I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: IrishGirl on April 01, 2008, 03:03:59 PM
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Can you drive home after a treatment or is it like chemotherapy and you need a person
to take you there and pick you up to go home ?
EDITED: Moved to proper section - Sluff/Admin
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I have driven home for most of the nine years I have been on hemodialysis. If they know you drive, the staff is usually careful to make sure you have a good blood pressure and have stopped bleeding.
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For the 6 years hubby was in center he always had somebody with him for company but he usually drove himself to and from dialysis. He had over an hours drive. His blood pressure very rarely dropped at the end of his treatment so he was fine to drive.
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I always drive, I want to get the heck out of there and not wait on anyone
My husband's school is on standby and he will get classes covered in those times I need him
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I drove myself too. Only once was my pressure too low and I should have waited. The staff was really good at watching out for that though.
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I have drove myself back and forth for 19 months. No problems...Boxman
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I always drove till the snow fell, Andrew has been driving all winter, and I started driving myself again about two weeks ago. I have never had a problem :)
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I drive and I keep a clamp on the seat beside me just in case. My worst nightmare is springin' a leak at 70 mph.
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For the year and a half I was in center, I drove to and from dialysis. Again, they just made sure my blood pressure was good before I could leave.
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When I was discharged from the hospital, they set me up with a company that took people to dialysis, doctors appointments, ect. They told me i shouldn't drive because i would feel so weak. Well that was b.s. I felt more frustrated than weak dealing with the idiots at my first clinic. So I started driving myself and then switched centers and doctors after I told the dialysis social worker off and then my neph who also owned the center. ew doc and new center was a complete180 in the difference in care and personality, plus the new doc was a lot better too. I did not see what the whole concern over driving was. I do think it is up to each individual on how they feel though.
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I drove as well. I rarely had any bp problems. Staying awake was more of problem than blood pressure!
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I'm ashamed of myself, I must be a wimp. I need someone to drive me to and from the center. I feel weak low BP, etc.. Of course it's only been 2 months maybe it will get better.
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For 12 1/2 years, Marvin drove himself home after hemo in-center treatments. There were a few (very few) times when he felt he couldn't drive himself and then he would call me. I would get someone to cover my classes and I would come and get him or I would get up with a family member or friend who was closer and available who could go and get him. He knew when he wasn't feeling up to driving, and he was careful. We only live 15 minutes from his clinic. I would pack a "lunch box" for him to carry with him; it had a cold soft drink, a pack of crackers, and a washcloth in it for his drive home. Thank goodness now, we're on home hemo. When he finishes a treatment, he gets up out of the chair and ... ta da! he's home! If you're aware of your body and know the "signs" of low bp, you should be fine.
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Thanks for the input. Angel lady I do not think you are a wimp. I think everyone has different experiences.....you are right, as a beginner you may well even out later. But if not, who cares? No
body gets a trophy for bravery is what I think...and if you need a person to transport you then
go for it and certainly do not be ashamed. All those imbalances and fluid shifts going on in such a short
period, I am amazed, simply amazed that anyone can drive home afterwards. Its a huge thing that happens to a body. Equilibrium and blood pressure are so different for every person. I really appreciate all the input, thanks ever so much. IrishGirl
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I've only be on hemo for a few months. My freind drove me the first day only. Since then I have always driven myself.
Everyone is different though. Some folks drive themselves ay my clinic and others have someone drive them.
In any case, hang in there. I hope everything goes well for you.
Mikey :usaflag;
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FWIW...there are 20 patients on my shift and only two of us drive.
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Thanks for bringing this up!
I had not thought of this issue. As I am pre-dialysis, I've not yet encountered this but it will obviously be an important issue when I do start.
-Devon
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I have only been on hemo for about five months in my life, and both times were with a permcath. However, I drove myself after all treatments except one. For one other treatment, my BP was low, so they held me there until it got high enough for me to go (diastolic over 100).
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I am so spoiled since the hubby retired from his job. If he is home he drives me now to dialysis and then comes to pick me up. Ain't he just a sweetie! :guitar:
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He is a real sweetie. Now ask him if he will sit in for you occasionally.
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i drive myself.....it keeps me sane by driving there.......i think i mite even drive other people there to make some money
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The first year on dialysis my husband was too ill to drive- but he has been driving for the last year, he does okay.
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I can't drive to well at night. My first 4 or 5 months on dialysis they only had third shift, so I had someone drive me. Now I drive myself. I do Nocturnal in center right now, so I moved close to the clinic (one mile) and so I can drive myslef. Thank God! I hate dealing with Paratransport.
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So, you can drive while on dialysis?
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Not while on the machine, silly!
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True Story. When i finally succumbed to the fact i had to go back on dialysis my first day there was anything but pleasent. Now i waited till my creatine was 10.3. I remember waking up and finding i couldn't walk. I had some kind of what i would call gout. My right wrist was locked in sever pain. So was my left hip and ankle. I was in so much pain i didn't know what to do. How i made it driving to dialysis i will never know. Once there i was hooked up and after my four hours still felt the same way. A nurse was in charge of me that day. She kept saying after i was done come on lets go someone else is waiting for the chair. She actually packed my things in haste and walked me out to the waiting room. I was in shock but thought i had better try and drive home. I went out to my truck and just cried from the pain. I called my brother and asked if he could help. He was busy. So i used my right leg for the clutch and gas. I made it home and sat in my truck till i felt i could walk again. As the days passed i started to feel better. The lack of compassion and care i am used to from doctors and nurses. This nurse however after talking with about a year later said to me "Yea, i remember your first day we were told you needed dialysis but weren't insured." She also said with a laugh "I thought you were faking it." Not surprising.
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True Story. When i finally succumbed to the fact i had to go back on dialysis my first day there was anything but pleasent. Now i waited till my creatine was 10.3. I remember waking up and finding i couldn't walk. I had some kind of what i would call gout. My right wrist was locked in sever pain. So was my left hip and ankle. I was in so much pain i didn't know what to do. How i made it driving to dialysis i will never know. Once there i was hooked up and after my four hours still felt the same way. A nurse was in charge of me that day. She kept saying after i was done come on lets go someone else is waiting for the chair. She actually packed my things in haste and walked me out to the waiting room. I was in shock but thought i had better try and drive home. I went out to my truck and just cried from the pain. I called my brother and asked if he could help. He was busy. So i used my right leg for the clutch and gas. I made it home and sat in my truck till i felt i could walk again. As the days passed i started to feel better. The lack of compassion and care i am used to from doctors and nurses. This nurse however after talking with about a year later said to me "Yea, i remember your first day we were told you needed dialysis but weren't insured." She also said with a laugh "I thought you were faking it." Not surprising.
Stupid bit**!!! :banghead; :banghead; :banghead;
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She sounds like a real gem. How do these people sleep at night? She laughed? Yes, thats just hilarious to me that someone suffering like that would be treated in that manner. One would hope for some sympathy from the medical staff. Again, there are good ones and bad ones. I have seen both. Your experience sounds like a true and pitiful horror. I can't even imagine being in that much pain and having to go through with the drive and the rest of it. Its amazing. I guess when it boils down to it you find out just how strong you really are. And how pitiful others are. Insurance should not even be an issue as to how you treat a patient. What a horrible, excruciating and awful story. I apologize for the attitude of the nurse and for their treatment of you. I am embarassed to say I am a nurse.
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In the four month I have been on dialysis I have driven myself. One of the reasons
I choose this unit is that it is only 5 miles from my house. There is not much traffic
going home at 9::00 p.m.
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So, you can drive while on dialysis?
WOW.... Very ignorant question.
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Considering that 90% of the people in my dialysis center don't drive, I wouldn't consider it an ignorant question.
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I always drove my self to the clinic and back home. It ever really seemed like a big deal, I have survived by just trying to stay "normal", whatever that means? You will know if you can drive or not just go with how you feel.
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When I first started, a cousin used to use my vehicle a lot, so I was able to let him take me and bring me back home. I used to feel totally drained and capable of nothing.
Now, I drive myself to and fro. In fact now I leave from dialysis to go straight to work at the Tourist Board Information Centre at our airport.
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When I first started hemodialysis, I had people driving me for the first week. After that, I started driving myself to the unit. Usually my dialysis unit will not let me go if there was something wrong with me. Sometimes I would just sit in my chair for about ten minutes before I leave to drive home.
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Here in Kentucky they won't let you drive home if you are still too drunk after dialysis.
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Just what are you drinking at dialysis? Good ole Kentucky bourbon! No wonder they don't let you drive home!
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Believe it or not, we actually have a couple of guys who come in about half drunk on a regular basis. I guess the dialysis sobers them up.
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Believe it or not, we actually have a couple of guys who come in about half drunk on a regular basis. I guess the dialysis sobers them up.
I've heard that it also prevents a hangover...oh wait, that was connecting to the PD cycler after drinking, and I didn't hear it, I learned it! :rofl;
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Actually I have been in a few times with a hangover. Trust me, it is a good cure. Wish I had discovered dialysis sooner. :beer1; :bandance; :sarcasm;