I’ve been watching a lot of comments in our Facebook group of how “I Crash Landed into CKD”. Well, my journey was more of a gentle slide from birth but hitting a large amount of bumps and rocks along the way, turning me into the fine figure of a man I am today. Isn’t that right, guys? Err, why are you all laughing? So, in some ways, I feel like I’ve had it easy to cope with mentally as I have gently slid down the very long slope of IgA Nephropathy. It has given me time to get to grips with things at a nice pace, getting to know the terminology, renal diets etc. I can’t imagine what it’s like for you guys who are a picture of health one minute and then thrust into this horrible turmoil like hitting a brick wall at 100 mph. So here and now, I will apologise if some of my comments appear flippant and laid back. Having met hundreds of patients over the years and being in and out of the hospital has allowed me to absorb information to become very knowledgeable in many aspects of CKD, AKD, various conditions and treatments.
Coming from an IT/Telecoms background I treat my health like a technical project and can always find alternative ways to achieve my goal of fixing a problem without getting phased by it all. So, to reiterate a comment that Dennis Crane made earlier on Facebook about being lucky to have had a transplant, then if being lucky means reaching the age of 28 before any biopsies had to be done ( I had an extra one just for good measure), then I am lucky. If reaching the age of 49 and 364 days before I started my Transplant Workup, then I’m Lucky. If not having to start any dialysis treatment till I was 50 years and 6 months old then I’m lucky. If managing 3 & 1/2 years on APD before it failed, then I’m lucky. If having a fistula made and transferring to maintenance HD 4 & 1/2 hours 3 days a week for 8 months, then I’m lucky. Getting a transplant in May 2009 and having nearly 4 years of serious hospitalisations with everything from pseudomonas post-transplant diabetes, and as a result, getting a giant Pioderma Gangrenosum (PG) ulcer on my leg with the threat of treatment using maggots. Well, after all that, it’s lucky I’m still here to tell the tale.
The one great thing that has really made me feel lucky is the large circle of renal friends I have made over the years that have supported me all this time, and now, becoming an active member of the Hope KPA and GMKIN, I feel I can give something back and support others via this network.
Thank you all very much.
