What affects your self esteem the most?

[flip]

Having to leave Happy Hour after only 30 minutes because I've reached my fluid limit. 

[KICKSTART]

Looking like im 6 months pregnant ! (PD) !

[stauffenberg]

Before developing renal failure, which was quite sudden in my case, I had enjoyed an extremely dynamic existence, teaching in two different countries, flying frequently among three countries, getting to know lots of students and colleagues and generally having a fascinating and energetic life.  I also looked much younger than my actual age, which caused people to interact with me as though I were my apparent age.  Of course dialysis suddenly changed all of that, and I the change was dramatically brought home to me when one day I was out walking with my 80 year-old father and found I had trouble keeping up with him!  The other single event which was most shocking to my self-perception came one day when I was visiting the podiatrist for a toe infection.  The podiatrist's assistant looked at my feet, commented on how well my toes were trimmed, and asked me who I had to help me with cutting my toes, on the assumption I was too old and decrepit to be able to trim my own toenails!  I was just stunned to find myself put in that 'box' with world of the enfeebled.

[Zach]

The podiatrist's assistant looked at my feet, commented on how well my toes were trimmed, and asked me who I had to help me with cutting my toes, on the assumption I was too old and decrepit to be able to trim my own toenails!  I was just stunned to find myself put in that 'box' with world of the enfeebled.

Perhaps the assistant thought you were a "liberated male" who went to a salon for regular pedicures.

[stauffenberg]

Must have been the lavender cologne I was wearing.

[Romona]

The weight gain I have had since my transplant. I try to be happy I am alive.

[okarol]

Must have been the lavender cologne I was wearing.

I love lavender cologne. 

[stauffenberg]

Anytime you want to trim my toenails, Okarol, just let me know -- perhaps something can be arranged.

[jbeany]

Anytime you want to trim my toenails, Okarol, just let me know -- perhaps something can be arranged.

[G-Ma]

where does the toenail line form???

[paris]

RichardMel may have a little compitition going on here.

I. for one, love it when Stauffenberg gets a little frisky!! 

[okarol]

Anytime you want to trim my toenails, Okarol, just let me know -- perhaps something can be arranged.

I also love a good foot massage.

[monrein]

There's something about this site for sure.  First we're all flirting with RM and now we're heading over to Stauffenberg's place for a spa day, toenail trims, foot massages and that's just for starters.  Gotta love IHD.!!!

[twirl]

computer illiterate
can not get the freakin' photos on the post and some are jpg
 

Stauffenberg gets friskey? oh my.....                  did anyone notice this nurse is called stauffenberg?

[kitkatz]

Stauffenberg, do you have the little feet fishies to help with the pedicures?

[paris]

Twirl, some of the icons were named for members--  (kitkatz)    (kickstart) (mysty)     (sluff)   Thanks to our creative admins!  We love the smilies!

[Chris]

Not eating like I use to and then there's that darn vision thing. Insomnia I can deal with.

[kuronekochan]

- Not being able to engage in my calling. I am (was?) a corporate finance attorney but can't do the work now because of the long hours required (60-80 hours a week) and the on-call nature of the work does not really permit undergoing dialysis and dealing with dialysis after-effects.

- Not having the flexibility to travel easily. I used to live/work in Tokyo and New York, and at one point was traveling from Tokyo to Bangkok every month to work on a deal. Now I'm trapped in the San Francisco Bay Area and haven't left its environs since I was diagnosed with ESRD.

- Disfigurement. This includes the arm alien (a/k/a fistula), the amazing inflatable face and abdomen (just add water!), and ever-changing skin discoloration, unevenness and altered texture. Sometimes I barely recognize myself in the mirror.

- Surroundings.  I am 37 years old, but most of the patients at my dialysis center are elderly. I don't wish to offend anyone, but spending so much time in what looks like a nursing home makes me feel like my life is essentially over, as if I should sacrifice all ambition and instead focus merely on eating, sleeping, and going back and forth to dialysis.

[boxman55]

"Surroundings.  I am 37 years old, but most of the patients at my dialysis center are elderly. I don't wish to offend anyone, but spending so much time in what looks like a nursing home makes me feel like my life is essentially over, as if I should sacrifice all ambition and instead focus merely on eating, sleeping, and going back and forth to dialysis"

Sometimes I feel the same way...Boxman

[G-Ma]

kuronekochan stated exactly what I feel, thanks.  I am 59 but never felt old until this dialysis thing started, perhaps that is what it is with many of us.  Being tied to a chair....I don't even know if home hemo will change that feeling....I can't strap that machine to my back and just take off for a few days, still needs planning......

[pelagia]

I was away for one week on vacation and come back to find that the place has gone wild...

[kitkatz]

One of the biggest changes is having to plan your life around treatment times. Sigh!

[twirl]

I was going to stop by Kroger's today after treatment but I had a shirt full of blood, the prettiest shade of red.

[Ang]

not  alot  comes  to  mind

[Chris]

Come to think of it, the graft I have in my arm. It sticks out like a sore thumb. It doesn't look natural, nor feel natural. Not to mention it itches and if you scratch it slightly in the right spot, you draw blood easily.