Hi everyone.  Just wanted to let you know that I have truly enjoyed diving into this web site.  It is exciting for me to read the many informative posts, especially enjoy Ruths knowledge of the disease. 

 

I'll tell you a little about myself.....I am a 45 yo female, married 24 years with 3 boys, 23, 20, and 16.  I am a medical professional and love my job, just tired at the 8 hour mark of my 12.5 hour day.  I was diagnosed with PKD when pregnant with my 20 year old shortly after my Gma died.  (she was diagnosed prior to her death of COPD/CHF r/t emphasema)  My 20 year old is the only child with the disease.  I didn't see a nephrologist until about 18 months ago.  At that point my creatine was around 3.0 and my fxn was 18%.  My wonderful Doc pushed around some numbers and got me on the way to being put on the transplant list.  I was placed on the list January of 06.  I am extremely fortunate to have some wonderful friends and had an immediate response to my need for a new Kidney.  Two people were the best match and the one I picked had to have a kidney biopsy which ended up to be abnormal and she was no longer a candidate.  Now my Step-sister is my future donor.  We will have the transplant at UCSF in San Francisco most likely at the end of July or beginning of August.  As we speak (so to say) my surgeons are rewriting their protocol for patients like me.  I was originally to have the transplant on June 1st but it was cancelled d/t an increase in my antibody activity and a higer rxn to my donor.  Now I have to take Rituxin (iv) and then get pherised and then IVIG prior to surgery. 

 

I am so blessed to be in good health!  I know that it must be the number of prayers on my behalf along with my healthy lifestyle that have kept me off of dialysis.  However, if this next attempt fails, I will start, heck, I'll already have access with the pheresis cath!

 

Besides being known as the "kidney girl"  I love sports and am sad not to be able to take part in them right now.  I cant even walk around the block (its 2 mile with alot of hils).  I am a terrible golfer, but love it, enjoy tennis, swimming, and used to love to run.  My wt has been increasing lately with my lack of movement and decrease in muscle mass.  I adore my kids and husband and love my job.  Oh, also love dogs.  Does anyone have a GoldenDoodle?  That will be my next dog.  I have a couple of jokes I've made up about my condition but will post them on the general board.

 

Soooooooo glad to be here.  My good thoughts and prayers are with you all!

 

Karen