Newbie!

[Hopeful_kidney]

Hi! I'm 37 years old was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease last year hospitalized & now on dialysis ! What I've been going through right now are still fresh & still so very hard taking it all in ! I'm still on denial ! I'm already on the list though! It was put on hold due to depression but now I'm back on track ! Hoping I'll get transplant soon ! I'm so scared being cannulated & hook on the machine. I'm having a hard time right now ! Hoping I could still hang in there ! I hate needles & blood ! God, help me ! It's like a nightmare not wanting to be awaken ! Please, make the burden easy !

[Hidden]

Hi Hopeful, Stay strong, and hopeful. I was diagnosed with ESRD when I was 15; I did not start dialysis till I was around 39 years old. I have received a kidney transplant on July 5, 2010. feel great now. I hear you about dialysis I was hooked to whose needles for 10 years prior to the transplant. Hopeful please stay strong, and release any type of Negative thoughts, try to stay as positive always; it will help you get through this temporary bump. God bless you Hopeful.

[marcyc NKF Peer Mentor NKF Ambassador]

There are other options to in Center hemodialysis. Talk with your doc. Perhaps you would do better with home peritoneal dialysis which you could learn to do. Transplant beats dialysis but has its own challenges. You are going through a lot! Give yourself some credit for all the things you are learning and lifestyle changes. Kidney disease is tough and you are a strong person to manage through it. Prayers are with you!

[3kidney]

Hello Hopeful_kidney,

You are going through a difficult time right now, but this too shall pass. Stay strong, stay positive and take it one day at a time. Every day is a gift, enjoy it as best you can. You will get through this and look back one day and realize how strong you are. Never lose faith. God is holding you as you go through this, you are not alone.

[Charlene_Coxhead]

Hi

Wow that was quick from diagnoses to dialysis and it's not really given you time to process everything which must be tough.

I am the same age but was diagnosed 18 years ok at egfr 20 and confirmed with a biopsy. I have a fistula ready to start dialysis but holding off and coping ok at 7.5% I have rough days and just recovery from a dvt thanks to my strict fluid restriction.

Have you considered doing dialysis at home? It may help you take control of the situation. Have you got family or partner that could help you with doing it at home.

I'm not sure what your renal function is. I know you mentioned your on the transplant list bit have you any one that could be a live donor. My family got tested but unfortunately it was found they all had minor issues with their kidneys so no good for a transplant. It is stressful but if you do have family or friends willing to be tested it would save the waiting for one and stop dialysis a lot quicker

Take care

Charlene

[JNGIA]

You’re going through a great deal and dialysis is no picnic, but there is light at the end of the tunnel with the transplant option. Not sure where you are located but look at transplant centers with shorter wait times and look for clinical trials in your area as well. The National Kidney Foundation has lots of resources and support. My social worker was a great help dealing with social security and insurance matters too. Good luck and God bless.

[Drdetroit]

I was scared to death when I started dialysis. I felt better when some of the poison was gone from my body. I did dialysis for 2&1/2 yrs before my transplant 6&1/2 yrs ago. Watch your diet & keep your Albumin level { protein} up. Good luck to you!!

[KelliC_NKF]

Welcome to the community! You might also want to check out our dialysis community as well: healthunlocked.com/nkf-dial...

Also if you're in the U.S. and you'd like to talk with another patient by phone for support you can contact our NKF Peers program at 1-855-653-2273

[Dmbyrne]

I’m so sorry you’re on this journey, but you’re not alone. I too was diagnosed with ESRD and started dialysis 2 years later. I was on the Transplant list at Baylor Dallas and FortWorth. Fortunately I had a live donor who tested as a perfect match and surprised me with the news! I was only on dialysis for 3 mos. Miracles do happen and God is so good to us! I can now say I’m grateful for dialysis because it gave me time for a donor to come forward. I chose in center hemodialysis and it was a good choice for me. I’m not minimizing the life on dialysis, just want you to know there is hope and a light at the end of the tunnel.

Prayers for you and my Hod Bless you and keep you in peace and love.

D Byrne

Baylor Dallas Med Center

[Bobbiereed NKF Ambassador]

I completely understand. Been there and done that with my son. He began his journey at the age of 23. That initial introduction to kidney failure turned his life upside down and in fact, the lives of our entire family. One thing that really helped us was to meet with a kidney educator and listen to what they had to say about the different types of dialysis available to us. We quickly figured out that in-center wasn't for a 23 year old young man. He actually chose to do his dialysis at home--I (his mom) was his care partner. He lived alone and when he chose to do dialysis, I went to his house and assisted him. This gave him tremendous freedoms to lead a somewhat flexible life style. He didn't let dialysis dictate his life and that little bit of control he kept really helped him through. He picked Home Hemo-Dialysis and did deal with sticking himself with the needles. It was a relatively easy learning process. But--as you will learn in talking to an educator, there are also other forms of home dialysis that do not involve sticking yourself with a needle. Keep me posted on how things go for you.