My first serious crash......

[Cricket]

It's Labor Day folks........ have a happy.  My last dialysis on Saturday resulted ina serious crash (blood pressure drop) that took 2 dialysis techs to get me back to earth.  I was frightened out of my mind.
At first upon diagnosis I was put on 3 different BP meds, but since 2 months of treatment have gone by, these high doses were never revisited by ANYONE involved in my case.  My tech for the day, Juliet, was very angry that no one had followed up with BP numbers, noticing they have been dropping like mad over the last 2 or 3 weeks.
WHY aren't patients' progress carefully monitored to avoid these crashes???  Crashes take a horrible toll on the body, like low blood sugars do.
I've felt like crap ever since Saturday......... ruined my holiday total.     I could just scream.








EDITED:  Thread moved to proper section: "Dialysis: General Discussion" - jbeany, Moderator

[Cordelia]

I'm so sorry to hear that       

[Dannyboy]

Cricket,
Sorry to hear about your low BP crash.   It is not a pleasant experience.
Sounds like tech Juliet is on to something, BP-med wise.
Best wishes,
----Dan

[jbeany]

Have you invested in your own bp monitor yet?  If you can afford it, it's a good idea.  (Maybe even see if you can get a scrip or be given one from the center?) Then you can keep a log of what your bp is on off days.  With something in hand to show to the neph, you are more likely to get a timely response to the problem.  (Yeah, I know - they should be doing this for you, but they don't always pay attention until there is a visible problem.  I don't like waiting that long.)

[looneytunes]

Wow Cricket, that's scary.   It's a good thing Juliet is looking out for you.   

[Subeat]

So sorry you are going through this.  I only crashed once, while I was still inpatient.  I was on bp meds long before my kidney troubles began, but after dialysis began it was pretty apparent that my dosages needed to be lowered.  Even at the new, lower dose, I was still getting too many low numbers.  What ended up helping was changing the time of day I was taking my meds from morning to evening.  Now my bp is up to what the nurse says is a good "dialysis pressure," though higher than what I have been used to thinking of as good.

I have also been blessed to be at a center with the most proactive charge nurse I could hope for.  She has been vigilant at tracking my ups and downs (and making sure we avoided the BIG down).  And she made sure to bring every change to my neph's attention.  I know everyone is not so lucky with their center staff, and you may have to advocate for yourself.  And I echo jbeany's suggestion of getting your own monitor.  We found one for around $25.

[Cricket]

Hi everyone.  Sorry to respond to your comments so late..........  Anyway I did get myself a home BP monitor.  It acts up occasionally (with incorrect/false readings) but overall it's pretty good.  So far, they have cut down my dosage on one BP med, and on dialysis day, I totally skip BP meds until I get back home.  One tech, Jules, and the charge nurse (Chrissy) have become my two mothers!  They really look out for me - at least something great came out of dialysis!!

[mcclane]

I've crashed a few times, but usually at the unit, not at home.  My lowest at the dialysis unit was 64/47, scared the crap outta the nurse 

[Cricket]

Hello everyone............. not only have I been crashing - despite lowered medications - but my life is crashing all around me.  No return phone calls from Charity Care for payments of massive hospital/dialysis bills.  Room mate about to lose her job.  IRS after me about 2009 tax returns not filed - when I was not working!  Medical transport via my city's travel plan showed up 1 hour late; got me home TWO hours late from dialysis.  So no way to get there tomorrow.  Looks like this adventure has come to an end.  It simply cannot be done..............

[MooseMom]

ok, this sounds rather overwhelming to say the least.  Looking at it in the aggregate, it sounds impossible.  Might I suggest you tackle one problem at a time?  Taken together, it's too much.

What exactly is Charity Care?  How does this organization work?  Is the hospital hounding you?

[Cricket]

The hospital and a TON of doctors sending me bills - every 2 days.  I have a large pile.  What Medicare would not cover, I owe -- in the thousands.
My social worker gave me a number to call for "Charity Care" - charities pick up costs after Medicare.  I have called 1,000 times - and they always leave a message here while I am in dialysis. 
Well if I quit dialysis tomorrow (due to no transport), at least I'll be home to take that call.
Meantime, the IRS had the nerve to tell me to "get on your laptop while you're in the dialysis chair".  !!!!!!!  I don't have a laptop!  No money!!!  Sorry............. my disability check only goes so far.
You should have seen the SCENE created at my center last night.  One hour late to treatment; and to get home the entire staff running in and outof the center to flag down my transport - who would not wait for me any longer.  One nurse volunteered to drive me home personally - putting her job at risk.  I said NO WAY!
Had 2 major crashes at home today... had to lay down fast.  Scared out of my wits.  Please pray for me, I'm desperate for my own life and sanity