Back after surgery! with dead fistula

[whiskeyfrank]

Well i went in for my double kidney removal a month ago and im just about ready for work

They weighed in at a staggering 6.5 kgs and 4.5 kgs total weight of 23lbs - so i had twins the surgeon had only ever seen 1 bigger in 15 years.

It all went as planned apart from my low blood pressure during the operation clogging my fistula. Well thats history now and im on lines until i get my living donor.

I have to say i was a little worried about dialysis and the first 2 bouts were awful, the first one i was in ITU so didnt really know what was happening. The second was bad, the technician disconnected my epidural by accident rendering me in agony for 4 hours until the porter (yes a porter) noticed it was off.

Ive now moved to another center in Worcester (England) and i think its a little like the US dialysis centers being as its privatly run and charged back to the NHS (rather than an insurance company). Its worlds apart from the hospital - good staff, great facility thats 3 months old, lots of parking, brand new machines and plush suites with flat screen TV's etc.
But most important of all, they work very much for the individual and care!

Since then the dialysis has been fairly easy, but im still having problems controlling my heamoglobin, even with epo.

Getting used to the diet and fluid restrictions, as i have no kidneys its quite restrictive. Im also sick of telling nurses at the hospitals that i dont pass water (well how would i with no kidneys)

Now i know what everyone is on about on the forum!!!

[Des]

Good to see you back.... wow twins... !!!!!

I am just very happy to have you back (in pieces hahahah) once piece.

[KICKSTART]

Wow how did you get moved to a private centre ?  I take it you are not with Bupa  so how did you manage that ?

[whiskeyfrank]

I got moved there for 3 reasons 1. its 20 mins from where i live rather than 2 hours to birmingham! 2. its being used to relive the pressure on the NHS for dialysis, these centers are opening up all over the country and essentially subcontracting the service out. The consensus is thats its cheaper than putting extra shifts on in hospitals. 3. they offered it to me and as its state of the art i went for it.

oh and i have a single room as i left hospital mrsa positive the hospital could not do that.

i think the company that run it also make dialysis machines and filters, ill check tomorrow.