canuckbiker

About a month ago, I was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (the 5th and worst stage of kidney failure). I am on dialysis three days a week. When I was first diagnosed, I thought my cycling days, along with the rest of my life, was over. I asked my doctor if I would ever be able to ride a bike again, and to my great relief, she said that would be one of the best things I could do once I got my strength back (I was in the hospital for two weeks, including three days clinging to life in intensive care-it took a lot out of me). Well, I'm starting to get enough strength to ride a little on the trainer. I was able to ride about a half hour in low gear the other day, which considering what I've been through, I'm surprised I was able to do that. I'm hoping that I will eventually get enough strength to ride like I used to. Well, everyone take care, and please don't take life for granted, you never know when you might lose it.

p.s. I now live in the States (Indianapolis, IN) with some family, so I'm now just a "transplanted" Canuck.

probable556

+1

East Hill

canuckbiker, more of us have been there than most of us are aware. I have had that attitude for a number of months now.

Besides my own personal well-being, I have a friend who was involved in a motorcycle accident about a month ago. He is very lucky to still be alive, and I think about that everyday when my husband goes off shopping/getting the mail/whatever.


Are you in line for a kidney transplant? Good luck, and keep us up to date if you're able.

I'll keep you in my thoughts...

East Hill

canuckbiker

I'm supposed to be on the transplant list, but right now we're still in the paperwork and insurance phase. I'm getting ready to start the training to do my dialysis at home with a portable machine. That will allow me to have more of a "normal" life again since I won't have to go to the dialysis centre three days a week, and it will allow me to travel because I'll be able to take my machine and supplies anywhere. Well, I'll keep you all posted, and I'm really looking forward to getting my Tommaso back out on the road .

East Hill

Paperwork and insurance, blecchh.

Yes, we will want updates, and photos of the Tommaso would be good too .

You don't seem to have pics of the bike anywhere, you bum!

East Hill

canuckbiker

Actually, I JUST got a digital camera, so I will post some pictures of my bikes when I can.

East Hill

Excellent, perhaps some photos of the Fuji in C & V, as well? I think the Tommaso is a fairly modern bike, so here would be good, but the Fuji is a 1988, if I remember correctly...

East Hill

canuckbiker

I'll post them (plus my Schwinn mountain bike) as soon as I figure out how to post an image. Speaking of the Schwinn, I took it for a quick ride to and from the store, which was my first actual ride since my diagnosis (besides the very short rides I've done on the trainer). I still have a long way to go because I still get tired very easily, but it's a step in the right direction.

clutchy

good luck with the recovery!

if you don't mind me asking, what caused the failure?

canuckbiker

Well, I was born with only one functioning kidney, which I didn't find out about until I was diagnosed with ESRD. Apparently my right kidney never developed properly, and I lived 25 years with only one kidney and never even knew it. Until recently, I've appeared to be so healthy, there was never any reason for a doctor to examine my kidneys. Anyway, my left kidney finally started to fail, and I started to get really sick. I knew something was seriously wrong when I got so tired near the end of a 20 km ride that I had to pull over and stop. I was nearly collapsed over the handlebars from exhaustion. I finally went to the emergency room and I was given a dialysis access (a catheter that's surgically implanted in my neck), and I was given a blood transfusion and three consecutive days of emergency dialysis to clean my blood of toxins. Only now, a bit over a month later, I am starting to feel something that's a bit like "normal", except for the dialysis of course, and the fact that I still get very tired with only a little bit of physical activity. I've come a long way, considering there were a couple times in the hospital when I was so close to dying, that only a God-given miracle brought me back. Well, that's the basic story of how my life changed forever. Take care.

Adam Wilmot a.k.a canuckbiker

clutchy

Crazy! well good luck with everything. keep that will strong and a positive attitude, it'll serve you well.

East Hill

Hey Adam, if you need help with posting the photos, don't hesitate to ask for help! For some reason, that's one of the hardest things to do when you first try it. It's easy once you get the hang of it, though .

Life is tough sometimes, isn't it?

East Hill

canuckbiker

Ok, I give up. What's the procedure for posting images?

East Hill

Set up account with Photobucket or flick'r or [name your photo hosting website].

After you've gotten your photos uploaded to the [phw, but I'll base this on Photobucket, since that's what I use], click on the spot which says IMG code. It'll come up yellow 'Copied'. Click Ctrl+c to copy.

When you post a reply, your screen will have a little yellow square that looks like a postcard with mountains and a sun. Click on the yellow square. An Explorerer User Prompt will appear on the left of your screen. Just click Ctrl+v. This copies the IMG url:


Sammi, my husband's avatar

Click OK.

This should succesfully copy your photo image. I always preview the post just in case I've screwed it up...

East Hill

stapfam

Can't talk about Kidney failure but After serious surgery- the main problem is the cut and the stitches. I had a bypass 8 years ago and I was back on the bike after 4 weeks. Only gently but was I glad to get on that bike. Big problem was that I had to alter the riding position on the bike. Shorter higher stem and Move the saddle forward a bit. Just to take the strain off the Chest. As soon as I found the Bike comfort position I was fine. Training restarted and at 11 weeks I did a 40 miler. I'll be honest and say that the ride went fantasticly but the Pain afterwards was a bit too much.

Get back to turning the legs as soon as you are able- be prepared to alter a few things on the bike- and Don't push yourself too hard too soon.

I know you have not had surgery--Yet- but the knock you have had to your system will be as bad.

Wish you luck on the getting fit again stakes, and wish you luck again on finding the effective treatment or cure.

Longfemur

I was on dialysis 4 years (the last 1-1/2 years of that on daily hemodialysis at home). I was still able to ride, but blood pressure drugs limited me somewhat. On daily hemodialysis at home, I felt much stronger. I finally got a kidney transplant from the waiting list after 4 years on dialysis. I got it just before the end of summer, and I wasn't allowed to ride for 3 months. By that time it was winter here in Ottawa. So I'm looking forward to better riding in the spring. If the dialysis you plan to do at home is the 6 days a week short daily kind, you should definitely feel better compared to 3 times a week at the dialysis centre, and if it's the 5 or 6 nights a week overnight kind of hemodialysis, you will feel even better.

canuckbiker

OK here is the Fuji (try not to puke over the horrible paint-I'm planning to have it professionally repainted once my health, and income stabilize).[IMG][/IMG]

canuckbiker

And here is the Tommaso. I'll get a picture of my Schwinn MTB later.[IMG][/IMG]

canuckbiker

Here's the Schwinn. It's actually a souped-up dept. store bike, but it works fine for what I use it for. [IMG][/IMG]

tuhumom

To everyone with kidney disease, let me just say something: Don't lose hope! There IS an solution, and you CAN get better, even if everyone tells you that it's hopeless. In fact, I got better naturally with some simple diet changes that anybody can do. If anyone's interested, here's a website that really helped me a lot:

https://journalofnaturalhealth.com/kidney/kidneyhealth.html

Don't lose hope!