NEWBIE

[carolynt]

I have been on dialysis for just  a month.  I still have a port in my chest with a graft that has finally matured.  They just started using it.  My question...I use linocaine an hour before I go to dialysis which seems to help before they stick the needles in but I still feel it.  Do you ever get use to this?  I am still trying to get use to this routine and I think I am doing OK but every now and again it hits me that this is for the rest of my life...three days a week.  I think of all the patients that have been on this for years and years and give them a lot of credit.  God bless them.  I wonder if any of this gets easier or you just become numb to the whole dialysis thing.  Any helpful hints I would appreciate it.  All you people have my admiration for going thru this.

[Joe Paul]

Welcome Carolynt, good to have you aboard.

[Laurie]

 

[lola]

 

[boxman55]

welcome to IHD and no it doesn't get any easier....Boxman

[tamara]

 

See you around the board Carolyn

Take Care

Tamara xxx ooo 

[sophiasmom]

Hello and welcome!

The first 6 months to one year of sticking can be painful even with lidocaine. Afterward some people build up scar tissue and
it doesn't hurt quite as much.  Also depending on how your fistula is, whether it is deep or shallow. (you'll learn eventually by
what kind of sticks feel better.) For example my fistula is fairly deep and when someone sticks me shallow (almost level with my arm it
hurts alot more than those that would go in at an angle, but if your fistula is shallow (closer to the surface) a shallow stick may feel better to you.
For me the nerves are right under my skin so shallow straight sticks just seem to rip my nerves.
I believe  staff are taught to go in at a 45 degree angle, which is perfect for me, if they know what that means.   

[keefer51]

Carolynt, I have a fistula in my left arm. They had tried on my right twice but they didn't work. I was on dialysis before but only had catheters. My brother gave me one of his kidneys. It lasted ten years. When that failed i was shocked. I never believed i would be back on dialysis. The first year i was in denial. Now i just get used to it. I hate needles. I use the cream and it helps but it is only topical. I put it on around two hours before i go. My fistula starts out close to the top but goes deep. My first needle goes in with no problem. The second needle if not in right hurts. Most of the time this burning feeling i get goes away after a little while. I never thought i would get use to this but i have. The dialysis center i go to has many people i have become friends with. It's like my only social life. I guess the trick to all of this madness is having the best positive attitude you can find in your self. I wish you luck my friend. You will find a wealth of information on this site.

[Hawkeye]

Hello and 

[bolta72]

I have been on hemo for one year now, I use no cream and seem to have gotton use to the needle sticks although I still don't like it. As far as dialysis goes I have accepted it as a part of my life, 3 times a week. Although every once in a while I do think about the rest of my life part. Hang in there and just take one day at a time.

[Bajanne]

Welcome to our community.  I am so glad that you decided to join us.  I also have a graft.  They used to use a lidocaine injection when I first started using my graft.  But the lidocaine used to give me a sting, so I decided to take the needle without it.  Also lidocaine hardens your skin, the nurses told me.  I find that my arterial needle is almost painless, but the venous one still hurts.  But it doesn't last. What is 6 sticks a week if they are keeping you alive?


Bajanne, Moderator

[kitkatz]

Welcome. I have had a graft for seven years now and it does get easier. I have not used lidocaine ever. It seemed to me, why four sticks when two will do. It gets a  lot better pain wise as the graft gets older.  Be sure they ladder stck you and never in the same place twice in a row.

Welcome.




kitkatz,moderator

[carolynt]

Thanks for all you replies.  Knowing that there are people out there that completely understand.  All my friends and even my husband try but just cant comprehend what we are all going thru.  I think they say to themselves "thank god its not me.  I had my port taken out Wednesday since I am going to Florida in a week and didnt want to have this thing hanging from my chest.  Knowing the way the airlines are with Security they would have pulled me out and said I was concealing something.  Well I feel free without the port and I can take a real shower now.  So lets hope this graft holds out.  I agree about the needles the first one is OK the second one really pinches.  One more question..does everyone have a bump in their arm from the graft or fistula...just wondering.

[RichardMEL]

G'day Carolyn - welcome.

Yeah I think most of us have the hump (or whatever) where the graft/fistula is.. part of it being formed. I don't notice it anymore but sometimes my family say "oh it looks much bigger today" or something. lol. You know what they say about size....

About your needle question..I had the local the first time I was needled... then never since.. Just over a year on I'd say about 40% of the needles still hurt a bit... but it's really not that bad.. I think I'm more surprised when I feel it than anything else.. you DO get used to it and as the fistula gets stronger and toughens up it WILL hurt less. I didn't believe what the nurses kept telling me but it just sort of happened that they'd needle me in a spot and I wouldn't feel a thing... so there is hope.

I also hope it isn't for the rest of your life and you can get a transplant to have some kind of normalcy at some stage...

[angela515]

 

[brenda]

Welcome Carolynt, and I believe it does get better. I've been doing this for 14 years and have never needled myself without Emla cream. Why cause yourself extra pain if you don't have to. Good luck to you.

[carolynt]

I love this website.  I am learning so much from everyone.  Question...does anyone have problems with constipation? 

[goofynina]

I love this website.  I am learning so much from everyone.  Question...does anyone have problems with constipation? 

Hi Carolyin,  if you go to the General Discussion thread and type in constipation in the search bar, you will be amazed at how many times we've talked about this subject, lol,  but if you do not find the answer you are looking for, please do not hesitate to ask.  Welcome to ihatedialysis.com. 



Goofynina/Admin.

[Falkenbach]

Hi Carolynt

Are you a candidate for transplant, and if so, do you think you will choose this option?

I have not had any dialysis experience, but I had a pre-emptive transplant recently and am doing very well. Although I've never had dialysis, I feel grateful that I've avoided it and I don't envy you and others. I do, however, greatly admire all of you for being so tough and getting each other through the hard times.

Best of luck with whatever treatment you choose for the long term.

[carolynt]

Thanks again for all your responses.  i checked our Constipation on General Discussion and found additional information.  Another queestion was about transplant.  I am meeting with the transplant team in September at Columbia Presbyterian in NYC.  I had my quad bipass there by Dr. Oz who saved my life so hopefully they will accept me.  Going on vacation to Florida (who goes to Florida in August?)  and everything has been set up for dialysis down there.  Now I will see if everything goes as smoothly.  Thanks again.

[Romona]

I have spent almost five hours here since I joined. You'll love it.

[MyssAnne]

Helllo, Carolyn, glad you're here, you've had quite a time of it already. Hopefully you'll get answers here.  And, most importantly, reassurance, you are NOT alone!

[paris]

  Glad you found us. This is a wonderful place to be--great people with lots of information

[MattyBoy100]

Hi Carolyn,

I was new to all this a year ago.  I had a severe needle phobia but now put my own needles in without anaesthetic.  Your fistula will get lumpy so it is important that it is needled in new places as it develops to make the lumpyness more even and to lengthen your fistula so you have more access points.  No one likes the needles but you can overcome this like I did and believe me once the fistula matures and toughens up, you don't feel the needles go in.  i didn't believe people when they told me on this site that if I did it myself it wouldn't be so bad.  I tried one needle first and do you know what, the people here were right!  Instead of someone guessing what they were doing to you, you know what you are doing to you coz you can feel it. 

So now, I NEVER let anyone needle me unless it is my fave nurse who has needled me from day one and even now, if I ask her to do it for me coz I feel lazy she says "No, you can do it yourself!".

Once you gain that confidence, you can set your own pace, not go in too hard, too fast or too deep with the needles, or too slow etc, basically you take control.  None of it is pleasant but being able to take some control psychologically is part of the battle with kidney failure.

Matty.

[kidney4traci]

missed this thread in the beginning, hope it is getting easier for you now.