I start dialysis Tuesday! :(

[Wattle]

    Hugs Paddbear

I know you will be feeling better in no time. I will be thinking of you. xox

[G-Ma]

         you can do it.  We are all here for you.

[twirl]

you can wear shoes but your feet still get cold :ROFL;
our unit is freezing for the patients b/c the techs get too hot when they have to wear the yellow jackets -- they sweat too much
so the trade - off is the patients get to freeze
twice, I almost asked off early - my teeth were chattering and that is not an exaggeration - and I am not a person who gets cold easily -
good luck to you -
I think you will have more energy -
glad to see your husband here
I do not want my husband here -- I tell too many of our secrets
your dog avatar is so cute --- I always feel better after seeing him
while your fistual is healing enjoy being able to use both your arms during dialysis - how long do you run for treatment

[paul.karen]

Hard to offer any advice as i am predialysis.
But i wish you the best in care and hopefully you will feel a BIG change after a few sessions.
I know you were preparing yourself for this day as i am.  But it came kinda fast huh :-(

   Hang tough and feel better soon.
P&K

[2_DallasCowboys]

Dear P.Bear,

As many of our friends above have mentioned, you
are beginning this new path with a wealth of knowledge.
We knew nothing about Dialysis when my husband had to
start.  It may  take a while for your body to adjust, but plse
keep in mind that in the long run you will be feeling so much
better.
We will be with you thru  this - sending a 

Anne

[paddbear0000]

If you need a CD player, I have a couple of them that CellCept sent me.With dialysis starting, there maybe more oportunities for help in your area on top of your vision problems. As stated earlier, apply for Medicare and disability (have as much documentation as possible from all doctrs) before making the first visit with a case worker there. You may also get assistance from state Medicaid now too. Try to see if there is Ohio Department of Rehabilitation (mines called Illinois Department of Rehabilitation) and they can help you with vision/schooling, show your other areas of help, and then there might be a county service for disability and senior services which I am now forgeting what mine is called and I just went there today. The county can help you get into other programs for financial assistance even though husband works, you can get money because he is your caregiver. You may not feel like driving for a bit when you first start dialysis, but we are all different and some of these agencies may provide transportation service or taxi vouchers. Of course each state is different, but this is what is available in mine and might be in yours to some degree that may assist you in some manner.

As for your husband, he doesn't have to stay there, maybe he can waste some time at a mall, use the hospitals library, or something in the area.

Good Luck on your first day and your surgery. Hope all goes well.

Actually, my husband can just go home. The clinic I will be at the first month is literally right down the street from our house, about a mile. Driving shouldn't be a problem either since it's so close. If need be, I  can hop on the bus. I will avoid that if at all possible because it's kind of nasty, but if I have no other option, it'll have to do.

As far as the Medicare goes, I'm not 100% sure I'm going to apply. We have excellent insurance coverage through my husband's work. It pays 100% of any transplant related expenses, and except for a $250 yearly deductible, it fully covers dialysis as well. Pretty much all we will have to pay are $20 copays for meds and doctor visits. And we have a $5 million lifetime maximum. The monthly premiums and 20% coinsurance payments of Medicare is actually going to cost a lot more money in the long run.

[Chris]

Use all resources available to you. Apply for Medicare now anyway, unlock your benefits. Always be as prepared as possible with this economy and unemployment rate. 5 million is can go by quickly with dialysis and transplant combined (follow up care included) in some cases. From what I have read on the boards, people use both their primary insurance and Medicare to help pay for dialysis. If there are resources available, always use them.

I feel the same about the buses in Chicago too and do not use them, plus they don't get where you exactly need to goeither in a place you have no idea about. So I take the thrill ride a minute, a taxi. 

[Rerun]

Yeah, you have to consider that Medicare premium is $96 a month.  You do have good insurance.  If they ever change your benefits Medicare will be there.... (I HOPE)

                                             

[Chris]

Also when you apply for Medicare, start the process for disability, that will get rid of the $96 charg, well did for me.Your eyesight is almost as bad as mine, just not blind in one eye and that will help towards disability along with the neuropathy, gastroparesis, and other diabetic complications as long as the doctor states it. So all eye docs, GP, Neph, maybe Transplant team (kinda doubt them) can help aid in your approval. Bring a business card from each doctor with also to show Social Security you are prepared. You may need to fight, but sometimes you don't like myself.

[Tinah1968]

I will be praying for you 

[BRANDY]

paddbear --We are all with you in spirit. Good Luck to you.

[NVRWKN]

Good luck. You'll adjust just fine. It becomes such a routine. And don't be afraid to ask questions. I drive them crazy at my clinic. I can be a bit demanding. But hey we have a right to ask and receive. Never Weaken!!!!!

[RichardMEL]

hmm I wear shoes and it's not an issue. Others take theirs off (pewww! LOL) so I guess it's up to you. Since it's summer here a lot wear sandals and the like. Whatever is comfy I guess (imm I've not seen anyone wear ugg boots though  ). The important things to take are absolutely a sense of humour (I'd have been gone ages ago if it wasn't for it) and to expect something you don't expect(even with the IHD primer).. and just try and take it all in as you can. There's a lot to get used to. The machine, the needles, the procedure etc. Hopefully you will be set up properly and not have any trauma first go and they will explain things to you.. if they don't *ASK* - an informed patient is a better one I feel. I know I would go nuts if I didn't have some understanding of what is going on.

Soon all the stuff we talk about like dry weight and UFR and all that stuff will become familiar to you (unfortunately) but use it to your advantage. Ask to have the machine set so you can read it and know what is going on).

Also as someone said up top - if you start to feel funny - even the slightest bit - TELL THEM! Until you become stable the settings, and other stuff will be a bit of a guess and they may do something that lowers your BP too much, or something else.

Also if you get cold and your blanket isn't enough ask for the machine temp to be put up by 0.5 degrees. It may hellp. A lot of people at our clinic run at 36C. I run at 35.5 because I get too hot at 36 (what can I say? I'm a hot guy).

Above all try not to panic or stress too much. You will have qualified people looking after you and that's the most important thing. We're all behind you.

Welcome to Dialysis! 

[paddshubby]

Padd (Janet... that's going to take some getting used to) just went into surgery about a half hour ago.  This is fistula stage I and what they called a tunneled catheter.  I think thats right. 
Anyway, the doctor was late so surgery started about an hour late.  Pretty cool that this hospital has wifi so I can log on while I'm here.  Staff has been great so far.  Wish her luck!

[Tinah1968]

Good luck and keep us posted...

[willieandwinnie]

paddbear. We are thinking about you. Keep us posted paddshubby. 

[okarol]

The insertion of the tunnelled catheter is pretty quick, it's just recovery from anesthesia that takes time.

 

[pelagia]

just checking in 

[paddshubby]

just talked with the doc.  she's out of surgery and doing fine.  should get to see her soon.  thanks to everyone for your support!

[Romona]

Give her our love. 

[paddshubby]

It has been given and readily accepted.  She was thrilled when she woke up and I told her I was in touch with the IHD crowd.

Right now she's sleeping in recovery at the hospital thanks to the morphine and phenergrine.  Once her nausea is under control and she can take pain meds by mouth, we'll be heading home. 

Looks like thats happening now.

[paris]

Take good care of her   

[Bajanne]

Paddshubby, we really appreciate you keeping us updated.  Give Paddbear my love and a big big hug.  I look forward to her getting accustomed to dialysis and feeling much better.
We will be with you two all the way (can't get rid of us very easily!)!

[jessup]

hmm I wear shoes and it's not an issue. Others take theirs off (pewww! LOL) so I guess it's up to you. Since it's summer here a lot wear sandals and the like. Whatever is comfy I guess (imm I've not seen anyone wear ugg boots though  ). The important things to take are absolutely a sense of humour (I'd have been gone ages ago if it wasn't for it) and to expect something

We live in the top end of Australia. Temp range is 30-40 degrees celcius daily
My Dad wears ugg boots to dialysis
It's bloody freezing in the unit

Anyway
Lots of love and best wishes on this new path mate
IHD family has given you a wealth of knowledge and support
Take care dear mate
 

[Chris]

She might be even more sor when she is more out of it, but hopefully not. Hope it all went well and the doc didn't find the veins to bad when they went in and actually saw the veins. Now on to the real fun I guess on Tuesday. Tough call on which one is worse.