Who can eat at your clinic while dialyzing?

[kitkatz]

I thought it was hilarious when they put a soda drink machine in the waiting area of the dialysis unit.  Why don't they just hand us a knife or gun while they are at it?

[kevno]

Just a money making thing for the UNIT Maybe thats why they ended the drinks trolleys. Never had a problem on the unit I am on. You get TOLD you are only allowed one drink off the trolley. I always have a cup of ice. But I take a small can of coke in with me 150mils.Some patients I have seem with those 500mils bottles of coke

[Zach]

One patient orders Chinese food to be delivered while he's on dialysis.       

[angieskidney]

Some patients I have seem with those 500mils bottles of coke

Oh yes I have noticed that too!! And first thing I think of "bet their Phosphate is high when it is labwork day!!"

[redheadedangel]

It appears that our center has double standards. Depending on which nurse is working. Just last week I was reamed when eating my pineapple and cottage cheese..Directly after taking insulin. Not that her Outburst effected my eating..I just looked at her as if she has lost her mind. Mentioned to her that she might stroll around the room and notice the rest that were eating instead of standing over me like I was the only one in the room. I mentioned that I recall he buying crab cakes the day before form a patient they allow to come in and sell to patients and staff. And the boiled peanuts she was eating in front of us was uncouth. She accomplished nothing other than too raise my BP....Yes, appears rules are double standard, and thus meaning that the snack machine and the coke machine must be for money making and we are to buy as we leave..... I don't think so..As long as I take insulin, I will eat something thank you. Not into bottoming out on my blood sugar. So if you see a tent in my chair it's cause I am under cover eating...lol..note to self: take larger blanket. ...Sassy

[Minea]

In Finland it is highly recommended to eat something during dialysis. In most hospitals (most of clinics are in hospitals) they bring us full meals (also dessert ). But they do not recomment to drink more than 2 dl.

[keith]

it all depends on how i feel but 99.9% of the time I'm eating something,if it's not chic wings, it's cheez burgers, bag of chips,bottle of Gatorade,and some hard candy.the staff tells everyone that they can't eat, they tell me the same but like i told them I'm going to eat even if i have to hide it.and they haven't bothered me in 5yrs.

[Zach]

Corn chips and protein drink.  And then 3 PhosLo     

[okarol]

My daughter's clinic has no restrictions to eating or drinking when on dialysis.
They usually just want to take the measurement of the beverage into account for weight.
My friend in France said they have menus and food at her unit, you can order when you
arrive and it will be served to you!
~Karol

[pigsty1953]

I tried  not eating while on dialysis, and I got bad cramps.
I am on for 3.5 hrs starting at 11 am.
So i eat some cereal and toast in the morning.
Then I bring two bagels and a soda to nosh on while I am on.

If I don't eat while I am on, my sugar drops very low.


Take care,
Randy in Clearwater, FL

[Russ]

My clinic doesn't really allow eating but some patients eat anyway.  OMG, yesterday a female patient ate 2 Sonic foot long hot dogs and a Route 44 soda.  I'm diabetic and my run time is 5 hours so I'm in the clinic a total of 6 hours which makes it tough. I always have Tic Tacs or mints or something in my pocket at the clinic.  A few times my sugar dropped too low and they had to call my wife to bring me something to eat.  They don't even have a snack machine to buy crackers.

[Panda_9]

My clinic doesn't really allow eating but some patients eat anyway.  OMG, yesterday a female patient ate 2 Sonic foot long hot dogs and a Route 44 soda.  I'm diabetic and my run time is 5 hours so I'm in the clinic a total of 6 hours which makes it tough. I always have Tic Tacs or mints or something in my pocket at the clinic.  A few times my sugar dropped too low and they had to call my wife to bring me something to eat.  They don't even have a snack machine to buy crackers.

Thats pathetic! If I were you I would bring your own food, even if its just something light like a sandwhich or some crackers. If they say anything tell them to get stuffed!! Just use common sense, if your BP is low (say under 110), then obviously its probably not a good idea to eat, but if its fine, then by all means eat. You dont want to be going hypo, as Im sure the nurses would LOVE that!

[tubes]

When I first started at my clinic we were able to eat.  Back then it was a RCG clinic.  Now we are Fresenius    and are not able to eat.  I still see people eating all the time.  I dont think the nurses care too much.  I use to eat but everytime I did I would cramp real bad.  So I don't eat anymore.  Once in awhile one of the nurses...if I ask her will give me some animal crackers.  Just a few.  I get up a 4 am, usually get home close to 11 am then I finally get to eat.  So I go all that time without eating usually.  If I am really hungry after dialysis I will go to the Sonic up the street from my unit. 

One time the head nurse was taking orders for McDonald's from the other nurses.  I wanted something also, so she bought me a happy meal.  I couldnt believe she did that.  Shes awesome ! ! !

[Panda_9]

4-11am isnt too bad. If you have breakfast before you leave. An in centre run for me is, leave home at 7am, get home at 5pm.

[Russ]

4-11am isnt too bad. If you have breakfast before you leave. An in centre run for me is, leave home at 7am, get home at 5pm.

Holy cow, Amber.  That's a long day.  Is your clinic a far distance?

[Panda_9]

.

[angieskidney]

By car it is about 15 minutes. I usually get the bus though, and it takes me an hour to get there. I like to get there early so I can do 6 hours as the unit closes at 3.30pm and they like you off by 2.30pm so there is time for cleaning and what not.

I wish I could do 6 hrs instead of 3 1/2 but at the same time I hate even sitting for 3 hrs

One time the head nurse was taking orders for McDonald's from the other nurses.  I wanted something also, so she bought me a happy meal.  I couldnt believe she did that.  Shes awesome ! ! !

Wow that is cool! I would be eyeing them hoping they would ask me what I wanted too as I love McD's even though I am aware how bad it is. I love BigMac's but I heard that they don't have them everywhere.

[sandman]

The bigmac is sold world wide and there are McDonald's resterants everywhere but I noticed in Canada that they have a double bigmac and I have never seem them here unless it was custom made to order.

[angieskidney]

Oh that is right! It is the DOUBLE BigMac you guys don't have

[goofynina]

We do have the Monster Mac that they sell right around Halloween,  but i havent seen it advertised lately, and yes, you can tell them you want a Double Mac pretty much anywhere i would imagine. 

[sandman]

We do have the Monster Mac that they sell right around Halloween,  but i havent seen it advertised lately, and yes, you can tell them you want a Double Mac pretty much anywhere i would imagine. 

That's true goofynina.  You can walk in to just about any Mc D's and ask for a double big mac but here in the states, that is not normally on the menu like it is in Canada. 

[omapat]

John just take a root beer barrel and pop it into your mouth!! What will they do?? come with twizzers and take it away from you???  I have never seen a candy or food cop at the clinic's. LOL
I am encoraged to bring a sandwich or snack during treatment, and to always have candy or gum handy, (ok you caught me Im a diabetic!!) just say your sugars low that will keep them quite & you happy! 

[number1nephnurse]

Well Johnny,

     I understand and sympathize with your desire to eat a little something on the machine, however, there are valid reasons as to why one should not eat while "on" the machine.  #1. Sanitary reasons/ transmission of infectious disease, although you may not see or smell bacteria..it is lurking in your unit, maybe on a chair, on your television control, IN THE AIR, #2.  Blood pressure control, your "gut" utilizes a great amount of blood supply to assist with digestion of food, the greater amount of blood supply that is in the gut during dialysis means there is less in circulation which can cause adverse effects such as interdialytic hypotension, nausea, vomiting, passing out.  #3.  Most patients dialyzing are in the reclined position, this position is not a normal postion for eating, one might experience an hypotensive episode, pass out and aspirate the contents in his/her mouth at anytime.(It can happen) hence the the no eating rule.  Surely a nurse cannot physically remove a food item from your mouth..(unless it is an emergent situation  ) just know that there is a method to the madness at your unit.  Stay strong Johnny, maybe if you share a piece of candy with the staff they'll be to busy stuffing their faces and no one will notice that you are eating too.  Nurses love choc-co-latte you know. 


EDITED: Fixed multiple HTML tag errors. - Epoman, Owner/Admin

EDITED: To member, please do not use the HTML tags if you do not know how to use them - Epoman, Owner/Admin

[kitkatz]

IMHO I think it is left up to the dialysis patient in the end what he or she can handle when on dialysis.  I like to bring small snacks to eat while I am on the machine. Been doing it all along for almost eight years now.  I find a heavy meal is not very good. but light snacks such as cereal or crackers are okay.  If you are going to eat in your dialysis unit do so quietly and unobtrusively.  Do not say loudly :"Oh it is time to get the snacks out."   The techs and nurses are usually pretty busy answering machine alarms, putting people on and off ,or taking care of patients; they could care less what you are doing.  Just do not call attention to it-was what one nurse in a Hawaii unit on Oahu told me.  I just truck it in and let the crumbs fall where they may.  I have been to several different units and not one told me to stop eating anything.  I even had lunch from Burger King in Santa Maria while I was on the machine.  But I was tucked in the back of the unit in a private area. I wa son vacation and had not eaten anything for lunch yet and it was getting late and the grouchies were upon me.

Does anyone notice a difference if you a snack eat early or late in the run?   I have tried both and it seems to really not matter.  I have also discovered that a little protein in the snack goes along way to getting that ucky feeling afterwards to go away.  I usually bring string cheese or ham to go with the crackers. Just a few ideas.

[John S.]

Well Johnny,

     I understand and sympathize with your desire to eat a little something on the machine, however, there are valid reasons as to why one should not eat while "on" the machine.  #1. Sanitary reasons/ transmission of infectious disease, although you may not see or smell bacteria..it is lurking in your unit, maybe on a chair, on your television control, IN THE AIR, #2.  Blood pressure control, your "gut" utilizes a great amount of blood supply to assist with digestion of food, the greater amount of blood supply that is in the gut during dialysis means there is less in circulation which can cause adverse effects such as interdialytic hypotension, nausea, vomiting, passing out.  #3.  Most patients dialyzing are in the reclined position, this position is not a normal postion for eating, one might experience an hypotensive episode, pass out and aspirate the contents in his/her mouth at anytime.(It can happen) hence the the no eating rule.  Surely a nurse cannot physically remove a food item from your mouth..(unless it is an emergent situation  ) just know that there is a method to the madness at your unit.  Stay strong Johnny, maybe if you share a piece of candy with the staff they'll be to busy stuffing their faces and no one will notice that you are eating too.  Nurses love choc-co-latte you know. 


EDITED: Fixed multiple HTML tag errors. - Epoman, Owner/Admin

EDITED: To member, please do not use the HTML tags if you do not know how to use them - Epoman, Owner/Admin

Wow #1nephnurse...you really sound like you know the protocol for the no eating rule. You also sound just like the mini-Hitlers at my clinic. For that reason, I will continue to sneak a couple pieces of candy to get me by. In my 12 years of dialysis (i am considered the SENIOR patient at my clinic) I have NEVER had a problem with any of the above problems you mentioned from eating. It may happen tomorrow, but I doubt it.

As for the chocolate for the staff...well i do love dark chocolate, so maybe i'll bring em' some to soothe the savage beasts. Anywhoooo.........thanks for breaking that news on the reasons for not eating, but i'll stick to my controlled insanity.

john