I am thinking of you too Patricia and hoping you are finally getting the care you need.

Hi Patricia,
Please know all our hopes and prayers are with you. When you get a chance, drop us a line and let us know how you're doing.

We love you.
Ruth

I've also been thinking of Patricia whilst I've been barely able to move. She's out there somewhere, as she kindly sent me a hug. We'd all love to hear how you're getting on Patricia.

Take care,

Chewitt

Yes, I keep checking in to see how you are doing Patricia. Blessings upon you.

Heather

Yes, I am still alive! Just trying to keep going since getting home from hospital before last week-end. Things have been a little fraught here due to health problems of my son who lives with me. I really am not well enough to cope with these too just at present as I feel so unwell myself. I have had to resort to getting some help in. Trying to sort all this has proved exhausting in itself.
I have an appointment to see a different consultant on 9th February. I will have to travel a distance to a different hospital for this.
It is a bit complicated as I live on an island and the consultant who was so rude to me is the normal one for where I live. I have not been happy about her indifference to my condition and lack of advice for quite some time, really since July 2008 when my gfr went down to 13. I only realised this at that time because the GP told me. I was told it had been 18 when I had seen the consultant in the February. I was shocked and quite depressed because the consultant had told me she had no concerns about my kidney condition. She was still telling me that when it went down to 11 in April and 8 by September. And now when it is fluctuting between 6 and 7 she is still showing no concern. I really find all this very hard to understand.
The fact that I have the anaemia with my haemoglobin down to two-thirds of normal is also worrying given that it has been gradually dropping for several months, No explanation has been found as the consultant refused to accept that it was caused by my kidney failure. Nothing was prescribed apart from the iron which I was already taking. Yet it had been dropping while I had been taking the iron.
I have just had another blood test taken. Time alone will tell if things are improving, staying the same or getting any worse.
I really do appreciate all your concern, support and good wishes. Sorry I have been a bit quiet but I am just so tired it is a real struggle just to get through the minimum for each day.
Love to all,
Patricia.

Patricia,
I wish I could be there to fight the bully's for you! Just know that you are in our thoughts and prayers and keep in touch as often as you can. We understand how exhausting renal failure is but then to add the other stresses in your life has got to make things 10 times harder.
We are here, we are patient and we care.
Take care,
Tami

glad to hear from you Patricia. we worry about you.
every time I think about your uncaring doctor I want to punch her. how dare she treat you the way she does.
hope your new doctor works out better and stay healthy enough to make the appointment. let us know how it works out.

Hi Patricia, Sure am glad to hear from you, we had no idea what was going on. Don't do that again...:) Keep us all posted as to your hew doctor, we all are concerned.

lots of love,
Norma..

Hugs from me too, hoping to hear a good report. And I hope it helps to hear from some of us, that yes, we understand about the fatigue and depression. Hoping that our prayers and thoughts will warm you and encourage you.

Where are you? For some reason, I desire to put each of you on a map in my mind..... I am in Alaska.....

Blessings
Heather

Yes, Patricia, it's good to "hear" from you!

By any chance do you have someone who could be your "advocate?"

It seems you could use one!
I wish I was able to be there to help.

All I can do is to encourage you to keep records of what happens:
Who you spoke to, and when, and what you were told to do or not do.

Best of luck!

Peace and Blessings!
CoachRichie

Hello again.
Just an update. I am due to go for my second opinion appointment to the new consultant on Tuesday 9th. Have seen GP yesterday and gfr is still 7, haemoglobin is 85 whereas it was normally up around 124. i feel so tired all the time and get exhausted doing virtually anything. Yesterday all I did was visit my GP locally and that left me so tired that I ended up sleeping most of the afternoon. I am also in a lot of pain with a combination of the kidney failure, anaemia, arthritis and fibromyalgia.
I am hoping for some guidance and input from this new consultant. Hope to let you know the outcome once I've been. Thank you for all the kind thoughts and support.
Best wishes to all,
Patricia.

I understand how you are feeling physically. Although I don't have arthritis, I suffered from all the rest prior to my transplant. I remember feeling so exhausted that it wasn't even worth getting up in the morning but I forced myself. The worst part is the impact it all has on your mental health.

I hope with all of my heart that the new consultant takes your symptoms seriously and gives you what you need to build up your strength and get through these tough days. I will be thinking of you all day on the 9th and sending good thoughts your way.