[sujunew]

No need to reply- I just haven't figured out who to tell yet but need to 'get it out' so am doing it here, before I go to bed!! I saw my medical doc today and she is starting me on meds to try and help stop kidney problems, as I am showing early signs of renal failure. I have had diabetes for 20yrs this year, and have been expecting complications for many years, but this has still come as a shock even though I have had lower back ache recently and suspected it was my kidneys...Going blind and kidney failure are my 2 biggest fears of all the complications that are possible...and now they are starting...

edit: I think that the worst thing is that I am a young, single mother, and I worry about my girls' future..if things go REALLY wrong...

[Perna]

Your doctor isn't going to let things go really wrong!

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
End stage renal failure, or kidney failure, occurs when your kidneys are no longer able to support you in a reasonably healthy state, and dialysis or transplantation is needed. This happens when your kidneys function at only 10 to 15 percent. The usual span of time between the onset of diabetic kidney injury and kidney failure is about five to seven years.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

From: http://www.kidney.org/ATOZ/atozItem.cfm?id=37

Dialysis can work forever. I use to work across the hall from a dialysis center (in a regular office building). But advances in treating diabetes are moving so fast, I doubt you'll even get to that point!

We're here, sujunew, tell us. {{{sujunew}}}

[bebop]

hon don't give up on yourself. I hope you are seeing a specialist on this!

[sujunew]

thanks for the info perna. It was really good, and bebop I am waiting to see a specialist but there is a long waiting list...I started the meds today so hopefully they will do some good...

[Rhapsody]

<font color="purple"> ((((((( HUGS ))))))) ~ ~ ~ ~ ((((((( HUGS ))))))) </font>

[sujunew]

thanks rhapsody.
And yay!! Great news- I went back to my dr today as I had lots after questions, after processing this over the lst couple of days. And she said that my kidneys were not actually BAD yet, but that they were just showing the 1st signs of declining and so she was taking a proactive approach. I am sooooo relieved. And I feel more motivated about getting better control of my diabetes (In the 20yrs I have had it it has never EVER been well controlled; hence even more panic and worry when kidney problems were mentioned!!). But my cholesterol levels are really high (6 when it should be 4 or under), which I was surprised about as my diet has changed so much in the past year for the better, and even more so in the past few months. I know that there are certain areas that I could tighten up in (e.g. butter on bread) but I don't eat much bread so it shouldn't impact too much. But the doc is pretty relaxed about it. She said we will wait at least 6 months and let me get used to the meds to help my kidneysfirst, then look at adding meds for my cholesterol. Just when I was really enjoying not rattling with so many tablets lol!!