Training almost over

[aquadj]

Hi, first I want to say thanks for all the 'welcome' emails. Everyone has been so nice & as I read through all the topics I can see how supportive you guys are.

We have been training for 2 weeks now. Last week they brought us a PureFlow & NxStage machine. Tonight we are going to make a sac so the water can be tested.

My DH is doing the needles. My fistula is in my right arm & I am right handed. Eventually I hope to do them.

I really love the idea of not going 2 days between treatments. It's hard to keep the fluids low.

So far I am doing great. My labs showed my potassium is low so I have been eating bananas again.

My BP drops a bit while on the machine but nothing too terrible yet.

It's been interesting learning about how dialysis works. I'd much rather have another transplant but I think I can handle this.
Thanks again for all the support!
peace,
DJ

[willowtreewren]

Good luck on learning to cannulate yourself. that will give you so much control. I still cannulate my husband, but that is mostly because our clinic has not yet supported buttonholes. I'm starting to advocate for that! I have a feeling they will let us be their trial couple if I squawk loud enough about it.

 

We love our PureFlow and NxStage. It allows us so much freedom in choosing when we want to dialyze and to a certain extent, even where. We take the NxStage camping with us!

Aleta

[silverhead]

Aleta, I don't understand, why not do the buttonholes, you are doing the sticking, just do the same sight, at the same angle each time. Don't understand why the clinic does not support them, evidence points to them being far better for the patient.
Tom

[willowtreewren]

I'm going to, Tom. But not until our clinic gives the go-ahead. They have really worked with us and I want to work with them, too. I was unable to attend our last appointment due to my horrendous summer work schedule, but August 13 I will be making the big push for buttonholes! 

My husband is not as assertive as I am, so he did not bring it up when I wasn't there! 

Aleta

[petey]

Oh, we felt so liberated when we finished our training and brought our NxStage machine home.  It's wonderful -- absolutely wonderful.  Last week marked our second year on home hemo, and it has changed both of our lives.

[aquadj]

Hi, so we have been doing home hemo for a few weeks now. We love it! During this time we have had a leaky cylinder/filter, a power failure 10 minutes after hook-up & problems with the drain line. We handled them all pretty well. My training nurse said we had more excitement in our first weeks than we will probably have in a year LOL
The power outage was interesting We are prone to them in our neighborhood so when it started storming as we were setting up the machine, we took out the how-to-do-it page in the manual & went over it. We had the emergency light ready. It was a little scary but we had discussed what we were going to do.
We are planning on flying home to KY in October. Will be interesting to see how that goes LOL
peace,
DJ

[willowtreewren]

Congratulations!!!

 

We rarely have any problems. And when we do, we use it as a way to learn not to do THAT again!

 

Enjoy the freedom of NxStage!

Aleta

[boclark54]

When we were in training our nurse told us we should shut machine off just before end and do a manual rinseback about once a month, (you will lose your final numbers)so you'll always remember and be able to do it right away.

[Hanify]

I'm feeling a little emotional today so forgive me.  When I joined this site I had done in centre for 4 months then changed to PD which I had been on for a year.  I hated in centre so much I was panic stricken any time I thought about having to one day change back to haemo.  Then along came IHD.  I have learned from this site about the other types of dialysis - particularly the nightstage.  People like Aleta and Del have been such an inspiration to me allowing me into their lives and letting me know that it's all OK!  Now you are reiterating what they are saying when you take on this challenge and - like Nike - just do it!  I will have to change one day to haemo - but thanks to the people like you on ihd, I am now nolonger scared about it any more.  Thanks everyone for sharing your stories.  I'll go and cry now ... no, not really, just a bit teary eyed.

[Wenchie58]

Awwwww Hanify    I know exactly what you're saying.  This site IS a Godsend, it eases fears, educates, initiates conversations and allows us to share one anothers pains and joys.  Whatta loving, caring, disfunctional family we have here.  For which I am eternally grateful!

[texasstyle]

DJ, I hope everthing goes smoothly for you. I understand you have to be extra clean with the home dialysis. Seeing on your link that you have 2 cockatiels, are there any tips on how to manage the dander? We have 4 and it seems like that's all I clean all day. Thinking of PD for my husband I have concerns that he might be more prone to infection because of this. I'm new to all this so I'm still learning. Can the birds be in the same room you do your dialysis? Thanks

[aquadj]

Hi, our birds have an aviary off the laundry room.  They are in an enclosed area so most of their fluff & stuff stay in there.  I don't handle them as much as I used to. I'm afraid they'll scratch up my fistula arm.  But it's good to have them to talk to when I do laundry LOL
Even after transplants I didn't have a problem with them. My DH just cleans the cage.
peace,
DJ
ps thanx for checking out my page!

[billybags]

Hanify, you will have us all crying soon. Yes it is a wonderful site, with wonderful caring people.