One year, and not really counting....

[LightLizard]

it's been one year now that i started on dialysis.

the last time i saw my neph, last week, he told me i that he 'strongly suggests' that i get put on the transplant list.

i asked him, 'wouldn't my hep C flare up if i were to get a transplant and take the anti-rejection drugs that would shut down my immune system'?

'you would think so' he replied, somewhat cryptically. he added, 'if you stay on dialysis, you won't be doing as good in ten years.'

well DUH. in ten years, (if i live that long) i'll be 68. who is 'doing well' at 68, anyway?

gotta love them doctors, hey?

love

~LL~

[st789]

Wow, in 10 yrs.  Some drs. are idiots.

[paris]

I don't care what the dr. says---I will be doing well in 10 years because--well, because I said so.  (That always worked with my kids!)    I have too much to do and this disease is not going to get the rest of my "good" years!

[LightLizard]

I don't care what the dr. says---I will be doing well in 10 years because--well, because I said so.  (That always worked with my kids!)    I have too much to do and this disease is not going to get the rest of my "good" years!

 

[goofynina]

I don't care what the dr. says---I will be doing well in 10 years because--well, because I said so.  (That always worked with my kids!)    I have too much to do and this disease is not going to get the rest of my "good" years!

YOU GO GIRL    I love that attitude of yours, it looks MAHVELOUS on ya  

[KT0930]

LL, my one year anniversary of dialysis (this time) is coming up on Monday...woo hoo, party! 

[Amanda From OZ]

Hey Lightlizard....

I was told i would be doing much better with a transplant than being on dialysis with hepatitis C.

And the doctors have been pleasantly surprised.... even on these drugs the hepatitis is still dormant and is only showing a very low viral load.

How long have u had Hep c for? And is it still dormant? also to you plan to get treatment for it? Sorry about all the questions. 

[LightLizard]

Hey Lightlizard....

I was told i would be doing much better with a transplant than being on dialysis with hepatitis C.

And the doctors have been pleasantly surprised.... even on these drugs the hepatitis is still dormant and is only showing a very low viral load.

How long have u had Hep c for? And is it still dormant? also to you plan to get treatment for it? Sorry about all the questions. 

i've had hep C for most of my life, according to the doctors. their best guess is that i aquired it from a blood transfusion when i was 2 years old (in 1951) that i needed to save me from pernicious anemia.

it became quite active a few years ago, and i tried interferon for six weeks before i developed a massive 'gut-bleed' which very nearly killed me. it has been determined that i am one that can't tolerate interferon, but, it seems the virus is dormant, now. probably thanks to dialysis which may allow my immune system a little leeway.

love

~LL~

[BigSky]

it's been one year now that i started on dialysis.

the last time i saw my neph, last week, he told me i that he 'strongly suggests' that i get put on the transplant list.

i asked him, 'wouldn't my hep C flare up if i were to get a transplant and take the anti-rejection drugs that would shut down my immune system'?

'you would think so' he replied, somewhat cryptically. he added, 'if you stay on dialysis, you won't be doing as good in ten years.'

well DUH. in ten years, (if i live that long) i'll be 68. who is 'doing well' at 68, anyway?

gotta love them doctors, hey?

love

~LL~

The doctor was just keeping it real.

Whether people want to admit it or not, the fact is most dialysis patients will not be doing well after 10 years of dialysis.  That is just reality.

Those that do well on dialysis and continue to do well after such long periods tend to be the exception, not the rule.

[LightLizard]

i do understand that, that he was 'keeping it real,' that is. but taking into account that nephrologists, and other specialists in BC have an average of 1500 patients each to deal with, i also understand that there is a necessity to treat everyone the same, regardless of 'extenuating circumstances' and the possibility that the treatment prescribed may actually kill the patient.

i plan to be 'the exception', but if i'm not, so be it.

[paris]

I am with you L.L.--I plan to be the exception.   

[Ken Shelmerdine]

i do understand that, that he was 'keeping it real,' that is. but taking into account that nephrologists, and other specialists in BC have an average of 1500 patients each to deal with, i also understand that there is a necessity to treat everyone the same, regardless of 'extenuating circumstances' and the possibility that the treatment prescribed may actually kill the patient.

i plan to be 'the exception', but if i'm not, so be it.

Lightlizard you hit the nail on the head.There is a necessity to treat people the same. It's as if they don't want to acknowledge the exceptions because they can't explain them. Not one doctor in my clinnic has managed to adequately explain to me why, with only 7% kidney function I have never had any outward symptoms,  feel fit as a fiddle with full urine output, have normal haemoglobin levels, and good energy levels.

 I'm not complaining long may it continue but I've been on dyalisis for a year now and nothing has deteriorated except on paper where it says my function has dropped 1% over the year.

[LightLizard]

thanks ken, that's good to hear and good for you!

it seems that there are more 'exceptions' to the rule than rules, the more you look.

love

~LL~