Mike's NxStage Training Start Date is Set!

[Black]

OK, he's set to start training on Feb 5.  The nurse said for him to expect her to be here to see his home set up and first dialysis at home on Feb 26.  She sure has a lot of confidence in us!! 

Where we will be staying does NOT have computer access  but I'll try to keep a log of some kind which I can post later, after we get back home.

I'm having some minor health problems, which I hope have resolved by the start date, but they have put me even further behind on EVERYTHING, so I'll post more as I have time.





EDITED: Thread moved to Proper Topic, Home Dialysis: NxStage Users - Sluff, Moderator

[billable]

Good luck.  I know you will do fine.

[vandie]

Great news.  Good luck, and you take care of yourself too.

[Sluff]

Good for you I will be thinking of you. Good Luck

[charee]

Great news hope all goes well , hope your feeling better 

[kitkatz]

I hope all goes well.  Remember that Epoman has his other site for questions and answers about the Nxstage system. 

[Black]

I'm sorry I haven't posted about our NxStage training but there has just been too much going on.  I'm still using a cane to get around.

Some of you may know that I had a gallbladder attack during our training time and now we're going to Miami for a few weeks.  Mike is going to TRY to work -- may end up just watching! He has been on the NxStage for 4 weeks. I'm recovering from gallbladder surgery on 2/23 and an arteriogram on 3/1 which revealed inoperable clogged femoral and popliteal (sp?) arteries. Taking medication (Platal?) and baby aspirin until recheck in 6 weeks. Surgeon says 50% blood flow is enough to keep me from losing my foot and that since it is from a childhood injury or birth defect, it most likely will not get worse.

Anyway, we're going to get to use the NxStage and PureFlow in a fifth-wheel camper for over 3 weeks and will report back on our experience when we return.

BTW, we LOVE the NxStage! His PKD kidneys are still producing a lot of very clear urine so some days we take off no fluid, only remove toxins. Even though he weighs almost 275 he is on the machine for less than 3 hours. We're still new, so the setup is taking us longer than the 18 minute prime -- we're getting better but still slow and cautious.  Needles are going in well w/o a tourniquet.  I usually have the paperwork and clean up done at the end before he gets ready for the band-aids on the buttonholes.

See ya'll in a few weeks.  My thoughts and prayers will be with all of you, and especially with Bill's family during this sad time.

[Sluff]

Thanks for the update I hope you start feeling better also, and good luck on your trip.

[charee]

Thanks for that Black I have been thinking about you both, you sound like you have the sticking the needles in covered , thats the part I'm very nervous about I'm still hanging in with 9% function but i know that I'm not far off starting.Take Care

Cheers

Charee

[MJB]

I'm sorry I haven't posted about our NxStage training but there has just been too much going on.  I'm still using a cane to get around.

Some of you may know that I had a gallbladder attack during our training time and now we're going to Miami for a few weeks.  Mike is going to TRY to work -- may end up just watching! He has been on the NxStage for 4 weeks. I'm recovering from gallbladder surgery on 2/23 and an arteriogram on 3/1 which revealed inoperable clogged femoral and popliteal (sp?) arteries. Taking medication (Platal?) and baby aspirin until recheck in 6 weeks. Surgeon says 50% blood flow is enough to keep me from losing my foot and that since it is from a childhood injury or birth defect, it most likely will not get worse.

Anyway, we're going to get to use the NxStage and PureFlow in a fifth-wheel camper for over 3 weeks and will report back on our experience when we return.

BTW, we LOVE the NxStage! His PKD kidneys are still producing a lot of very clear urine so some days we take off no fluid, only remove toxins. Even though he weighs almost 275 he is on the machine for less than 3 hours. We're still new, so the setup is taking us longer than the 18 minute prime -- we're getting better but still slow and cautious.  Needles are going in well w/o a tourniquet.  I usually have the paperwork and clean up done at the end before he gets ready for the band-aids on the buttonholes.

See ya'll in a few weeks.  My thoughts and prayers will be with all of you, and especially with Bill's family during this sad time.

Lorelle,

I hope you are feeling better. Thats a lot to go through while training for Nxstage. I love my NxStage too. It will get easier and easier. It sounds like you have a great system in place. Have a good trip and I wish you both well.

Mike

[Black]

Thanks for the kind words of encouragement.

Things are finally begininning to get back to some semblance of normality.  My business has suffered from taking most of two months off but it was well worth it to get the NxStage and make it possible for Mike to get back to Miami for a month.  (I would have been closed for a month anyway to recuperate from my health problems.)

The NxStage people were surprised and happy that we took the System One and the PureFlow with us in the camper, especially since he had only been using the machine at home for a little over a week.  Delivery to Miami was no problem - just a quick phone call to Michelle and everything was there on time and quantities were correct.  We did have a couple of problems though.

We got several bad carteridges -- numerous Red 37 and Red 38 alarms.  They drove us crazy as we tried everything possible, including slowing blood speed down to 200.  Twice we terminated treatment early.  Finally when one cartridge wouldn't prime, the tech suggested we switch to a different lot and problem solved!  They sent a box and return label for us to return the carteridge that wouldn't prime; we had already disposed of the rest we had used or attempted to use.

Another problem was Filter PAKS that wouldn't prime or were good for only a few uses.  Frustrating and annoying and inconvenient but not really a big deal.  They sent us return boxes and labels.  Replacements were sent next day air.

Actually overall, dialysis has been uneventful and relatively easy.  We have found that even though actual dialysis time is between 2:32 to 2:42 it takes about 3 1/2 to 4 hours out of our day.  It could be quicker than that, but he's not good about setting up after he loads the cartridge and starts the prime.  I come in to put the blunts in the buttonholes and little or nothing else has been done, so much of the time I wind up laying out everything, and getting the air out of the lines.  As my business picks up again, I'll have to insist that he do more, but right now I really don't mind all of the preliminary setup, the 5 minute clean up, keeping him company most of the time (well, that is when he isn't sleeping), and waiting for the sites to clot.  He seems to enjoy me waiting on him    for snacks, drinks, the TV remote, and anything else he wants.  We are spending more time together than we have in a long time and I had almost forgotten how charming and funny he can be.  The "Silver Linings" are few, but that is the one of them.

The best thing ... the very best thing ... beyond all others ... he feels GOOD!!  His naps are short, and odd jobs around the house no longer leave him exhausted and winded.  His color is no longer yellow-gray.  He laughs more, smiles more, and is again talking about future events and plans!!  Thank God for NxStage!

[Sluff]

I am so glad to hear how well Mike is doing on the nxstage. WOW nxstage may be responsible for reigniting the flame too! What a bonus. 

[goofynina]

Lorelle, Epoman would be so pleased to hear that you are enjoying the NxStage, we all knew how much he loved life again after starting on NxStage.  I am so glad to hear things are working out good for you and hubby.  Hope your business picks up soon and hope your feeling good again as well.  Keep us updated my friend.