Hello All

[Cjay1972]

Hello I was diagnosed with ESRD in may Ive just been coping on my own so Im jsut reaching out to say hello to all! Ive been kinda stuck down in the dumps with this change to my life style but I think Im getting it together.

[YollyD_NKF]

Hello CJ, The NKF offers a free patient to patient mentoring program: kidney.org/patients/peers

You are not alone in this.

[cs65 NKF Ambassador]

Hi cjay! A nurse once said to me to think of dialysis as your part-time job to keep your body healthy. It's not your whole life, so do try to find out what you can do on your days off to lift your spirits up. I just started cardiac rehab ( an exercise and eduction program for about 10-12 weeks) after I developed cardiomyopathy while on dialysis. That was scary! Thank God my heart is back to normal function now so i can do exercise. My husband and I take long convertible rides with our friends to see different places and go out to lunch on the weekends. I also keep busy during dialysis reading books (I"m pretty good now at doing things one-handed!). You can also call your friends, work on a laptop, watch tv, write, draw, pay bills, whatever. Do whatever it takes to take your mind off dialysis!

[cs65 NKF Ambassador]

Oh, sorry - I misread and thought you had just started dialysis. Just write back if you have any more questions about life with ESRD, ok?

[mingmiley]

cs65 very glad to read your posts,I watched tv little bit, usually news or Turning point or Dr Billy Graham, and i get on laptop too. i need to bring some books to read; i have a stack of guideposts i can bring.what kind of books you like to read? Thanks for your writings!

[cs65 NKF Ambassador in reply to mingmiley]

Hi mingmiley! I read mostly fiction - historical fiction from WWII seems to fascinate me lately. I read a lot of women authors - novels, light mysteries. When I watch tv I try to find something funny like old Seinfelds, something light and relaxing like HGTV or the Food Channel, good movies. I like anything that takes me away from the reality of being at the dialysis center! A lot of the time the staff hear me laughing! Thanks for writing back!

[mingmiley in reply to cs65]

Thank you for writing back.