemo as it is for PD, but there will be alot of supply's at first but it is like anything else with this disease, it takes time & effort & work! This is serious stuff and your life is in the balance!

I know you feel from another post that you made, that people here gave bad advise and you started Dialysis too early, but either way, you still have the Disease and you have make do now,for yourself, Des!  Some on this site have almost waited too late and it could have been devasting for them and their loved ones!  And some are pre-D and know that its coming, but I really don't think that they want to wait till they are too sick!  You know what I mean? If Im being too hard, then please forgive me, It is not meant to be that way!  It is just that this is a very hard disease to deal with whether you have it or not.  It is hard on us caregivers as well!

You are angry, frustrated, and you feel like you got a RAW deal, well, so have alot of people on IHD, including my husband! Just try to understand Des, that all of you are going through alot and try to lift one another up! We have to continue to help one another cause we are all we got!  Will you have bad days?  You bet! But you can come here where they know and understand what you go through!

I don't know if I have helped in anyway, but as a caregiver, I do know the seriousness of this disease and the effects it has on those who have it!  It ain't easy!  I hope you can forgive those of us who may have led you to believe this is Wonderful, because it isnt!

Can you not get a transplant?  I mean I know that it is no cure, but it does have far more advantages than D.  I know my husband cannot get one and has settled with Home D pretty well!

God Bless and I hope that you can get through this!  I know it has been hard with 3 teenagers, but it is doable! You have got to live for them, Des, and you know that in your heart, cause it is what drives you my dear!  It drives all of us women, "Our children".

lmunchkin   

[MooseMom]

Dear Des, "freedom" is a relative term.

I'm pretty sure that NxStage is not yet available in SA, but is there any other home hemo machine that is?  Is there any way that you can do nocturnal home hemo so that you dialyze at home while you sleep?  I don't know what modalities are available in SA other than inclinic hemo and PD.

Anything that gives you MORE dialysis will give you more "freedom" in terms of fluid intake and diet.  It will also probably cut down on on the meds you take.  But more dialysis means more time hooked onto a machine, so again, it depends on how you define "freedom".

Any dialysis that you can do at home will free you from the tyranny of the clinic schedule.

I read the other day that NxStage will soon be available in France, so maybe it is just a matter of time before it is available in SA.  Since you are already doing hemo, find out what you can do at home, if anything.

I do know you are really struggling with this.  I am so sorry.

[Des]

Thanks for all the replies. I really appretiate it. I am typing on my phone so pardon any mistakes.   I just need to clarify - I asked this question about PD to get the truth before I jump on that wagon. I have to say that none of the posts above can confirm the so-called freedom it gives you. I am already on no fluid or diet restrictions. SO if that is all?! It seems that I will have to stAy on this dreaded Hemo. 

[Rerun]

With PD you feel more even.  Hemo you may get off and feel like crap the rest of the day.  With PD your diet is more liberal.  With hemo you have to watch it more closely.  Unless of coarse you do daily Hemo and I can't see where that is any more time saving as it is everyday also.  There is just no way around dialysis being in your way of a normal life.  You just have to choose and make the best of it.

With PD you would work into the  nightly cycler and that would help?  Right??

[Des]

With PD you feel more even.  Hemo you may get off and feel like crap the rest of the day.  With PD your diet is more liberal.  With hemo you have to watch it more closely.  Unless of coarse you do daily Hemo and I can't see where that is any more time saving as it is everyday also.  There is just no way around dialysis being in your way of a normal life.  You just have to choose and make the best of it.

With PD you would work into the  nightly cycler and that would help?  Right??

I wanted to do the nightly cycler. Untill I heard you can never ever skip. So that is worse as I am home but attached to a machine while the rest of the family go out. at least on HD I had my weekends "free"
On the manual exchanges. You are not allowed to skip a day either and you have to do it in clean sterile areas so .... rushing back home to my bedroom every weekend (in the middle of the movie/lunch/bbq/gathering/birthday/work function... well life) seems to be the new "freedom" Well as I work full time and have no clean area at work to do it I will have to drive home like a maniac to do the midday exchange and try to fit in 2 exchanges before I go to bed. Is it humanly posssible? As because I took time off during the day I will have to stay in the office longer and thus get home later thus less time to fit those 2 exchanges in... rambling, sorry.
It just don't make any sense where the socalled "freedom" comes in.   

[The Noob]

hi all! its blazing hot and humid up north, hubbys b-day today so took him out to breakfast.
had to jump in here and comment on PD.

hubbys diagnosis came as an emergency. on day two they wheel in this cart (he is in semi-private room) with 3 videos courtesy of baxter, on the joys of dialysis. we picked PD. we did not have a clue about the whole thing so we did what we could. there was no privacy about it. other patient in room had company, we watched these videos over their noise.

we did PD for 10 months. the catheter was used the day after it was placed, when it is supposed to heal at least 2 weeks. hubby had leaks the entire time and i had to clean and bandage this several times a day using a maxi pad. (in a fully contained biohazard suit)

he had 9 peritonitus infections, msra, staph and other nasties. we were accused of not being clean enough. yet the hospital and clinic was the worst. i tried to have him transferred many times. he was in and out of the hospital constantly.

what we found out, after i moved him to different hospital/docs and clinic, is that his catheter had never been placed correctly, and the infections were actually in a small sack of fluid that had developed just under the skin.

even after xrays and cat scans, these bumpasses could not see the problem. i fought the arguing and switched him.

during this 10 months, we were doing 5-7 tx's a day, in and out the hospital. plus mixing meds to put in the solution, giving epogen at home, running bags to the lab 40 mins away to be tested for infection. running back and forth to lab for him to be tested on med levels. not to mention 9 other docs trying to find why this wasn't working and he was developing copd/chf, etc.

we had on average, 36-45 40lb boxes in the living room of just solution, this was about a months worth.
we had much other supplies as well. he got the cyler on 2 occasions and after they delivered 38 boxes of supplies, plus another 8 of supplies, he was unable to use it. my son and i have personally hauled over 200 boxes out the door, cut them open, drained and burned. daughter has helped me do at least 40 at the kitchen sink. can i add this was through the winter, with a blizzard, and an ice storm, with a 3 acre long dirt driveway in the boonies. UPS had a habit and driving in yard and throwing the bag of epogen by the back door, dogs would find it and bring it to me. UPS would also on occasion have to deliver 8 boxes of a certain solution, pull up, throw it on ground in yard and leave. oh joy.

we did travel on 2 short weekend trips. i took 6 boxes of solutions and a suitcase with supplies. i hauled this in and out of the hotels.

in the end we were told that this dialysis had done almost nothing except minor fluid control.
he had his catheter removed, did hemo for 4 months, had a new catheter and then had it cleaned out once. in the end he had too many adhesions to use it. he has been back on hemo since november 2010.

to say it was a nightmare would be putting it mildly. i don't tell you this to scare you. hubby chose this hospital because this is where he had taken most of his patients (paramedic) for many many years, and knew most of the nurses/techs. it was not my choice.

HERE IS HOW IT SHOULD HAVE GONE:

taken him to U of M in ann arbor, gotten a temporary jugular or chest port at the same time they put in the PD.
had scans/xrays to be sure placement was good. allow the PD site to heal at least 2 weeks before use.

then do the training at a better clinic. we would opt to do manuals rather than the cycler. it is much less complicated and less work. it is easier to throw it in car and go. (for us anyway). i always kept one box of solutions (6 bags) and a small suitcase with supplies in the car.

IF it had been done correctly, all of this might have been avoided.

so what i'm saying is to make double quick sure you know and trust your neph, your surgeon, and clinic.

we know those who do and have done PD successfully and love it. they do only 3-4 tx's a day which takes about 20-30 mins tops for them. they don't have to go to a clinic but once a month.
there is a simple record sheet and your supplier brings you everything. when we first went home they sent us home with nothing, not even a scale to weigh bags (after the tx to see how much is taken off) or an IV pole.

the way it should go is that you have a place to store your supplies (here we could order bi-monthly), you heat your bag, hook up, do the transfer, and unhook. you can increase the strength of the solution if needed.
the higher strength the more fluid comes off, the frequent the transfer the more solid toxins. i think i remember that right? might be the other way around.

we lost a year. if this had been done right the first time, hubby would probably have a transplant now, almost 2 years later. and he wouldn't be missing his front teeth that were broken during intubation from that surgery, and for which we are still getting bills.

if you trust your providers, and they are good, PD is a great way to go.

ps: we did tx's at others homes (in their bedroom) and even in the car. i bought lysol by the gross and we were extremely careful. the only time he ever got an infection was after being at the clinic or in hospital with every idiot messing with his site and bags with no gloves or masks.

[Rerun]

Your job has to give you reasonable accommodations...... it is the law for those with disabilities.  Yes, they now get credit for an employee with a disability.  It think they get a tax credit or something.  They have to find you a room or corner with a curtain or some place.  My boss would "gladly " LEAVE and lock the door once a day for me.  I had a hook in his office I'd shut the door and hang my bag.

[lmunchkin]

Maybe "freedom" is not the right word to use, cause any kind of D. is not Free!  If you choose In-Center D, then they will give you the days that They want you to come and the times they want you there! The only really thing that we liked about the In-Center was the 2 days off and the one in-between, and not forget the other patients who went there! We miss the social aspect of it, but we keep in touch with them all. The things that we found out about doing In-center is sometimes, for whatever reason, we could not plan on getting him on at the time required or they would take him off too soon and I would have to stop what I was doing and go get him. He was always wiped out from it! Absolutely frightning to see not only him but other patients just coming out like they were "drunk" and stumbling around! It was so sad to see this and very concerning for me to watch. It just was not for us, and we wanted to be home to D. But some people like in-center cause they dont have to do a thing but show up and it is all done for you, plus alot don't have someone at home to help.  Plus not to mention the extra room for the supplies.  But that is okay if they want in-center, it is a matter of choice! At least we have that option! Right?

He did PD, both CAPD & CCPD! That was very overwhelming at first but like everything else, you get use to it! He was on the Cycler at night, but never really could get to sleep with being hooked up, so he tried daily exchanges!  That was ok to do, but still it was a hassel breaking up his day for an exchange!  PD is not as restrictive on diet and fluid as Hemo, but you still have to watch what you do! Other than the supply's and space required, it was not a bad modality because he was at home where we love to be.

Now, Des, he is doing NxStage at home, and I personally like doing this for several reasons! Number 1, like you I work days. When I get home, I hook him to the machine for 3.5 to 4hrs. Now nobody said we had to do that, that is by choice!  You are in control of everything when you do NxStage at home. They train you to do your own labs, water tests, Pak & Sak Endos & Colonys! It was very difficult to learn at first, seriously, I will tell you its not. But after you get into it and start tweaking this and that, it will all of a sudden "Click". You have no idea how it felt to have a revalation and finally get it, especially for this gal!  Iam not educated at all! Never cared much about school, I was a Tom Boy!
The reason we like the NxStage at home is cause if we have plans to do something that day, evening or what ever, you can skip and do it later or earlier if you want!  There are no time restraints!  That is what I meant by "freedom", because of the rules the In-center has!  We really felt free from all that!

We plan to take a week or so and drive northward.  We don't have to call any clinics to see if they got room or what times we can come!  None of that!  This little machine is very portable! It weighs probably um 70lbs. You can put it on wheels and roll it in and out of where ever you go. They have pre-mixed bags that can be used for travel, sort of like PD, but not as heavy!  Iam so pumped about this NxStage cause they have really worked with patients to make it easier for their needs! It is not perfect, but it is the best, IMO, so far!

Another thing, Des, that I want to say, and it really has nothing to do with you, but my husband is happier on this machine (if that is possible).  He feels better, his labs as of 7/21/11 are great. His ktv was .49, it has never been this good before. And because of that, we just might not do dialysis tomorrow night!  Im telling you, that even though he is still attached to a machine to sustain life, it doesnt always have to be certain days and certain times. The only meds he takes other than insulin is phosphorus binders!  That is it! No more B/p meds, no more calcium pills, no more protein boosters and no more antidepressant drugs (which he never voluntarily took)!  He does however still takes plavixs, I forgot that one!
He is back to doing low dose Epo, but that won't be for long I hope! So at anyrate, as I ramble alot, I just feel for you Des, cause your life has been upended! Plus having teenage kids who really demand alot of supervision. Wanting to do for and with them is just so hard to manage with this Crap!

All I can say is that no it is not "Freedom" for sure, but we just try to make it as easy as possible!

lmunchkin

P.S. Good gravy! Im so sorry for the rambling!

[Ang]

what it comes down too is, what works best for you.

in center haemo, hours X 3 times a week thats where your going to be, (take time off work)

pd done at home with exchanges daily(i never did pd ) kidneys too big.

i did in center haemo, wanted a separate life from dialysis.

how ever i felt that was my time do all or nothing.

[jbeany]

Des, part of it is a sense of control.  I wasn't able to do pd, so my options were in center or home.  There were pros and cons to both.  You have to pick the version that fits your definition of freedom the best.
For starters, PD can be done alone easily.  You get the freedom from needing to be in center, plus the freedom from needing a care partner like most centers require for home hemo.  If you don't have someone to help with home hemo, it's a good way to do D at home on your schedule without taking up a family member's time as well.  (Yes, you can do home hemo on your own.  Among others, Bill Peckham and Meinuk have done it, but it is a tougher fight to get most centers to agree.)
I lived in a rural area, so the closest center was a long ways away.  Home hemo saved me a lot of driving time (and gas money) which was especially good since I lived in the frozen north of Michigan.  Snow covered roads are a PITA when you are trying to get to an appointment you can't skip.
Home hemo on NxStage did feel like it gave me more freedom in some ways - I wasn't jumping out of bed to an alarm.  There wasn't a set start time.  I could rearrange my schedule on the machine to suit my life.  Lunch date on one day and movie night out the next wasn't a problem - I just started the machine when I was ready - either early morning or late evening.  Unfortunately, in my case, I needed a partner - and my main one was my soon-to-be-ex husband.  (If the word "AWKWARD!" just sprang to mind for you, believe me, it was.)

Now, I'm not that familiar with PD, having never done it, but I was under the impression you could use the cycler and manual drains on an alternating basis, depending on your schedule - as in, a manual drain while out with family and friends in the evening, and readjust your schedule accordingly.  I'm quite possibly wrong on that, but I thought there was a bit more flexibility with PD times.

You might want to write out a pro and con list for each type and tailor it for YOUR life.  What works for you best is not necessarily going to be the best solution for anyone else.

[Annig83]

When I was doing manual PD I felt like I had zero time for my son, cleaning up the house, etc.  Plus, I felt so much fuller when I was doing manuals.  With the cycler, I'm asleep, and I  feel...well, I guess more even-keel?  Not as tired.  It is a hassel though, with the set-up of the cycler, and waiting through all the programming, and if you roll over and "crush" the cath/tubing, the machine wakes you up at night with that bloody alarm on it, but overall I think it's worth it, as it frees up my days.

[Riki]

When I was on PD, I was on the cycler, and I was lucky enough to not have to do a day exchange.

What I would do if I wanted to go out with friends, is set up the machine early (or my mom would set it up for me), do the first drain and fill, then pause the dwell and disconnect.  I could go out with my friends, and when I came back, I just connect up to it, bypass the dwell, and keep going. I was using the Home Choice.  I don't know if there are any others out there. This is what I liked about being on the cycler.  I wasn't tied to it for the whole 10 hours, like I was when I was a kid on PD.  I could disconnect on the dwells, then hang out with friends or family, go for a walk, whatever

This is where I see the freedom with PD.  I could get up and walk around, I didn't have to stay with the machine, where with hemo, I can't even read a book, cuz I don't have a free hand to turn the pages.  I can't move on hemo, and that's hard for me, cuz I fidget.  By the time my 4 hours are up, I'm ready to blast out of that chair.

When I went to New York, I'd send 4 boxes of supples to the hotel I was staying that.  That was enough for 5 days.  They'd get it a day before I was to arrive and store it for me.  I'd take the cycler with me when I left.  It fits under the seat on the plane, so you can take it as carry on.  It was much easier than what I do now.  Now, I have to start a month in advance, making sure that the unit there will take me, having a crapload of testing done (chest\ xray, ecg, swabs for mrsa and vre).  I don't know my times until the day before I'm supposed to go for my first treatment, and they won't let me in until I pay.  One day, I had an issue with my credit card, and I was an hour late getting in because of it.

I miss PD.. I really really wish I could go back to it.

[*kana*]

I know I have a ton more freedom on PD then in center hemo.  I go dry during the day and hook myself up about 9pm every night for 10-11hrs.  Sure, I can't stay out late AND get up for a 6am outing, but I plan my late hook up nights with my late morning starts.  I dont work anymore but when I did work full time it was a bit more depressing to be hooked up at 8pm to be able to make it to work in the morning.  I feel better then when I was on hemo because I am getting treatment everyday and there are hardly any down days.

[lmunchkin]

Come to think back on it, kana, when hubby did PD for first 5 years, he worked and it was more difficult because he would get on the cycler at 8 to 8:30pm and was constantly late for work, but they knew of his condition and worked with him graciously! They were really good with my husband!
Now that he is not working and of course I have always worked, NxStage is a great modality because I can work days and come home and hook him up for 4hrs at the most! And because we have no one looking over our shoulders, I can sit in next room and visit this site and look in there at him! No alarms, is a sign that all is right in NxStage World!

Like I have said before, I am very up on this NxStage!  Yes D. sucks!  But thanks to this little system, my hubby is doing so much better! His labs have been very good for past couple months!  I attribute that to longer and slower D. Makes for better removal of fluid and cleaning of the toxins in the blood!

I guess all can tell I think alot of this NXSTAGE!

lmunchkin     

P.S. Des, how are you holding up?  Youv'e been on my mind all day!

[tbarrett2533]

Hello Des 

Although I may not be the best person to talk about "freedom" & Dialysis b/c I am only into my 2nd day of PD and was on In-center Hemo for the last ten months.  But what "freedom" means to me is I am in control.....  the diet on Hemo was super hard, the fluid restriction.... terrible, infiltrations, and I had a 9 hour recovery time, But with PD I have already had some orange juice and tonight am having mashed potatoes for the first time in almost a year.......  (next to come is banana's, & tomatoes  ) I drank for the first time in 10 months a whole 12 oz can of 7-up not to mention juice, coffee, & water and for the first time in 10 months I am not thirsty!!!!! 

With PD (I do CAPD) I am the boss....... I am in charge of kidney failure, Kidney failure is not in charge of me like it felt while on Hemo!! 

Simple solution to to watching the clock..... I set my alarm and go about my life and should my alarm go off and I am out and about or busy my whole entire world is not going to stop if I don't do an exchange right "on time."  you are the boss....... you are in control of how you feel too, that right there is "freedom" for me.....

I am praying  that I NEVER have to go back to Hemo, but Hemo could be just right for you 

Good luck

[Savemeimdtba]

1.  I skip every now and then on the cycler - no Dr. is going to advocate it in the US - but it can be done, and you'd be fine (as long as your labs are good).

2.  I never do exchanges int he day time - I do my 9 hours at night and I don't think about dialysis any other time. 

3.  I am free to do whatever I want during the daytime... and If i want to go out at night on a weekend, I'll just hook up later.  No biggie.

4.  I LIKE being able to control my treatment... I can choose to do an extra exchange if I want and I can choose to not do one if I want - the consequences fall to me.

As long as your smart and tolerate PD well - it's VERY freeing.  I did hemo for 3 months and i absolutely hated it.

[Riki]

when I worked, I worked from home, which was helpful.  I usually hooked up after I was finished working, but I remember a few times when I had to get up early the next morning, and I worked till 9pm.  My cycler wasn't in the same room I worked in, so Mom plugged it into an extension cord, and wheeled it into the other room, so I could work and dialyze at the same time.  The only problem would have been, if I was talking to customers and I had massive drain pain, or kinked the line and the fool thing started alarming.. *L*  I didn't have any problems, though.

[lmunchkin]

Man, I wish I could work from home!  I enjoy my time with hubby!  I wish I had the financial means to be with him now that he has stopped working!
But on the other hand, I do love to work, and it is sort of me time!

lmunchkin     

[Riki]

I was in tech support and worked remotely from the call centre to which I was employed.  It was great.  The company knew of my illness.  I was up front with them about it.  They bent over backwards for me.  I could have been a supervisor while there, but I had set hours, and I'd have to give those up to be supervisor.  Unfortunately, working in a call centre, even if you are at home like I was, is fast paced, and you need to have lots of energy.  I got to a point where I just couldn't do it anymore.  I know for a fact that I fell asleep on customers twice, and I've no idea if my bosses knew that or not.  After fighting with doctors for a while, asking for stress leave, I just gave up and quit.  It was a good thing, though.  I quit in May 2008, and it was December 2008 when I got peritonitis and had to go on hemo permanantly

[lmunchkin]

I know that had to be hard for you, Rikki, especially when they understood and accommodated you in every way! J. was fortunate to work for a company that really bent over backwards for him too.  But unfortunately the last 2 years, they were bought out by another company, and that is when they isolated him in a big office all to himself!  They wanted him gone, but I must tell you, he remained there until Jan of this year!

The only reason, I knew of his memory problems and his weakness, so I told him I felt it was time for him to give it up! Plus if he didnt, they were going to force him out!  Yea, it would be nice if he drew a paycheck, but I wasn't concerned with that as much as his physically, mentally being able to keep it up!

Now, though he misses work, he has adjusted somewhat!  I just wish he would get his Disability check now.  It is suppose to start the end of this month, but I don't trust gov't period! 

All in all, when you work all your life, it is hard to give it up, especially in the times we live in now!

lmunchkin