Putting in your own needles

[Rain]

On Wednesday I'm going to try to put in my own needles. And I'm freaking out.  I asked to learn how to needle myself so I have more control and maybe when I get a house I could do dialysis at home.


Any advice on needlying for the first time if the idea freaks you out.

[Desert Dancer]

Are you going to be using sharps or blunts? I don't remember whether or not you said you have buttonholes.

If you're using sharps, just go very, very slowly.

In either case I'd say the most useful advice I can think of is to PAY ATTENTION. What I mean by that is: pay attention to how you have your fistula arm placed. It makes a big difference, especially if your fistula tends to roll around. Your arm needs to be in the same position every time. When I created my buttonholes I took note that the entire heel of my hand touched the surface of the lap desk.

Pay attention to how you are holding the needle. Pay attention to how you place your other fingers to stabilize your hand.

Pay attention to your angle on insertion. I can't stress this enough.

Pay attention to when you need to lower your angle. What that means for me, personally, is that as SOON as the bevel of the needle clears the skin I have to lower my angle because my fistula is shallow and - if I keep the same angle I use to start with - I will go too deep and miss it.

And finally: relax. It's much harder to do if you're up in your head and stressed out. On nights where I have difficulty, I sometimes have to stop, gather myself together mentally, take a deep breath and come back to it.

After a while (and not too long, really) it will become second nature and you'll no longer have to think about it too much. Muscle memory will kick in and you'll know just by feel whether you've got the right angle and when you're in.

You can do this! I promise. Good luck, and good on you for taking the next step. Once you've been cannulating yourself you'll NEVER want to let anyone else do it.

[Rerun]

Gosh there is lots on this site about doing it yourself.  Even a video.  You might look around.

I just know I could never do it as I still can't look at it.

Best of luck to you.

[Rain]

I will be using sharps and the ladder technique since they stopped doing button holes since they found patients get more infections.

I'm on dialysis right now and I get to pull my own needles in a few hours when I'm done.  I'm all excited for getting to pull.

Thanks for all the advice I just wish I found this site when I started 4 years ago. 

[dyann]

I have been putting my needles in for about two years and it was scary at first but the more practice the better you get at it  there are times I have had a little trouble getting the vein,but I try again.  I dont use the numbing cream but if you need it use it.  I do home dialysis now and love it                       
    good luck you will do wonderful!!!!!

[Rain]

I got my needles in.   The nurse was surprised at how quick I was.   And I actually enjoyed it since I controlled it.

[monrein]

I got my needles in.   The nurse was surprised at how quick I was.   And I actually enjoyed it since I controlled it.

Keep it up.  It will soon be second nature.   

[jonsal]

I got my needles in.   The nurse was surprised at how quick I was.   And I actually enjoyed it since I controlled it.

Great! I'm also new to this and it's a great (oh well, theres certainly greater feelings in life) feeling to manage it. Keep it up!

[mcclane]

I've only stuck myself with sharps a few times, and from what I've learned, if you go too slow you'll squirt blood everywhere (almost got the nurse too  ), if you go too fast you might wind up going thru everything.  It does take some control using sharps.

I use blunts now and even though I hate it with a passion, it really doesn't hurt that much using blunts.