What's your experience with dialysis? Give & get support here

@bustrbrwn22 , Think I was the poster who mentioned Death with Dignity. Now 8 states allow this (link to site below) and Washington state gives this information: https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/8-states-that-allow-euthanasia-833289/ From state of Washington: ".. "in 2008, the voters approved the Death with Dignity Act, which allowed a terminally ill person with less than 6 months to live to self administer lethal doses which were prescribed by a physician."

@bustrbrwn, Jen, I appreciated your post and how your pharmacist reassured you. I just believe strongly that no one should suffer pain of any kind if there are legal ways to alleviate it. Please be grateful that there are meds that can sometimes relieve the pain. No one feels badly about the need for blood pressure meds or others; we're just thankful that they can help. We are responsible to ourselves and others to do the best we can to maintain our health the best we know. Nothing shameful about that; in fact, to me it is the most responsible action we can take.

However, I can relate to a feeling of shame I experienced years ago now when I made an appointment to apply for a gov't sponsored college loan for my daughter. Education was very important in my family and the fact that as a single mom and school teacher, I didn't have the funds necessary to send my daughter to college without the help of loans made me feel very ashamed that I hadn't been able to save more toward that. The act of applying in person for that loan brought me to tears. Fortunately, the loan counselor was very kind. I still remember how I celebrated the day I sent in the last pmt for that loan; my daughter graduated as a result of that aid.

It took me many years to grow beyond wanting everyone's approval for whatever decisions I made. Finally decided it was no one else's business what an individual does to create a happier more successful life. Others don't live in our shoes and have no right to judge. If they judge, it is their bad and not our concern. I am so happy to have prescriptions that daily make my life much easier and healthier. Best to you.

@feisty76. Ok. You brought tears to my eyes. Your kindness and not judging about how dangerous the drugs I take together are did it. I can’t get past what others think. I really have tried every “bad” drug for my conditions and either they did nothing or the side affects were too great. Even though my psychiatrist wasn’t particularly concerned about my infrequent but alarmingly worsening symptoms ( it took me a week to learn to read again after one seizure) I finally found a doctor willing to prescribe benzo’s responsibly. What a wonderful mom you must be to have fought the loan battle for your child. Kudo’s to you!! Jen

@feisty76. Thank you for the work you did so I can just sit back and read. What a giving person you are!!!!! Jen

@bustrbrwn22, Glad I could offer a small support and encouragement, Jen. I have received so much help and learned so much from Connect members that I always feel as if i am always on the "receiving end" and at a woeful deficit at the "giving part" which is important in building strong relationships.

How terribly frightening it must have been for you to lose your ability to read following a seizure and what a determined warrior you must be to have regained that ability. Hope you'll talk yourself into believing what I read once that made me smile but is also true: "You wouldn't care so much about what others thought about you if you knew how seldom them did." A bit snarky, I admit but there's some solid truth to that philosophy...very big grin (vbg).

Best to you and all as we continue to learn and incorporate better ways of living this gift of life we have.

@bustrbrwn22, Aww, shucks I'm blushing and wish it were more true. It takes us all working together to make our world and space a better place, yes? Take good care and remember that you alone are the most important star of the role you create for your life.

@kamama94, Haven't seen a post from you for a few days and wondering how you are doing? Hugs

@fiesty76, feeling not-so-great, dry heaves every AM, nausea during day, dizziness, drowsiness, bone-aching fatigue. I thought dialysis was supposed to help people feel better. Beginning to wonder if that's even true. Sorry to be such a Debbie Downer but very grateful for your concern.

Hi, friend @kamama94, Welllll turkey feathers! Like you, I thought the dialysis was to help you feel better not worse! Have you asked if anything could be prescribed for your daily dry heaves and nausea? I discovered that taking ginger helped with a long bout of those two for me but don't know if it could be something approved for you?

You, friend, are near the bottom of any list for Debbie Downers but I so regret you are experiencing the exhaustive fatigue as well as other reactions. Wonder if others undergoing dialysis here experience similar symptoms? What has your doc said about reducing these symptoms? Sending you care and gentle hugs.

@fiesty76, I have compazine and sip on ginger ale. My first post in this thread asked about others' dialysis experience and only a couple of people responded; I didn't get many answers. But meeting others who are at my dyalsis clinic the same time I'm there has been an eye opener. With a couple of exceptions, most of them tell me they feel lousy much of the time. I get the impression they put up with the side effects simply because they still want to live but a couple have indicated they are considering stopping dialysis and letting nature take its course because of the misery dialysis has occasioned. I'm not at that point yet but I sure do understand it. I'm not ready to give up but I'm not ready to stop whining, either.