Let's Talk Peritoneal Dialysis!
Hey, I'm Jason. I'm a chronically-ill-super-freedom-loving-medical-self-journalist.
Share an experience.
I’m on Peritoneal Dialysis and I need a transplant, right? I’ll be telling you all about my feelings, thoughts, evidences and experiences in this blog. But I’ve never given a kidney, or been able to donate blood. Luckily, I’ve got you. I’m betting there are going to be some readers out there who have given a transplant, or a life-saving pint of blood. Maybe you know someone who helped you out once and you want to share the love. This is the place. Please leave me a comment about your experience, link me to a great website, or introduce the world (now that’s positive blog attitude) to someone great. All you have to do is click that comment button. Go on. Click it.
Let's Talk Peritoneal Dialysis! 
Hi Jason I have been on pd for ten years, complications occurred now I’m on hemo. My story is very long and I got sick out of the blue when I was 17. Love to hear about your journey.
I am in ESRD and on PD and it’s only been two months on PD. I take full responsibility for being in thisstae of health. I could have kept my diabetes in check. I choose to not take it very seriously and now I’m paying the price. Many people always think it could never happen to me. I am here because of my actions. I view dialysis as the path ton continue life. I do feel that PD gives me a chance to experience life not tied to a chair while life is happening.
First of all, I’d like to thank you, Jason, for writing this blog. It is very helpful. I have recently crossed the line into ESRD and am just on the brink of having to decide whether to undergo dialysis or check myself into hospice. I guess I’m going to be the person who rains on this parade by bringing up this question. Is it really worth it?
Dialysis sounds like a nightmare to me. I doubt that I’d even be eligible for a transplant, so it’s dialysis or death. I’m strongly considering death. I marvel at (and envy) those of you whose lust for life is such that a life on dialysis looks good enough–quality wise– to suffer the burdens of the treatment. I’m still debating.
I’m 72 and I still feel fine (except for a very low hematocrit which I’m about to do something about). Serologically, I look like shit. But I still feel quite well. I’m a widow. Have no family at all except for a 12 year old dog (whom I adore and feel enormously responsible for). Some good friends but at a distance. This means that my supports are thin, to say the least, and my “carrots” for continuing life are few. My dog is pretty much it. Sorry state of affairs. In the abstract, of course I prefer continued life over sure death. But when I apply the quality of life standard to it, the choice is not so clear. I envy those of your for whom it is.
Hi! Just stumbled on this blog by accident and i am glad I did! I was diagnosed with post strep glomerolnephro-whatever 11 yrs ago at the ripe age of 15! Received a tx from my mom, today is actually my 10th year anniversary. But all good things must come to an end and due to chronic rejection I’m on the list again hopeful for a donor..just thought I’d share 🙂 GL to u all!
I`ve been trying to get a kidney donor for my cousin and while surfing on the Internet,I came across this site- http://www.kidneys4you.com
i know that so many people of suffering from
(Nephritis), i am a kind of person whom is compassionate, i am willing to donate my Kidney to any Victim, if interested here is Email: tonylegend21@gmail.com or my private phone number: +2347061025622
All I can say is……this story makes all the sense in the world!! It wouldn’t have one year and one month ago….prior to my diagnosis of ESRD. I too feel like crap most of the time….dialysis is NOT the answer even though it keeps us alive.
PLEASE – those that read this – consider becoming a live donor. We NEED YOU!
Just a quick note. Kidney transplant surgery has been performed for over 50 years and they’ve gotten very good at it. It is not “experimental”. Helath insurance and short term disability may help defray some of the costs required or salary missed.
I know many people have had success finding a living kidney donor through matchingdonors.com. Over 100 transplants have taken place through the website. Stories are shared on this website where people register to have potential donors get in touch with them.
I donated my kidney to my brother 2 years ago and it was the most unbelievable experience one could go through. My brother never asked, I just offered. Luckily we were a match. After the surgery, I seen an instant improvement of life to my brother. One minute I was watching him slowly die in front of me and the next it was looking at a brand new man. I would do it all over again without a doubt! I wish more people would sign their donor cards and be living donors. I now promote organ donation to as many people as I can. The reward of donating does not only save lives, it rewards you because you start to look at life in a whole new light that never shined so bright. My brother is doing great and is now on waiting list for pancreas. My recovery took a little longer but am doing better with each day. Please consider be a living donor and to all who are on waiting list for organs, my hearts go out to you and I pray you find that donor.
Kimberly
Hi Kimberly Hill! Thanks so much for sharing your experience. When you gave a kidney to your brother, you helped thousands of people on the transplant waiting list – and you saved a life. How many people can say that?!
Thank you for your comment about my kidney donation. It was appreciated. Again thanks.
Kim
I donated a kidney to my Dad in 2007 and it was the best experience!! We did our transplant at Barnes Jewish Hospital in STL and we had the best doctors. It was such an honor to be able to share a part of me to save my Dad. It was so easy for me and such a blessing for me. I think everyone should be a donor! Hope you get a kidney soon!!
Thanks Cindy. You seriously rock.
I’m a kidney donor and was asked to share my story here. My older brother had kidney disease as a result of diabetes and I donated my left kidney to him in November 2005. I was 51 years old then. We luckily had a blood and partial tissue match.
I can’t say enough about what a positive and life-affirming experience it was for me. It was great to be able to make such a huge difference in his life and the life of his family without any real long-term risk for me. Obviously, undergoing surgery is always a risk, but otherwise, nothing about my health nor life has changed — one kidney is plenty!
I had the very fortuitous experience of donating in Sweden where my brother has lived for 40 years, so some things were different than they would be here because of the marvelous health care system they have there. I had laperoscopic surgery which is less invasive than traditional surgery. Nonetheless, I felt pretty crappy for the 1st week after surgery, but nothing out of the ordinary.
They did a study in Norway where they compared kidney donors and non donors and they looked at people’s level of happiness with their lives overall. Interestingly, kidney donors were happier people!
It has been 3 1/2 years since the surgery, and my brother is still doing well – my kidney is working for him.
So, that’s my story. I hope it inspires you to think about being a donor.
Nancy
Nancy, I can’t thank you enough for your comment. I am so happy for you and your brother. I’m glad you’re a happy person!