Only one complaint....

[mamagemini]

I get here at 4:15 for my 4:30 appt....it is now 5:10.
What can I do to get on the 1:30 shift!?!?!?!?! I will now get home at almost 9:45, then turn around and get up at 6? cripes.

[jeannea]

At my center, someone has to die or get a transplant before you can change shifts. Then there's a waiting list. You could try making your case to the administrator.

[MommyChick]

Unfortunately most places are busy & have a waiting list to get an earlier time slot. I would think most places would be willing to work with you if its interfering with a work sched or so. My dialysis center has been very busy lately & I normally have a 2:30pm time slot, but on days they are not as busy they do call me in sooner which I like.
I do believe though the time slots go by who has been there the longest as well (at least that's how it works at my center). My in-center is also very good at getting you on when its your time. But if its really bothering you,
talk to the manager.
Good Luck

[lmunchkin]

Mama, look into other options. In centers are awful.  They take up alot of your time.  Do dialysis at home!  I believe you would love it better than In-Center.  So sorry you even have to go through this.

God Bless,
lmunchkin

[MightyMike]

My center is great about a shift change off course there is always a waiting list but it never took more then a couple weeks to change.  I prefer in center to home just because I like the weekends off.  I did the home hemo for about a year and doing it 5 days a week and only being able to skip 1 day between started wearing thin quick.  Just my opinion some people swear by home and some swear by in center it's your preference and your experience to how you choose.

[lmunchkin]

It is a choice of course. The In-center that my husband went to did their best, but I can do better.  I do him 3 days on and 2 days off in that order, to me that is a great thing.  When he dialysis's, we do not have a scheduled time to do it.  We can do it when it is convenient for us.  We basically do it in the evenings after I get off work.  He has everything set up and ready. We may eat before or we can eat during.  We sit and watch TV or I may get up in bed with him and take naps. Not to put your center down Mike, but I know you cant do those things in there. If you can, then God Bless your center.  They are very, very rare (unless of course, you are doing Nocturnal)
I guess Mama, is if it is messing with your schedule, then do D. at home.  At least you can do it when it is convenient for you. The only draw back to D. at home, is having to store supply's.  PD especially, but NxStage w/h PureFlow not so much.

See if your center won't accomdate you.  If they will great! But if not, then my dear, you are stuck!!!!  Hope you can find a remedie for your situation.  I feel for you, I really do. Been there & Done that as a caregiver only!  I like this NxStage period! 

God Bless,
lmunchkin

[chinksnicky]

I wouldn't come until 5:00 the next time,if they cry tell them you were there on time last time and they weren't ready, for what they get paid for you,believe me they will accomadate you somehow,I know I'd get away with it,but they know they aren't going to push me around at my center,like my nurse says" He does anything he wants" and I do,remember these medical people are in a "service"business.Don't let them tell you everything.      Nick

[cattlekid]

I did the same when I was in center. I would bust my hiney to get to the clinic on time or early from work. There was once instance where they were almost an hour late getting me on with no explanation. I told them it better not happen again without a good explanation or I was out of there. Since I had private insurance, and they were getting thousands of dollars a week from my insurance company, you better believe it never happened again.

[Riki]

I guess I'm lucky that we have a new unit with 6 more chairs.  Because of that, I was able to switch to a morning shift, which gives me my afternoons free.  My nurses try to accommodate as best they can.  I know that one year, one fellow in the unit had strange work shifts, and they worked his dialysis around those shifts, sometimes even staying late with him.  They stayed late with me once so I could go to a funeral.  As for not getting on in time, there are a lot of different reasons.  If the person ahead of you is late, then you're going to be late too.  Sometimes the person ahead of you has problems and will be later getting out.  There's a lot of different reasons.

[mamagemini]

Thanks everyone. Thing is I really think it is the tech that sticks you and if they are ready. I have come in before 3 people today and they were taken in first. I don't understand the concept yet. So I am thinking that's how it is working.
It sucks waiting. A half hour late today....

[MommyChick]

Thanks everyone. Thing is I really think it is the tech that sticks you and if they are ready. I have come in before 3 people today and they were taken in first. I don't understand the concept yet. So I am thinking that's how it is working.
It sucks waiting. A half hour late today....

I do in-center & love where I go, they have always been really good to me from the get go! My D center works in (pods) or rows that each tech is assigned, so that could be how they are doing things at your center & why they might take someone before you. Also if you have a newer fistula they might want a certain tech to stick you since its newer site, so you might have to wait for that tech as well. At least that's how things seem to run at my center. Best of Luck Mamagemini !!