When your trained...questions

[ESRD Survivor]

I am about to start training on the 23rd, but I still haven't learned how to stick myself.  I am working on it.  Did you already stick yourself before you trained?  I know training will go faster if I know and I kind of got the feeling I should know before training.  Thoughts, advice?

[fearless]

it's weird how they're kinda vague about this.  I thought I HAD to do in-clinic for a while, til i could needle myself.  Then I found out that some people go directly to home dialysis and never do in-cliinic.  When I asked the question point-blank, I was told it's much EASIER if you know how to needle yourself first (and have your buttonholes established if that's what you're going to do)  Easier for who?  I'm not really sure what's what, but I guess I'll find out soon.  You let me know if you find out first! :-)

[Adam_W]

I started NxStage when I still had a catheter, and my graft was ready to be used about two weeks after I finished training. I went back to the training centre for a week to learn how to stick myself.

[jbeany]

If you have a partner willing to learn to stick you during the training or who already knows how, then it's certainly not required.  Plenty of patients do home hemo without ever sticking themselves, for any number of reasons - mobility, vision, etc. 

I think the reason they encourage people to learn before is that it is one less thing to have to think about during training while you are learning how to work the machine.  It's like learning to drive a car - it gets easy and familiar with practice, but at the beginning, it's a lot to absorb.  One less thing to think about while you are learning is just going to make the process smoother.

[amanda100wilson]

I had to go in clinic to help develop the fistula as I was on PD prior to this.  My nurse developed my buttonholes for me (not particulalry recommended because angle insertion between people can be a problem) and they work fine.  I had a couple of goes cannulating myself with sharps  with about 50% success.  I was trained completely at home for NxStage and was worried that I wouldn't be able to do it to the point that I was waking up worrying about it.  So a few days into the training, when I was on my own,  I just sat and cannulated myself (only the arterial because this one is easier)because I thought that it would be easier to do without someone watching.  I'm a registered nurse so even if I had spurted a bit od blood it wouldn't have phased me, but I don't particularly reccommend that,you do this.

[fearless]

amanda, if there were a "like" button I would like your post!  It's always encouraging to hear how someone just went ahead and did something for themselves.  Fearless!!!  ha ha

[lmunchkin]

If you have a partner willing to learn to stick you during the training or who already knows how, then it's certainly not required.  Plenty of patients do home hemo without ever sticking themselves, for any number of reasons - mobility, vision ect...

I fall into this category.  I stick my husband because of his sight and he is right handed, so is his fistula, so I do not mind doing if for him.  But I do admire those who do it themselves.  If it were me, I would do myselft too!

lmunchkin
 

[willowtreewren]

I learned to cannulate Carl during our NxStage training.

But I needed to go away for a week. He took his machine into the clinic while I was gone. The first day they just handed him the needles and said he could do it (we used the ladder technique). He did his own needles the whole time I was gone!

After i got back he did his own needling a few times, but then turned it back over to me. It was nice to know that he COULD do it in case something happened to me.

Aleta

[boswife]

When we were trained (i was to cannulate hubby) they brought us in for two weeks (6 sessions) and trained me to canulate him.  Then we came in for NxStage training.  I was so glad to do that as i am a needle phob and had to at least get a start of 'getting over it' so i didnt focus on that instead of the machine.  It was a good thing to have done

[Desert Dancer]

I began home training with a catheter and had the nurse create my first set of buttonholes three weeks in. It took about about two weeks to get them established and from that point on I've been the only person who's cannulated them.

Of course, the first set gave out after four months and I had to create my second set at home (it was a Sunday and I'd already been four days without dialysis, no choice). I'd never sharp stuck myself before and it was really intimidating at first but now I'm a pro at it.

[M3Riddler]

I am about to start training on the 23rd, but I still haven't learned how to stick myself.  I am working on it.  Did you already stick yourself before you trained?  I know training will go faster if I know and I kind of got the feeling I should know before training.  Thoughts, advice?

It would be a plus if you are already sticking yourself, but if not, you still have time to learn. Even during training. If your fistula is mature, I would suggest creating a set of buttonholes.  Once established, they are much easier to stick and it doesnt hurt for most people.  Also, stay away from high blood flows - anything over 400.  Slower longer dialysis is the way to go as it will remove more toxins such as phosporus and other middle molecules.  The blood can only hold a certain amount of the toxins/fluid in the bloodstream at any given time. Therefore the speed you are running doesnt mean you are going to remove the toxins faster. The body has to have a chance to equilibrate the toxins into the bloodstream again as they must move from the tissues - cells - bloodstream.  Time  and lower flows is critical as you will not put stress on your fistula/veins/arteries and even your heart.