I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: BigSteve on December 04, 2007, 04:59:48 PM
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Well gang, the vein repositioning has apparently gone well, so I
will be starting dialysis finally tomorrow (Dec. 5th). So now I guess
I can rant and rave like the "old timers" on IHD. I sure hope I will
feel better. I have been very tired the last month. My creatinine was
at nine a month ago. Wish me luck. Steve
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Good luck- i hope you start feeling better soon!! Keep your chin up!! :grouphug; :snowman; :santahat; :christmastree; :rudolph;
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Sorry it had to come to this Steve and it will take a little getting used to but with time, it gets a little easier, i just hope you start feeling better soon. What are going to be your days and how long will they be running you? Always remember we are just a keyboard away, your not alone, we know what you are going through and WE CARE :grouphug; Take care of yourself and Good luck tomorrow, keep us posted and let us know how it goes ok. Godspeed :cuddle;
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Good luck and report back to us as soon as you feel up to it. I am extremely nervous about ever having to start dialysis, so I want to know how your first day went! You're in my thoughts and prayers. :thumbup;
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Good Luck Steve. Hopefully you will feel much better, keep in touch. :grouphug;
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Steve, take care. Good luck and I hope you feel better.
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Lean on this forum for support. We would have been so much more afraid and nervous if it had not been for the veterans here who so generously shared their expertise and kind hearts.
Hope it goes well and you feel better fast. :grouphug;
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I hope the dialysis makes you feel better. :cuddle;
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Please know that you are not at all alone. You can't see us, but there is a tremendous group of people from all over the world who are with you as you go through this. :grouphug;
In my case, dialysis made me feel better. I found that my first months on dialysis, i was extremely lethargic after the sessions - just wanting to get in my bed and do nothing. That has changed, however, and I feel quite good after my sessions these days.
Please post and let us know how it all went.
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Good luck Steve. I just started using my fistula last week. I'll be honest with you... my arm was sore and swollen for about a week. I am just now getting over that. I use the Lidocaine cream they give me and it does help with the pain of the needles (actually helps alot!!) I kinda went through a bit of a depression last week when they started using my fistula because of the stress of the needles, and the pain from my arm being so sore.... but this week is much better. Hope this helps you to be prepared. Good luck! :cuddle;
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Good luck today...there's no way to prepare you for all of this, but take comfort in knowing we all made it through our first day.
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:grouphug; Good Luck today Steve. We'll be thinking of you.
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I am sure you will do just fine and after a couple weeks will be feeling better. :2thumbsup;
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All the best to you Steve...Boxman
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Good luck Steve. Hope we can help with any questions you have now or in the future. :thumbup;
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Good luck Steve! :cuddle; :cuddle;
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Best wishes Steve!!!
My husband was very tired at the beginning of his
sessions, but now he feels very, very good, good enough
to paint the house, put up the lites for Christmas, and
drive me crazy!!
Wishing you good luck, and please let everyone know
how you are. The people on this board are so wonderful,
and caring. Thank God (and Epoman) for this site.
Anne and Les
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How did things go Steve?
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Good luck Steve. let us know how things went.
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I don't go on untill 5:15 tonight so I have all day today
to be nervous. Thanks to all for your thoughts. The only
slot they had open was the late shift, but I think it may be
a good shift since I can go home, have a snack and go to bed.
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Wishing the best for you!
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:cuddle; I hope your first dialysis experience is easy on you and the nurses are kind! Give yourself time and you will get use to the routine.
Hang in there BigSteve :grouphug;
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Hey Steve,
Once you get past the first treatment your fears should hopefully curtail and the second treatment won't be so bad. I know personally I put it off as long as I could. It will take a few treatments (and quite possibly a few weeks, just depends on your chemistry) to feel better, but trust me, you will.
Over time, I have been grateful for Dialysis and not simply because it saves your life. If you're lucky, you might discover personal strength you never knew you possessed.
If surviving Dialysis has taught me anything over the past few years, it's that I'm stronger that I ever knew.
And that I can battle anything and win.
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:clap; Very well said Stacy :2thumbsup;
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... The only slot they had open was the late shift, but I think it may be
a good shift since I can go home, have a snack and go to bed.
Good attitude :2thumbsup; and you're probably right. ;D
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If surviving Dialysis has taught me anything over the past few years, it's that I'm stronger that I ever knew.
And that I can battle anything and win.
That's exactly how I feel Stacy. Thank You for saying it.
:boxing; I am like the lion in the Wizard of OZ. "Let me at 'em, Let me at 'em" I have gained the courage to research, question and demand appropriate care. Knowledge is everything.
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I like the late shift. If only they could put it a little later. Then it would be dialysis, snack and beddy bye!
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I almost hate to say it since many of you have had a tough time
during your first dialysis, but I had a very smooth first treatment.
I was on for 2 1/2 hours for this time but will increase to 4 because
of my size. The Lidocaine needle did hurt somewhat, but the tech
was very good with the dialysis needles and I didn't really feel them
going in. I felt fine at the finish and could drive myself home. Luckily
the center is less than 5 miles from my home.
However, you people neglected to tell me one thing about hemodialysis.
It's f___ing BORING sitting there for that length of time. I used the IPOD
as much as I could. I will have to bring Xword puzzles and Suduku. Thanks
again for your kind messages. Steve
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Oops! Yep, it is pretty boring! My unit has tvs at each chair...but at my time there is nothing good on. I usually take my portable DVD player. I am working on getting a laptop. I have one but it sux and I cant get online with it.
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Glad it went well for you, Steve! And yes, dialysis is usually boring - but fair warning - the boring days are MUCH better than the exciting ones!
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I think you need to read the thread entitled Things to do while at Dialysis. Lordy it is boring!
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Glad to hear your first session went without a problem. I stopped taking lidocaine, because it stung so much, I decided I might as well take the stick of the needles and be done with it!
As jbeany said, be thankful for boring sessions. It's a good time to get in some good reading, meditation, etc. My favourite sessions are when I sleep from start to finish.
Hope everything continues well for you.
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Good your first session went well. Did they give you any idea of a dry weight goal yet?
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BigSteve, I am so glad it went so well! I hope it stays that way for you! It IS boring. You're stuck in a chair and can do only anything that will allow you to sit quietly. Sleeping is good. It's one way of catching up!
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Glad to hear your first session was an easy one BigSteve, I hope all your sessions to come are just as easy too :2thumbsup;
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Very happy to hear your first day went so well. Lets hope many more follow./bobt
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I am slowly getting the facts about my dialysis from the staff. I think they
are used to the overwhelming majority of the patients who just lie
in their chairs and vegatate for the shift. I am still working to determine
dry weight. How should that be determined on a new patient such as
myself?
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I am slowly getting the facts about my dialysis from the staff. I think they
are used to the overwhelming majority of the patients who just lie
in their chairs and vegatate for the shift. I am still working to determine
dry weight. How should that be determined on a new patient such as
myself?
Basically, its trail and error. As time goes on, and you get your appetite back and you gain body weight back, you will have to have them adjust your dry weight accordingly. (provided you lost your appetite that is)
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Joe Paul is right. Be very aware of how you feel as they keep lowering your weight, especially toward the end of the time for fluid removal, and let them know as soon as you start to "feel funny" so you don't get too dry and have cramps. He's also right about adjusting your weight as you need to. In a few months you'll just know what you need to take off, and when it's time to raise or lower it.
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When you puke then you have hit your dry weight. But, I usually start to feel fidigity and then I get HOT and sure enough I check my BP and it is very LOW 92/65 and at that point I have a tech turn off my UF (Ultra Filtration). That is the negative pressure that sucks the water off you.
I bring my DVD portable player and I suscribe to Netflix.
Glad things are going well. Keep up the good work.
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"When you puke then you have hit your dry weight." That's an encouraging thought
Rerun. The first night I was on the woman opposite me had a severe cramping
attack. She could barely stand but couldn't move. I haven't had a problem so far
while hooked up, but I have to be carefull in bed to keep my legs from cramping.
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I would say the cramping meant she reached her dry limit too. I know it sucks but it happens :thumbdown; :thumbdown;
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You're in our prayers Big Steve! :waving;
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"When you puke then you have hit your dry weight." That's an encouraging thought
Rerun. The first night I was on the woman opposite me had a severe cramping
attack. She could barely stand but couldn't move. I haven't had a problem so far
while hooked up, but I have to be carefull in bed to keep my legs from cramping.
Being careful doesn't help with cramping. You usually cramp when too much fluid has been removed and/or when your blood pressure goes too low( which is mostly due to too much fluid being taken off).
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You guys are right, "boring" is better than "exciting". I had my first low blood pressure episode
last night at the end of shift. I felt ok in the chair, but I felt light headed as soon as I
got up. So they fed me disgusting, highly salted chicken broth and kept me in the chair
for some time until I was ok to drive home. By the way the holiday treat from the
owner-doctors was a snack of a terrible croissant sandwich, virtually inedible, carrot and
celery, sticks, some sort of plain cake and pieces of "renal acceptable" fruit. I guess it's better
than a phony party at Davita.
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My center gives out pretzel sticks for low BP...Boxman
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I'm bringing my own packets of chicken broth, without the unpalatable dehydrated
noodles and vegtables.
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Yes, I see you are starting to get into your own rhythm. You will know what you need to bring to make your sessions comfortable for YOU.
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I'm bringing my own packets of chicken broth, without the unpalatable dehydrated
noodles and vegtables.
Have you tried the Swanson Chicken Broth? It is pretty good, maybe if you take some in a thermos (just in case) ;)