I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: paul.karen on April 14, 2011, 09:43:35 AM
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Well looks like i will be getting a neck cath to do hemo dialysis. I have a lower hernia and it has gotten to the point that it has to be fixed. I wont be able to do PD while the incision heals. So i will see if hemo makes me feel better then PD does. Kind of an unwanted experience.
I understand one cant take showers with a neck cath, so i may cut all my hair off. Im hoping it will grow back in 4-6 weeks.
I think Karen is worse off then i am at this point. She is much more worried then me my main concern is work (i will have to be off at least a month no lifting). So hopefully i can get some kind of limited disability. NJ started a program back in 2009 where employees pay into a fund for such occasions. But from what i read it covers parents taking care of newborns-and or a spouse taking care of a child/parent/spouse ect. But it doesnt state anything about an employee taking limited disability for themselves only family members.
My other main concern is sleep. I barley sleep as it is on a good day. I toss and turn all night RLS the whole nine yards, sleeping with tubes coming out of my neck may push me over the edge........
I Hate Dialysis
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paul.karen, you will be fine, you will not notice the necktubes.
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Somewhere in this website, you can find information to order a special cover that you can use to take a shower. As long as not getting an inflection, you may be better off than two big needles inserting into your body.
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You don't need a special cover. I did 6 months of hemo before PD. Get some Glad Press and Seal plastic wrap. Cover the catheter and dressing with it. Then use a hand held shower attatchment and aim it as best you can at the places you need to wash and not the catheter. Just lean forward to do your hair. The plastic wrap will get a little wet but your catheter will be dry. It works even though it's not as pleasant as standing under a shower.
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Oh gosh, paul.karen, I'm really sorry to hear this. Surely there is some provision in NJ for employees who have heart attacks or car accidents or any sort of thing that makes them unable to work for a month or so. Do you think you can get some information from your social worker?
I know you've not been feeling particularly great lately on PD, so like you, I am hoping that maybe you will feel better on HD, although HD comes with its own set of problems, I know. I would just like to see you feel better. :cuddle;
I hope everything goes OK and that taking a month off work won't be a problem. Is there any chance that you can do some other sort of work in your company for just that month while you have lifting restrictions?
You know, as a general comment, it seems so hard for employers to make any kind of concessions, and I don't understand that. I know that work has to be done, but workers are not robots. Bosses are not robots, either, and everyone can fall victim to temporary disability for all kinds of reasons. But lately it seems that I've been reading more and more posts on IHD from people who are having a hard time getting any kind of a break at all. It doesn't seem right.
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Oh, Paul and Karen, hugs to you both! I am so sorry.
Are you on meds for the RLS? If not, it may be time to try some out. I mentioned the ones that my husband has tried on Ken's recent thread.
Gwyn had a neck cath - a month seems a bit long to keep one in, we were told that 2 weeks would be the max for the untunnelled line. The tunneled line can go years. You will find many posts on here about showering with the lines - I covered with tegaderm ($$$$, but they should give you that at the dialysis unit) and ordinary cling film that I taped over the entry site. Infection should not be a big problem with such a short term, although having gone bald, I rather miss the carefree days of having no hair to worry about. It does make for quick showers. We also bought a cheap hand held shower to install, and we got our moneys worth as we still use it today and I love it. This will help you control the water to keep it off the site. Just make sure that any time the site is uncovered - which should only happen at dialysis - everyone and anyone who gets near you must wear a mask and have freshly washed hands or STERILE gloves to hook you up. The alcohol used on the site really burned me, to the point I nearly cried, and I had nice techs who would very quickly find something else to use - I think it was betadine. Just keep in mind that you should not have to suffer - if you're in pain, tell them and see what other options you have.
Best of luck. I don't know about short-term disability, but if you have an HR, go get some answers! :grouphug; I wish you did not have to go through this.
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I am sorry to hear you have to have the hernia surgery. Was it a result of your PD treatments? I just had my two week old chest cath removed this afternoon. It will be interesting to hear how the different modality makes you feel. Keep us updated.
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hey Paul.Karen,
Check with your dialysis nurse about RLS. It maybe dialysis related. I was told that when I had it, it meat that I wasnt getting enough dialysis. Just a thought.
I too have had hernias. I thought of it as a break from doing dialysis every single day. going on hemo temporary is not as it seems. yeah it is best to get a detachable shower hose if you dont already have one. If you plan on going back on PD as I did, and still am after two years, try not to let the hemo staff push you to get a fistula. I know they have a "fistual first initative" thing going on. To be it is senseless to get a fistula if you plan on going on PD.
Im sorry about the whole work issue. I hate being on dialysis and not working. It just takes too much time to work, and take care of my mom and daughter. So, I just dont do it. Could you possibly go part-time and only work the days you dont have dialysis, and like only go to hemo on Tuesdays, Thursday, and Saturdays? (the days you dont do dialysis you feel better then the days you do, atleast that was my experience) lol go figure.
Lisa
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Thank you all for your replies.
The RLS is new to me. Has been going on at night for the last few months. As i am i dont sleep well never have and this isnt a help. I will talk to my nurses/neph on the 21st when they draw blood samples.
Think i will get a hand held shower nozzle and when im done with it i can hook it in the downstairs bath.
As for work it is a two man show. Me and the bosslady. Dee runs the front part of her business i run the back. So there really isnt anywhere for me to transfer to for a month or so. I can cover for her when she is out of town running the business just wont be able to ship anything. She has been gone all week at a trade show and boy lol when she gets back and i tell her the situation i am sure she wont be happy. But i have been loyal to her for 15 years and i have to take care of me.
Thanks as well for tips on getting covers to shower with from my PD unit. If they dont have them clingwrap sounds like a good idea.
Now i have to find out about a regular neck cath and a tunneled neck cath. I didnt realize there were two types.
Thanks again
P&K
Oh and the hernia may have been there for years they say? When i started PD and did day fills it slowly drained into my well down below lets say. So i stopped doing day fills. I quess like a leaky faucet over time it gets worse.
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Sorry to hear about your condition and good luck with HD. Make sure you know your UF (ultrafiltration) limit under HD and also your HDP (Hemodialysis Product), an indicator of adequacy of dialysis (note that most in center HD are inadequate).
Passing the catheter under the skin helps to prevent infection and provides stability. Commonly used tunneled catheters include Hickman catheters and Groshong catheters.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_venous_catheter
Korshield is useful just make sure the one you order fits your neck size.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tyf0hG3BniU
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The Korshield is expensive.
Try these first:
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=safari&rls=en&q=nexcare+dressing&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=945329628280973646&sa=X&ei=4HSnTb3OHuiM0QH-vcz5CA&ved=0CDsQ8wIwAw#ps-sellers
They're available at Rite Aid drugstores for about $5.00 for a package of ten of the 2x4" size, which should be sufficient (it was for me). They have a large size as well. Also available at other drug stores.
The plastic seals to the skin really well. As long as you don't aim the water stream directly at the dressing, it will stay waterproof underneath. To be sure, wipe the area with an alcohol prep pad after the shower and let air dry for a moment before putting a new dressing on.
I experimented with all sorts of shields and dressings (except to Kor) during my three months with a catheter, and this was the best solution.
Walmart has a Johnson Johnson heavy-duty dressing, but they're hideously expensive.
gary
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The Korshield is expensive.
Try these first:
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=safari&rls=en&q=nexcare+dressing&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=945329628280973646&sa=X&ei=4HSnTb3OHuiM0QH-vcz5CA&ved=0CDsQ8wIwAw#ps-sellers..
Good deal if you can get the Nexcare Waterproof Adhesive Dressing $5 for 10 pack of 2x4. Amazon price is $6.05, 1 count for the larger 6x6".
The Korshield is about $50 but the advantage is that it custom fitted to your neck and you can put it on and take if off in a matter of seconds - tip on taking it off: dry your hair first. It is also fairly durable, although our forum member Rightside had some problem with one and had it replaced after a few month, but you should be able to reuse it for at least 50 to 100 times
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They "say" you shouldn't take showers, but two years ago when I was on hemo for 7 months, and now that I am permanently on hemo, but without a fistula yet, I take showers. It's not like you're gonna remove the 4x4, unscrew the blue and red thingies and shoot water up into your catheter. Water simply sluices down over your catheter and you're fine. My friend was on hemo with a catheter for a year, showered every day and never had a bit of problem. I cheat and only shower on the days I don't do dialysis. That way it's completely dry when I go into dialysis. If you're still squeamish, try Glad Press n Seal to cover your catheter.
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Otto used glad stick and peel and showered everyday....
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Nj has temporary disability, go to www.nj.gov click on employment then go to unemployment & disability and u will see temporay disability insurance gives u alot of info and u can also print out the form.
I live in Nj and collected temporary for six months. Now I am on SSD.
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pk, can the social worker help you investigate state short term disability? Hopefull there is something, or even medicare (well maybe not at this point?)
I hope you get some sort of help and everything goes well with surgery and recovery.
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Paul and Karen, this just sucks! I'm sorry this has to happen. Hang in there and do the best you can. On taking showers it is not Glad Cling Wrap it is Glad 'Press n Seal'. You have to get the Press n Seal. I would also secure it with silk tape (not paper). Avoid the water on the site but take your shower. There are only a few little things in life that just can't be taken away. Also, if you get the hand shower head just keep it. it hangs up right next the the head and you won't notice the hose. But, it will be there if you need it. Karen may like it too.
Prayers to you my friend. :pray;
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Paul, hubby had RLS really bad just before he started hemo (as well as a lot of other things). When he started hemo things improved big time!! Hope things go well for you. :cuddle;
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Paul, I hope all of this goes well for you. Once you get your "leaky faucet" fixed, you may decide you like HD. Let us know how it goes, please.