Starting dialysis next Tuesday

[boswife]

So glad and relieved your wife is doing better.  Terrable frightning huh... And so sorry for your four hour sit    You'll be so much happier at home.  It was real hard for me at first cause im a scardie cat, but once it set in, it was a breeze.  I will say that we still go for longer than 'suggested' as hubby has heart issues so we go s l o w... He still is sitting 4 hours, and 5 days a week, (we go 3 on one off so its really 5 1/2 days a week but we REALLY like that schedule)  but its in our home, our tv, getting foot massages and all the best care i can offer     Wishing you the best in all.

[billybags]

My husband was on hemo for about 5 months, he had a bad bout of peritonitis and they had to pull his catheter. He said that sitting for 4 hours was a nightmare. He also was tired when he came home, had a bit of lunch and went to bed. Next day he was fine and then it starts all over again, ask any one on here and they will say the same. it is normal to feel whacked out after. Thank goodness they gave him another catheter and he is back on to PD. Have you gave that a thought, changing to PD?

[big777bill]

billybags  My neph says because of my diabetes and the abdominal surgeries I've had PD is not an option. I've a gall bladder surgery, the old style where they gave you a scar about 12 inches long, and a liver transplant. I hope I can avoid infection.
 Boswife, I can't wait to start home hemo it will make things so much nicer. It sounds like you take care of your husband well. I'm sure he appreciates those foot massages. That sounds good! I would much rather do 5 or 6 days at home as opposed to 3 in clinic. God Bless you both, Bill

[lmunchkin]

I would much rather do 5 or 6 days at home as opposed to 3 in clinic. God Bless you both, Bill

Bill, you think like I do.  It is much better at home and you will get better dialysis!

lmunch

[Traveller1947]

So glad to hear that your wife is doing better!  Having a hubby on dialysis is the ultimate stress test for her and having Patty in the hospital is the same for you, I'd say.  The clock can, indeed, move slowly in the dialysis chair.  I bring my iPod for music, my Kindle for reading matter and my iPad for everything else and even so, the time drags by.  I try to talk to people--patients and staff--as they come and go, and that helps the time pass pleasantly.  Keeping both of you in my thoughts and prayers.

[big777bill]

 It's been rough the past couple of days. Friday night I got a fever it went up to 101.9 then I got it down to 100. I called my neph and she said as long as I didn't have chills or vomiting just come to center the next morning and I'd get antibiotics while on dialysis. It was the worst session yet. I got chills in the dialysis chair and shivered for 2 1/2 hours. My temp stayed at 99 the whole time in center. When I got home the fever spiked to 102.6. I took some tylenol and it dropped down to 100.5 then I felt it break and it went down to 97.9. I must have an infection somewhere and my guess is the catheter. At least I have 2 days off now and go to D again on Tuesday. It's been like a whirlwind around here lately. Patty is still in the hospital and probably will be until at least Monday. They want to do an upper and lower scope Monday morning. Maybe she'll be able to come home Monday afternoon. I miss her so bad.  God Bless. Bill

[lmunchkin]

Oh bill, Im sorry about Patty.  I must have missed it when you mentioned she had problems.  I think the best thing you can do for her is to take care of yourself.  I don't understand the up & down temps you've been having.  Sounds definately an infection, but more viral than bacterial.  Get that under control,cause that can really put a damper on things.

I will have you both in my prayers.  How is your son doing?  Sometimes we get so caught up in the drama, that we leave them out.  Im sure he is fine cause he has great parents.

God Bless you Bill & Patty,
lmunchkin
 

[big777bill]

 I got Patty home all safe and sound. I was feelin' good about that when I got hit with another bad case of the chills. When the chills where gone I was looking at a 102.6 fever and a headache.I called the neph and she suggested I go to the local ER. Patty, my son and Mother all told me to go to the local ER would be a mistake. They wanted me to go to Jefferson, where I was transplanted. Good advice. We just got home this afternoon at about 3pm. The chills. fever et al continued until Wednesday. I guess the antibiotics finally started doing their job. Never did find out what the cause of the fevers was. They tested everything imaginable. I did end up getting a fistulagram while there. The Dr said he had to expand it in one spot but overall it  looked very good. He is going to move it closer to the surface in 2-3 weeks. They want to get rid of this catheter ASAP and so do I.
  Patty is looking and sounding 100% better. They got her BP meds under control. They also found she had a hiatal hernia which was the cause of her left side pain. 5 days of rest did wonders for her.
  We should be starting our NxStage training the 1st or 2nd week of March. What a welcome relief it will be to get that behind us. I'm actually looking forward to getting this fistula going full speed.     God Bless, Bill

[boswife]

whew!!  So glad that part is done... Out with the bad in with the better   Im soooooo very glad Patty is home safe and sound and that your doing better and well, take a nice break and get your strength and then..... welcome to NxStage 

[big777bill]

  After 2 full weeks of D I can say that it is starting to work pretty good. I feel much better, not 100% but better than 3 weeks back.  I also know that in center will never be the thing for me. It's too hospitally if you know what I mean. Some of the techs and nurses are very nice and others I could do without but it's like that everywhere. I have to call the vascular surgeon's office tomorrow and schedule the fistula transposition. I'll be glad when the fistula is working and this catheter can be pulled. The catheter scares me because of the risk of infection involved with one. Plus I love to get a nice long, hot shower and with the catheter that's a no-no. Come on NxStage! Life will be different from here on out but sometimes different can be good. I have a lot of life to live yet. Patty and I still have to travel cross country and see America the way we've always wanted too. Go to Cali and put some flowers on her Dad's grave. See the redwood trees and go to Yosemite. Go up Pike's Peak and see what's up there. I want to see were Custer had his last stand. Yellowstone looks like it would be really cool. If any of you have any more ideas of great places to see in America let me know. I don't bite.  God Bless Bill

[lmunchkin]

Oh Bill, I know you are eager as all get out to travel, but hold on there partner, your time will come!  Just get a few months under your belt of NxStage and get comfy with it.  Plus, you may have to have your fistula revised a couple times (maybe not) before you can use it!  Not all fistulas start off great.  They have to mature & thicken over time! 

You'll get there soon enough.  You & Patty will settle into a routine and then,hopefully, things will smooth out and you & her can make for a fantastic get away!

Best of luck to you both!  Tell Patty, Im glad she is better and I really wish she would let us know how she is coming along too!

God Bless,
lmunchkin
 

[big777bill]

 Imunchkin I just went off on a day dream there for a minute. I agree with you I've still got a long way to go before we're going anywhere. I do have months of fistula work yet even if everything goes right. This has been a dream of mine since I had my liver tx 7 years ago. I was telling the IC nurses the same story. I need something to look forward to or life gets bland for me. I need to dream to survive.  I really do appreciate your concern and your advice. If we're extremely lucky we might get to take this fantasy vacation in a year or two at the earliest. This weekend is the best I've felt in a while.  The past 6 months or so I was thinking that this dream of ours was dead and now I realize that it's not. I will rely your message to Patty and try to get her posting on here. I have to break her free from FB first, lol.   God Bless,  Bill

[Whamo]

If you're going to California in the summer you might consider a visit to Lake Tahoe.  It's the most beautiful spot in the state.  Yosemite is very cool, too.  Take some time to visit the redwoods.  Those trees are 8,000 years old!  Imagine, they were 6,000 years old at the time of Christ, and they're still alive.

[big777bill]

  Whamo seeing those redwoods has been a dream of mine since I was a kid. We were out to Cali a couple of times to see Patty's Dad. They had been estranged for over 40 years. He lived in Riverside and we wanted to spend as much time as we could with him so we never went north to see the redwoods. I don't think they're going anywhere soon so they should still be there when we're ready, lol. I'll have to add Lake Tahoe to the list. God Bless, Bill

[lmunchkin]

Man, I would love to go out west period.  Ive been to Texas and that is it.  Would love to ride my Motorcycle to Sturgis, but that may not be a good idea cause of the distance.  Maybe I can trailer it.  You see Bill, I have dreams too, so I hear you there!

God Bless,
lmunchkin
 

[big777bill]

 

[boswife]

Oh boy bill. Any chance you visited Idyllwild while in riverside? Beautiful mt town I grew up in. And Imunch. My daughters fil rides the sturges ride lots. He's got craZY harley s.

[lmunchkin]

Awesome stuff, Bo's wife.  I don't want to ride when they have the big get togethers out there, too many bikes & "BEADS" for me!  But I would love to just ride the west and see the sites.  I would have to have a month off to do that like I want!!!!

lmunchkin

P.S. How is Bo doing?  No problems, I take it?

[boswife]

Ha. No problems you say. We are in hospital as I type getting yet another transfusion. Lots of good people testing the heck out of him though. Soooooo dreams on hold. Lol. I will be sticking him for dialysis in a bit :)Oh sorry bill, guess saying 'sticking him' is kinda insensitive?

[lmunchkin]

Ha. No problems you say. We are in hospital as I type getting yet another transfusion. Lots of good people testing the heck out of him though. Soooooo dreams on hold. Lol. I will be sticking him for dialysis in a bit :)Oh sorry bill, guess saying 'sticking him' is kinda insensitive?

Hate to hear that!  Guess it can't all be "BLISSFUL" all the time, huh?  Sorry Boswife.

Bill, looks like dreams are on hold here too.  J finally got Senspar for High PTH, so we shall see!
Otherwise, all is good in NxStage Land!

lmunch

[Whamo]

Boswife,  You're right about Idlylewild.   That's a nice mountain town.  It reminds me of the way Mt. Baldy and Big Bear used to be in the sixties.  I went there for a weekend a few years ago for a screenwriting camp.  I truly envy the teenagers that go to that private school there for rich kids. 

[big777bill]

 My FIL never took us to Idyllwild. I'll have to google it and check it out. He did show us Mt. Baldy but from a distance. We looked at it from his backyard. Boswife hope hubby is feeling better and you don't have to worry I'm not that sensitive, lol. Seems as if we've all got some wanderlust left in us. Maybe one day we'll be able to see those dreams through to fruition.
 Started D at the new center today. They took off 4.7 liters and I handled it pretty well. Everyone there was nice but the center was more crowded than the one in Marlton. D is definitely getting easier. I'm not as nauseous as before and the headaches are gone. I still hate dialysis but it does serve its purpose.  God Bless, Bill