Newbie Here

[morgansgrumpygranny]

Diagnosed with CKD after acute renal failure put me in the hospital this time last year. Am holding my own so far at stage three. Most of the time I'm afraid to eat meals, as I'm afraid of overdoing the potassium or phosphates or the proteins. The salt I think I can handle. I am on line everyday researching...and I have to tell you...I'm "terrified" of what's ahead. I already suffer from a panic disorder, so trying to stay as stress free as possible to keep the blood pressure down has turned into a battle. I also take care of my 84 year old father which lends to some stressful times. I have to say that some of what I've read on this site is encouraging and some is scary. I'm here I guess mostly to, I suppose, feel like I might be better prepared for what lies ahead (dialysis).
Thanks for having me.

[Sue]

Hi and welcome lots of good info here ! I am pre dialysis too and it is scary but if you ask questions and educate yourself via the people here at IHD it will perhaps take some of the fear away.

[Michael Murphy]

As a recent (19 months) dialysis patient I can tell you I was scared spitless by the thought of dialysis.  I fought the good fight watched my diet and avoided it for two  years after my doctor thought I should start dialysis.  The only consession I made was to have a fistula installed after I was told I had to start.  Early fistula surgery was a smart move not that I realized it at the time.  Well the time came when dialysis was unavoidable and I started. In other posts I have likened starting dialysis like a five year old starting kindergarten.  The fear was almost overwhelming.  It turned out the fear was mostly based on the unknown.  Dialysis is a pain in the butt but not horrible.  For me it's a three day a week commitment of most of a morning.  I continued to work full time for the first 18 months of dialysis.  I wish I had visited a clinic before starting and seen what it is about.  The fact I felt better after helped but all told I wish I had learned more before beginning.  Join a support group if one is available,  tour a facility learn enough to make a educated choice about dialysis types.  Have a fistula installed as soon as possible just in case you ever need hemo dialysis.  And don't stress out 400000 Americans do this and manage to live their lives.  Good luck to you.

[Darthvadar]

Hello morgansgrumpygranny ... (GREAT name!)...  to IHD...

If you're looking for information, advice and support, you've come to the right place... You'll find plenty of it here...

Hope to see you around lots....

Darth... Moderator...

[morgansgrumpygranny]

  Thanks so much for the encouragement...it's badly needed. I intend to be here "a bunch"....soaking up information and asking questions. 
Wishing you all a wonderful day. 

[PrimeTimer]

As a recent (19 months) dialysis patient I can tell you I was scared spitless by the thought of dialysis.  I fought the good fight watched my diet and avoided it for two  years after my doctor thought I should start dialysis.  The only consession I made was to have a fistula installed after I was told I had to start.  Early fistula surgery was a smart move not that I realized it at the time.  Well the time came when dialysis was unavoidable and I started. In other posts I have likened starting dialysis like a five year old starting kindergarten.  The fear was almost overwhelming.  It turned out the fear was mostly based on the unknown.  Dialysis is a pain in the butt but not horrible.  For me it's a three day a week commitment of most of a morning.  I continued to work full time for the first 18 months of dialysis.  I wish I had visited a clinic before starting and seen what it is about.  The fact I felt better after helped but all told I wish I had learned more before beginning.  Join a support group if one is available,  tour a facility learn enough to make a educated choice about dialysis types.  Have a fistula installed as soon as possible just in case you ever need hemo dialysis.  And don't stress out 400000 Americans do this and manage to live their lives.  Good luck to you.

Welcome, morgansgrumpygranny.  I totally agree with Michael Murphy about visiting a clinic and seeing dialysis being performed before starting. Altho brief, my husband did in-center a few months before we were trained to do home-hemo. I went and sat with him for his first few treatments....and altho I wasn't the one receiving dialysis, I cried. I think back to that and wish I could apologize to all the patients that were there, they didn't deserve to have someone who isn't on dialysis cry in front of them like that. It was very overwhelming and I'm not even the patient. I think if I had been able to get a tour or see things before my husband had to actually start, it may have helped. By the way, it does get easier and helps a lot to come here for support. There are some wonderful people on this site, truly wonderful. 

[kristina]

Hello and welcome,
I can understand how you became terrified of dialysis, I was exactly the same
and I was fighting for one more day to remain pre-dialysis for altogether over 43 years.
In the end I became so unwell that I was an accident and emergency-case,
still hoping that I might have a chance for one more day without dialysis...
Now I have finally "mastered" my first week of dialysis and I feel so relieved
that my body could take my pre-dialysis dilemma for so long.
I am very grateful that dialysis exists because
it creates for me a chance to continue with my life.
I can already feel a little bit more energy again.
Best wishes from Kristina.