Hello Everyone

[Yat83]

I’m Yat I’ve been on dialysis 8yrs I’ve done peritoneal dialysis and Hemo I currently on Hemo (Monday Wednesday Friday) I have a graft in my left thigh. I wanna make

New

Friends?

[Kimberbaby]

Welcome, my name's Kim and I have been doing in center dialysis for 1year and 2months. I have an AV fistula that's a real pain in the butt! I am trying to get listed for a kidney transplant, but haven't been able to pass the screening process. I hope you find the support you need here. Take care of yourself!

[Yat83 in reply to Kimberbaby]

Thank you & same too you. Why haven’t you been able to pass the screening process if you don’t mind me asking?

[Kimberbaby in reply to Yat83]

When I started dialysis I weighed 95lbs and in less than a month, I lost 15lbs. It's really hard for me to gain weight and especially on dialysis where they constantly are taking off weight every treatment. At my BMI two hospitals said the risk if surgery would outweigh the benefits. If something went wrong I wouldn't have any reserves and recovery would be much more difficult. These were 2 of the best hospitals in Philly and they're very protective of their success rate and want to protect their status. I'm getting closer to target weight but it's been difficult.

[Yat83 in reply to Kimberbaby]

Wow I pray everything works out for you. I’m in Ohio and the hospitals here are different I have to lose a certain amount of weight to be eligible for the transplant list. It’s hard but don’t give up. What days do you go to dialysis? Are you eating foods high in protein?

[Kimberbaby]

I go first shift Monday Wednesday and Friday. I am eating tons of protein and a good bit of sweets too! I'm my mom's caregiver, she has dementia so I don't get much down time to rest after treatment. My days off are spent with her from 8 till 4pm when I leave and rush to pick up my husband from work. Freaking exhausting! Boy they either want us thinner or fatter don't they? This life is a real pain in the ass!

[Yat83]

Wow you have a big responsibility and yes that’s true. Dialysis is a lot. I’m a single mom of one15yr boy 18yr girl she will be graduating June 3rd and it’s been hard for me. I don’t have much help my family is not supportive I just do what needs to be done and keep my head up.

[Kimberbaby in reply to Yat83]

I'm sorry you're going through this alone!! Dialysis is such an adjustment for us as patients but I can imagine it's an adjustment for our families too. Especially kids! Oh they must be so worried about momma!! You're a strong woman, truth is we women are all strong because we don't have support a lot of times. I'm doing everything I did before dialysis for everyone else but, like you said we do what we have to do!!! Prayers for you and congrats to your daughter for graduation and you too for getting her there!

[Yat83 in reply to Kimberbaby]

I really appreciate it. I hope you have a great weekend and thank you again. I really truly appreciate the kind words. Sometimes it’s good to hear it cause often I don’t feel strong. And my kids are adjusting now cause they are older and understand more when I started 8 years ago they didn’t know they were scared but it’s different now.

[Kimberbaby in reply to Yat83]

I'm glad that they are able to get what you're going through to a degree. It would be much harder if they were little and very dependent. I came to this group to find some sense of what I'm facing while on dialysis. I wanted to see if what I felt was normal, and it turns out that it is. But I also have met some friends which is really nice. My husband is sick of hearing about what I'm dealing with so he's not much help, and mom doesn't have the ability to remember anything. I have to remind her I'm on dialysis sometimes. So being here is a blessing and I'm glad to have met you!!!!

[Yat83 in reply to Kimberbaby]

I’m so happy to meet you as well. It’s really good to meet people that actually knows understand and feels what you going through!! I’m on Facebook and Snapchat if you ever wanna chat off here. & I’m glad to have Saturday and Sunday off don’t go back until Monday I’m first shift 5am I run 3:45

[Kimberbaby in reply to Yat83]

I'm on same treatment schedule, mwf 6am to 9:30 so WHOOPEE!!! 2 days of peace, blissful!! Take care of yourself and talk soon!

[rascal01]

How do you do it? Very hard to raise children alone. plus do dialysis, the Lord is watching over you!!

[Yat83]

I just survive pray etc and thank you

[coaching]

Hi Yat83, You are not alone. We all your friends now. You are a strong woman, never forget that.

[Yat83 in reply to coaching]

Thank you so much

[lincoln53 NKF Peer Mentor NKF Ambassador]

Hi Yat,

I just want to add my welcome to the others. I hope you will find this site gives you the support and friendship you are looking for. I have found that everyone who posts here is understanding and eager to help. It is nice to have a space where you can communicate with others who are going through some of the same things you are going through.

[Yat83]

Yes I truly appreciate meeting new people who share and know what I’m going through

[wolfmom94]

Hi Yat! I to am a single mom, of a 23 yr old son, without any support so I totally understand that part! I may not understand being on dialysis, I home hemodialyze my son (5days/week) & see/know what he goes through. I feel the exhaustion & depression as if I was the 1 on dialysis! He's only on the machine 2 1/2 hrs, I do ALL the rest, & I do mean ALL! Cook, clean, order supplies, setup/take down, make appointments, call for rides, everything. So I may not be exactly in your position but I do understand quite a bit of it! If you ever want to chat, here I am lol!

[Yat83 in reply to wolfmom94]

Hi wow! I’m speechless because you are truly a inspiration I know it hurts too see your son like that but thank God for you. So does he have a graft or a fistula? Does a nurse come visit? I do outpatient hemo I use to do peritoneal dialysis I got too many infections so I had to go back to hemo I know your son is very thankful for you so am I & I don’t have no support besides my kids. And they are busy working and stuff and I don’t wanna take that away from them

[wolfmom94]

Well, first he has a fistula & the nurse (she actually trained me for home hemo!) will come out to help me if I cant access his site to dialyze him. We did outpatient hemo for about 4 months then he chose home hemo, so I do my damnedest to do it. It's extremely hard on the days that I cant get "in" the buttonhole! (It's hard on me to "stick" him in the first place!) Second, as I've been learning myself-your not giving your kids enough credit. Honestly! As I said, I've been learning this lesson myself lately, & it's been a very hard one to get thru my head!! I've learned my kiddo actually wants to help me out! I've just got to learn to let him! Your kids may not know what to do because you may not know what you want them to do. Does that make any sense? I hope so because it's the truth! I have been trying to figure out where/when/how to let my son join in the chaos. & I've been trying hard to actually LET him! It's hard for us mom's to do that you know?! We moms think & feel like we should do it all, everything & be able to do it all & everything! I'm hoping that this makes sense. I'm also hoping that you're alright! I know what it's like to be alone in all of this mess! You're not ok?! I have a very hard time sleeping & check my messages all the time so anytime you need to chat I'll probably be online lol!

[Yat83 in reply to wolfmom94]

Yes I understand what you are saying. I can’t sleep much myself due to my recent break up far as dialysis it’s been going ok I have a graft in my left thigh my vascular surgeon said my arms has been used up this was a major surgery it took over 6 hours & I put my own needles in

[wolfmom94 in reply to Yat83]

I'm so sorry about your break up! Is it because of all the medical issues? (If ok to ask, you dont have to answer.) Here I talk about not being able to sleep & what happens? I actually crashed last night lol! I'm sorry about that! How long ago did you get your graft? Are you doing alright? Do you have a counselor? (Again, you do not have to answer if too personal.)

[Yat83 in reply to wolfmom94]

I was engaged it made five years this year. No my ex fiancé was a very big supporter in my kidney disease we had a lot of problems that didn’t include my health, so it’s a lot of lies anger hurt bitterness regrets etc. one day we hope to have a friendship these last few months I was getting cheated on basically got left for the new woman so I’m hurt bad. And yes I see a counselor (therapist) it will be three years in September that I’ve been seeing her. She’s really good & my graft I had in a year now I got it 4-7-2017

[wolfmom94]

Oh, forgot to mention, we can not do PD because he has too much scar tissue in his abdomen. He's has 2 PD sites, hernia repairs, his kidneys removed, kidney transplant, etc. so it's a no go-it's solely HD for us.

[Yat83 in reply to wolfmom94]

I’m very scared to go back to Peritoneal dialysis Them infections hurt I had a hernia too my kidney dr said I can go back I don’t wanna go I liked the freedom but them infections almost killed me

[wolfmom94]

Hi Yat! I got some stuff done & am taking a mini break before I start on other stuff lol! So thought I'd see how you're doing! Sooo....how are you? lol

[Yat83]

I’m hanging in there staying out this heat not ready for dialysis tomorrow how are you and your son doing