Welcome One and All!

I started this blog to chronicle the my life as a renal patient. I started having issues back in 1983. I had an infection that hadn't been treated as an infection; it had been treated as pulled muscle as I had been working as a nanny at the time. Life went on and then I dealt with a series of infections of infections which resulted in 4 minor surgeries from 1985 to 87. Than I had 3 kids; dealing with minor infections along the way. This culminated in discovering in 1998 that I was in what the call Chronic Renal Failure, my right kidney was imploding, the left was starting to go as well.

I finally had the right kidney removed in 1999, which resulted in complications. I almost didn't make it. When I moved back to Edmonton from BC, I started seeing a nephorogist, Dr. Caldwell, from the U of A. In 2007 I had 75% renal function, fast-forward to today I have 13% and it is getting worse.

I decided I needed a place to share what I am going through for a variety of reasons:

1) to get out of my head and work through the anxiety and fear that I am feeling.

2) that somehow my ramblings can be of help to others.

3) most of all to share my journey with others and to help me share with my own family.

Great Sites for Information

Kidney Foundation of Canada

Kidney Foundation of Canada

National Kidney Foundation (USA)

National Kidney Foundation (USA)

(I will Post more as I find out more information.)

Here are some great foums and educational sites...

Kidney School
Kidney School
Kidney Friends Forum
Kidney Friends


Also there are some groups on Facebook:
Canadian Kidney Connection
Canadian Kidney Connection

Ontario’s Renal Community
Ontario’s Renal Community

I will add more as they come in. Cora

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Another post from my main blog....

An Health Update.....

Okay...last Wednesday I posted a cryptic status on Facebook, (link will only work for those who are on friend list) regarding a doctor's visit.  I needed time to process the information and to talk with close family and friends before posting the information.  Some of you know that I have been battling kidney disease for a number of years and in fact had a nephrectomy (kidney removal) 11 yrs ago.  I have been monitored for a number of years by a specialist and my GP.  Well for some reason, not sure why and we could speculate all we want, however back in 2007 my kidney was function between 50 and 75% (depended on blood pressure).  My kidney is now functioning at 16%.  I am looking at dialysis in a matter of months, not years as well as looking at a transplant in years as opposed to decades. 

I appreciate everyone giving me the space that both of us needed in order to deal with the initial shock of this latest news.  I now know why I have been so tired and unable to deal with a whole lot.  I, again, am asking for some patience and understanding as we make decisions as to treatment and how to proceed.  We need all the support we can get through this.

I know it never rains but pours...thank you again.

Cora
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