Mortality is a pain in the ass

I am so sorry to hear about your kidney issues, @rickrosner. I do hope that with dialysis, that you are able to live a long and fulfilling life, one that allows you to still do some amazing fishing, even if closer to home! You may always regret not going to Argentina and wonder “what if”, but at least you will still be here to think it and I am sure that your friends and family will appreciate that.
 
Freestone said:
I am so sorry to hear about your kidney issues, @rickrosner. I do hope that with dialysis, that you are able to live a long and fulfilling life, one that allows you to still do some amazing fishing, even if closer to home! You may always regret not going to Argentina and wonder “what if”, but at least you will still be here to think it and I am sure that your friends and family will appreciate that.
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I'm on the kidney transplant list here in the PNW - wait time approximately five years! However, one of my sons may donate a kidney to me.
As much as I hate that idea: would I rather go on dialysis? Or die? I think I'd rather live, as selfish as that feels . . . .
 
rickrosner said:
A nursing home - there's living death.
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Yes. I've spent time visiting family in rehabilitation centers, retirement homes, hospitals, etc. It is a hard but valuable experience. The health care workers at those places have a tough and critical job. After these visits, I think about the gift of health and life. It makes me feel very fortunate and eager to get out of my comfort zone and do the things in my day dreams. Those experiences also clarify the need to cut out all the negative or unrewarding things that can sour life.

Good luck @rickrosner!
 
@rickrosner wishing you the best of luck. Life can be a mean bitch. One of my fishing buddies had a stroke in the shower two years age, months of pt and he is mobile but not confident to wade or climb up and down riverbanks. He’s crushed, was president of our fly club and always up for a trip. I’m glad to have taken him Steelheading where on his second trip he went 5 for 6. A great day. Sad part is he was in great shape before the stroke, worked out, rode a bicycle to work for years, a very active and healthy guy.
 
I am 51 and relatively healthy. Fishing wise I cannot do the things I did when I was in my 20s-40s. If I got in shape I could do some of them again but not all.
Here is my advice to those who still can and have the desire to.

1. You have more money or you can get it than you think you do. Don't let money be the reason you don't do things. On that note buy a 4500 dollar truck not a 45000 dollar truck. That's the single biggest way to have more fishing cash.

2. The answer is yes.. yes you should hike down into that canyon just to see if there are fish in that creek.
3. Yes you should put in for Smith river float permits.

Don't deny your responsibilities but when you have the opportunity or the chance to make the opportunity. You should do it. The only thing that's really in the way is you.
 
I'm 86 now gonna be 87 next month. My mind is still sharp, but my body isn't, two bad knees and a screwed up back. I hobble around now because of a pulled muscle or a cracked rib. It almost kills me to walk but I need to walk to get around. I don't complain because my shiny side is still up. Sooner or later my side will stop hurting and I'll be able to get around. It really hasn't stopped my fishing as I now have a camp chair to sit in while I fly fish the holes on my favorite stream. Hooked up with a brown trout while sitting in my chair. It was an LDR. But I was out fishing. That is just about the drug I need.

I have never got the need to go elsewhere to fish. There is a lot of good water here in Montana that I haven't tapped yet. I have a 366 Artic Cat ATV which I have used to get around in the hills and valleys here in Montana. The most fun you can have on 4 wheels.
 
Almost 73 myself and pretty much blessed (so far) good health so it's easy to be positive. I truly sympathize with your plight.

My last check up (April,"21) the doctor cursed me and said he wished half his patients in my age group were in half as good of shape as I am. Damned me because he said he couldn't even ask me to schedule another appointment in six months. Tell the receptionist to make an appointment a year from now. Couldn't make any money off me and get out of his office. I told him if I was going to die, I wanted a good bourbon in one hand and a USDA prime rib-eye in the other.

I eat and drink (every day) pretty much what I want, but I have realized I'm getting closer to the end of my life and eating less and healthier is a wise decision at my age and I do pretty good. I have no desire to live forever.

I was a full time caregiver for 5 years for my better half's father and in the end it was just ugly. Parkinson's, cancer and such finally led to gangrene in his left lower leg. Dr. wouldn't amputate and said if he did it would just take hold again. Ended up having to cut the rotted flesh off him every night. Just peachy!
Spent a bit of time in SE Asia a while back. Two worst smells in the world are burnt flesh and gangrene. Surely some of you remember that.
Better half knows that if that or anything similar takes hold of me, I'm dying of lead poisoning first. She did request I do go outside. Love a practical woman.

Do the very best you can and enjoy it.
Take that trip.
NOBODY GETS OUT ALIVE
 
I’m sorry to hear about your kidneys @rickrosner . Damn Covid.

My dad’s kidneys have been slowly failing too for the past two years. He is much older than you are but he’s still getting around pretty good, especially since he got an iron infusion since kidney failure cause some severe anemia. I know Covid is also your worry and not anemia, but I also wondered if you get any kind of treatment to help with the other symptoms.I too like @Cdnred ’s advice because i know that even IF my dad fished, i would be so worried if he wanted to take such a trip. What does your family say about it?

Also, I’m sorry to hear of allofy’all’s issues that you are dealing with!

On a side note, i have to say at first i read this thread to be “MORALITY is a pain in the ass” !
Which i also agree with!
 
My dad had a stroke in his early 80's. He ended up in a nursing home and living in a bed. He couldn't walk, or talk and was fed through a tube into his stomach. It screwed him up Royal. He finally died after another stroke. I told my mother that he should of died from the first stroke as he ended up a vegetable. He had beautiful handwriting. He couldn't even hold a pencil after the first stroke. When you end up in a nursing home it is just a place to wait to die.

I thought that I would be like him but I ended up like his mother. She lived into her 90's. My brother is like him. A heart attack and heart trouble. I never met any of my dads family as they all still live in England. My dad came to North America by boat through Canada. In about 1920.
 
Jojo said:
I’m sorry to hear about your kidneys @rickrosner . Damn Covid.

My dad’s kidneys have been slowly failing too for the past two years. He is much older than you are but he’s still getting around pretty good, especially since he got an iron infusion since kidney failure cause some severe anemia. I know Covid is also your worry and not anemia, but I also wondered if you get any kind of treatment to help with the other symptoms.I too like @Cdnred ’s advice because i know that even IF my dad fished, i would be so worried if he wanted to take such a trip. What does your family say about it?

Also, I’m sorry to hear of allofy’all’s issues that you are dealing with!

On a side note, i have to say at first i read this thread to be “MORALITY is a pain in the ass” !
Which i also agree with!
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Hello Jojo,
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I'm generally not a whiner - many have problems much worse than mine. I'm just waiting for the 'golden years' to kick in.
My kidney function is at 9%; funny thing is I have virtually no symptoms. Just high potassium that's controlled with medication.
I suppose if I felt crappy there at least I wouldn't feel like fishing - but I still want to get out there. My sons are both fly fishermen - one thinks I should do what I want, the other thinks I'm mad as a hatter. My wife would be angry if I went, putting myself at risk. But she also knows my livelihood as a travel writer is being destroyed . . . again, many have it worse than me.
Morality? Mine is somewhere between Aleister Crowley and Mother Teresa.
Rick
 
Ricktosner,

I know your frustration but you do have some options. I have been on hemodialysis for nine years so believe me I know the situation.

If you want to travel peritoneal dialysis is a valid option. All medical supplies can be shipped no charge .

In the Seattle area i was going to Northwest Kidney Center and they are great and accomadating. . Their people can set you up in a couple of different ways for dialysis. Talk to your nephrologist about setting up an appointment with them.

It is a bitch but don't make it worse than it is.

Feel free to contact me at any time. This is not easy and is a huge life change. Those of us there are here to help if only you reach out. Your head is going to go through a lot of things over time so be ready and keep positive, breathing is better than the
alternative. Support groups are out there and don't be too proud to use them!!!!

Dave.
 
DimeBrite said:
Yes. I've spent time visiting family in rehabilitation centers, retirement homes, hospitals, etc. It is a hard but valuable experience. The health care workers at those places have a tough and critical job. After these visits, I think about the gift of health and life. It makes me feel very fortunate and eager to get out of my comfort zone and do the things in my day dreams. Those experiences also clarify the need to cut out all the negative or unrewarding things that can sour life.

Good luck @rickrosner!
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IMO

People look for a single reason to say No. There could be 99 yeses, but the single No tends to persuade people to not do things and watch life instead of living life.

I look for a single yes and go from there.
I am no high-end adventure nut, however i am always planning something to do.
 
wetline dave said:
Ricktosner,

I know your frustration but you do have some options. I have been on hemodialysis for nine years so believe me I know the situation.

If you want to travel peritoneal dialysis is a valid option. All medical supplies can be shipped no charge .

In the Seattle area i was going to Northwest Kidney Center and they are great and accomadating. . Their people can set you up in a couple of different ways for dialysis. Talk to your nephrologist about setting up an appointment with them.

It is a bitch but don't make it worse than it is.

Feel free to contact me at any time. This is not easy and is a huge life change. Those of us there are here to help if only you reach out. Your head is going to go through a lot of things over time so be ready and keep positive, breathing is better than the
alternative. Support groups are out there and don't be too proud to use them!!!!

Dave.
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Thanks for the note, Dave. I might take you up on your kind offer.
Rick
 
@rickrosner - Sorry to hear about your challenges. However you are looking forward and that is the most important thing you can do... I assume you have your support group(s) and there are more out there. Thank you @wetline dave for reaching out. I am sure others will also.

In case you haven't there are some technical analysis sites that have looked into air travel and safety on airplanes. Leeham News is an aviation site that has looked into it a lot:


You could help identify what you want to do fishing wise, If you are a travel writer, I can understand why travel is so important to you. There are a lot of places closer and maybe members here will let you know privately of some spots that they would not share publicly. Just a thought...

There are some members from "Down Under" on this site. Maybe reach out to them privately for some ideas. I think @jaredoconnor recently moved to the US from there. Do some searches and you will find a treasure trove of information you would not expect...

Good luck
 
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Rick,

You did not say how long until dialysis will be needed.

Your head is pretty much where everyone facing this dilemma experiences. The first think you see is all these "doors" closing. That need not be the case. There are work arounds and this is where groups and those who are there are a great resource and a social worker who has the time to work with you..

Somer things you absolutely need to do sooner than later.
Select your dialysis provider, you have two options, Davita and Northwest Kidney Centers. I have used both and NWKC is the better choice. They have a better financial department that only deals with finances. Their social workers are only social workers. You will find these two issues extremely important. Another big difference is Davita is a for profit corp and NWKC is a non profit. I felt NWKC actually cared about me where as Davita I am just dollars to be harvested.

If you are old enough for medicare make sure you are enrolled. If not medicade is available. A good supplemental insurance provider is critical. I use AARP, United Health care for mine and it is amazing. You have to be aware that not all insurance companies are the same regarding dialysis. Stay far away from Humana. I will not get into why but a real bad near disastrous experience with them. You will be more than shocked when you find how much this costs. A single 4 hour treatment is over $4000. Add to that monthly doctor visits, meds fistula surgery and maintenance and other things that seem to pop up. Pus you are going to find you diet is going to be a bit more expensive.

Once you select your provider and make an appointment with them, and i hope for your sake it is NWKC , you will access to social worker and financial people will be invaluable..

Then you can start doing work arounds to open some of doors that seem to be closed.

Have question PM me and we can set up a phone call discussion.

Dave
 
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