This seems like a good thing to me

[donnia]

I went to visit the dialysis center here last Monday ( I will be starting dialysis this Tuesday) 

I met the social worker.... kinda dorky, but nice none the less

I met the '2 Head Nurses" I don't know what else to call her.... very nice and informative

I met 2 of the 4 techs, and both of them had family members there for dialysis.  I was happy to hear that, cause it makes me feel like they will be more considerate considering they have a mother and grandmother there in our position.

[HappyPenguin]

*sigh*

I wish all my patients were like you. I can honestly say in the 15 years I've been here, I've had maybe 2 patients actually come to clinic prior to starting dialysis. To be so pro-active is a great thing and I'm proud of you. 

[Sluff]

Great idea not to mention when you arrive Tuesday, they will know who you are. Good Luck.

[thegrammalady]

i was never offered the opportunity to visit before i started.

[kitkatz]

I was put on dialysis as an emergency, so I did not even get offered a tour of the place before I was whisked into the room and put on a machine.

[glitter]

we took a tour before my husbands surgury- we knew the day he would start....they let us come and look....I wish they would have given us more information at that time.

[donnia]

I know that not everyone has the opportunity to visit their dialysis center before they start dialysis.  I wish they did.  I had been depressed, scared, and actually pissed for the last week.  After I went to the dialysis center, it just kinda put my fears to rest.  I am actually looking forward to going to dialysis (stupid huh, I know).  I think I am more at ease too because I have a cath, so I don't have to worry about the sticks. Anyways, I am actually looking forward to it because I know it will make me start feeling better.

If you are nearing dialysis, I highly reccommed that you go and check the center out first.  Take a list of questions too.  I really do think it will make you more at ease about starting dialysis.

[angela515]

I was like kit, was put on dialysis in emergency, wasn't able to know ahead of time to be able to visit.

[Bajanne]

Seeing the unit before I started was one of the things that really helped me (along with IHD).  It was so sparkling and bright and cheery.  I was imagining something like an Inquisition torture chamber.  Yes, I liked the days with the catheter - not only there were no sticks, but when you were finished, you were finished.  No waiting for the bleeding to stop.  But I didn't like not being able to bathe properly or swim.
Dialysis has made me feel much better.  I can't believe the difference some times.  I was walking up the steps to the hospital the other day (there are lots of steps up from the parking lot if you don't take the long way around) and was remembering my pre-dialysis days when 4 steps would tire me out and I would have to puff and blow before I continued!

[donnia]

Ohhhh bajanne... you make me so excited about dialysis... no really.  I am realllly hoping that it will make me feel better.

[Jannie]

About two weeks before I started dialysis, Ii visited my local Dialysis center. Brand new, clean, and cheerful. But ,due to paperwork and insurance snags, I couldn't go there for treatment. Instead,I'm stuck in a unit that's in the basement of a hospital, right behind the janitor's closet. Aetna  Insurance sucks!

[Rerun]

I stopped by my clinic prior to starting and they wouldn't let me in.  Knowing what I know now I wouldn't have asked.....I would have just walked in.

I had to have my Neph call and send me a note before they would let me in and talk to a patient.

[paris]

I was at the dialysis center last Monday. Once a month they give a 3-4 hour orientation classes.  The center is on the first floor of my neph's office building, so nurses on both floors know each other and the patients.  They really helped me understand PD better.  You can choose either a Baxtor or Fresenius machine.  It is a Fresenius center.  Baxtor looked like what I would choose.  A social worker also talked to us and gave us tons of handouts.  Although I knew most of what they were telling us (thanks to IHD) the other family there had no knowledge prior to coming - kind of like a deer in the headlights look!  There is also a Kidney Club meeting once a month in the center, so there are many opportunities to check out the facility.  I just want to have as much information as possible.  I was the same way with the transplant thing--learn everything I possibly can.    So, keep posting Donnia, so I can learn even more!

[paris]

I forgot to add that at the end of the session, I asked the other family if they looked online for information.  Then I told them about IHD and the nurse asked about the website! She said she would like to see the site.  The both wrote down the name.  I keep trying to spread the word!

[donnia]

You know Paris, I have learned sooo much here at IHD!  I can totally relate to what your sayin!

Thank God for IHD.com!!!

[George Jung]

Thank God for IHD.com!!!

You mean thank god for Epoman.   

[donnia]

OMG... I was just coming back to add that George!!!

Thank you for correcting me

Thank God for Epoman and IHD.com!

[Stacy Without An E]

The more I read about people's experiences on IHD.com about their centers, the more I'm thankful for mine.  Satellite Dialysis in Northern California is non-profit, so all the money (supposedly) goes back into the center.  When I was assigned a nephrologist when my kidney started failing, an appointment was set up to receive a tour of the facility.  This is back in the old center before they built the new one, doubling the capacity from 24 to 48 chairs.  Most of the staff are experienced enough that I don't have to stress about having a new tech hook me up.