Dialysis Support Group

I know how you feel. I am only 30 years old and so much has taken toil on my body heart and lungs. I feel tired after treatments too. I get sick of being nauseous every week and throwing up every week. I talk to people at the unit too and I still feel alone. I feel like most of everybody else in there is older than me.

Hello! I understand how you feel my dialysis just started in Nov. Most of the people at my unit are older and sleep during the treatments. I am so fatigued and weak it sometimes drives me crazy.

I miss being active and working which I can not do.

Hey sparkle! I can relate. When I was on dialysis I didn't have any support. My son was 3 and because I was so sick I had to live with my mother. She is a travel agent for guilt trips. I didn't tolerate the treatment and ended up with severe grand mal seizures...like there's any other kind... I was told they wouldn't transplant me because it was a waste of a good kidney and I needed to make my final arrangements...jerks...I had to send my son to live with my ex because he wouldn't leave my side...ever! He would be the one to hold my "vommit pail." He would be the one to find me passed out on the bathroom floor. I remember one time when I came to he was at my side rubbing my hair saying, "It's o.k. mommy, I am right here." HE WAS THREE! And my baby was taking care of me! he would not even get out of my bed when I was sick. It was not fair at all to him! My mother was not around... she thought this was a "tough love" situation. Because I was always so tired she would tell people that I was faking it. That I was just depressed and suicidal...I wish I had had the energy to be depressed! I don't know why she behaved like that. She never went to the doctor with me or bothered to learn about the side effects of dialysis. It was not fun. But, luckily, because I was not handling the treatment, I did finally get transplanted! I was only on dialysis for 6 months. I don't know how you do it for 4.5 years! The transplant opened up a whole new world for me....I moved out of the house immediately! Ha! Ha! And I am doing very well, all things considered. Oh...I am not like others my age because I can't keep up with them alot of the times but I try. My son came home to me immediately. He is 11 now and is finally able to enjoy his childhood without worrying about me so much. Organ failure is such a hard road to travel. But when your travels are over you are a much stronger person for it. Are you on the transplant list? You know you can get on these websites and look for living donors. I heard of one guy that advertised on a billboard and got a donor. Anyway..I hope you are doing well and hanging in there! It beats the hell out of the alternative!

Hello I know how you feel also.You haven't done anything all day and you say I'm too tired.Then you get that look..I say to them live one of my bad days and you wont wonder why I say I'm tired.When I was on hemo I would be so washed out.The whole day I would not be able to move from the couch.It's hard and I say one more day it will be better.

DS is a great place to feel wanted. I have been here about a month.

Bullfighter what a moving testimonial







have you started journaling that can be a way to get out your frustrations.

Hi there. this is my first day on this site and i just wanted you to know that i can relate. i too have tried to tell people how wiped out i am after treatments but they always think i should feel better. i still work full time as a reporter/photographer for Florida Today, a Gannett newspaper, but some days it's almost impossible. i guess we'll all just have to hang in there and keep going. what choice do we have? hope things are going better today, george

I have a huge family...they still don't understand the fatigue. I recieved my kidney over 7 years ago but, because they removed my original kidneys I am very anemic. I have to give myself shots every week just to have enough red blood cells to where I don't have to have transfusions. I am medically retired from the military so I am fortuneate enough not to have to work. I still have a busy life but am able to take breaks when I need to. My family is very resentful and everyone has an opinion about how I should live my life. Oh well...I have opinions on how they should live thiers too. Doesn't matter. We each have only ourselves to answer to. Life is short. We know this better than most. So while members of my family are working 80 hours a week, my son has never ever been in daycare. I feel blessed. If someone doesn't like it when I can take a nap tough noogies...I am grateful for my life. I wouldn't trade it. Sure i get sad when I can't keep up...but not every life is perfect. I am just glad to be here to fight my bull!

yo! if u need to talk (vent or convo) im here...i was never of hemo but PD for 6 years...lemme know if i can help!

welcome George White

I hope you are able to us DS to help you find peace.

The dialysis group here is great

I know exactly how you feel. I have had treatments that I couldn't stand up after. I find that the bigger toll is mental, I feel so left out of the life I used to have with my family before I got married to this machine 3 days a week.I had to stop coaching , I can't even plan a weeked getaway with my wife unless I plan 5 months in advance. I am so afraid that I will never get off of this machine.Sparkle , hang in there you are not alone.