here we go......center's first buttonhole attempt

[Jess21]

Everybody cross their fingers for me today...the clinic I just transfered to is trying buttonhole technique for the first time today.  Not my first time, theirs.
Let me give you a bit of a background.  I switched clinics to a clinic closer to my school.  When I went there, for the past few months my clinic had been doing buttonhole, so i only had 2 marks on my arm.  I kept getting asked if i had just started dialysis, cause they had never seen/heard of buttonhole technique!  They always use sharps.  Well, for the last 2 weeks, I have been getting poked, except for one day when a tech used (I don't think knowingly) one of the tunnels.  So, everybody got all excited and curious about the technique and they ordered the needles especially for me.  My old center is sending over a few buttonhole needles and a scab remover.  They have a video, but won't try it until I get there.. I was asked if I knew how to do it (if I did my own needles) and asked then if I can explain to them things if needed.
The only problem is that they haven't used it for over a week, so on one I don't even have a scab anymore..makes it hard to remove it!  So I don't think its going to work..my old center tends to even have problem with it!  My fistula is supposedly small, plus right below the surface.  They have even had problem with getting SHARPS in.  I get poked about 4 times normally.  But I figure everyone has to do something the first time, I have to do new things to animals all the time! So, this may be a long, painful day.

[David13]

Good Luck Jess21!  I am sure you will teach them all a thing or two!

 

[Bajanne]

Look at it this way - someone has to be the pioneer!

[willieandwinnie]

So how did it go Jess21? Don't keep us in suspense. 

[Chris]

So how did it go Jess21? Don't keep us in suspense. 

I was curious also. Hopefully they didn't mess up, or to bad of an ordeal. Do you go there on M,W,F or do you have to go there on a Saturday for the T, Th, Sat shift?

[Jess21]

So how did it go Jess21? Don't keep us in suspense.

Goodness gracious!  I don't have dialysis until 4-8 pm!
But anyway, it was the must uneventful cannulation I've had in a long time!   It turns out one tech had done buttonhole at another clinic (though she wouldn't say how long it'd be-she said she didn't want to scare me!)  But yea my tech had watched the video, so she watched along with the nurse, who'd never seen it.  He was amazed after each needle when I had no pain.  He kept asking me, and seemed amazed when the flow was good.  I think he said he had to save the needles cause they don't have their own in yet (since they have to specially order them for me).  So the nurse says he wants to try wednesday when he's there and he's going to have the staff rotate to learn.  I'm just happy but I won't have tons of holes in my arm anymore!
And I go MWF.

[Chris]

That's good it went well.

[David13]

Fantastic Jess!  So glad it went so well!

Here is to continued success!   

[monrein]

Would you consider cannulating yourself Jess?  With the buttonholes established and all, it'll be a piece of cake.  I hope you think about it and try. 

[Jess21]

I think there's something different about poking other people (or animals, in my case) and poking myself.  I feel bad enough now putting catheters in and doing blood work on animals cause I know how it feels!  But when dogs need 20 gauge needles, I grab them like nothing..the other people in my class shudder...I think "wimps!"

[Chris]

Ever do a pig or cow? Horse is easy though, cow (not veal age) you go for the tail to get blood in between the vertebrae (no spinal cord there). People where squeamish doing that and I was fine. Pig's that's some tough skin there!

Doing blood work on a non cooperative kitty, real fun!
Non cooperative dog easier than noncooperative cat any day.

[Jess21]

No I don't have farm for another 2 terms.  But I do have surgery this term...had to do labs on a dog with impossible veins...I attempted jugular twice failed, cephalic once and failed, even the teacher couldn't get jug..had to take a while during cephalic! ugh.