Who can eat at your clinic while dialyzing?

[Rerun]

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,

Come on......Burger King has more germs than that clinic.  They wipe down everything with bleach and I know they don't get it all, but I'm clean and I wash my hands before going on.  I think because it is a germy environment we take extra percaution where at KFC or McDonalds we just go in and sit down after someone with scabies!!

[kitkatz]

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,

Come on......Burger King has more germs than that clinic.  They wipe down everything with bleach and I know they don't get it all, but I'm clean and I wash my hands before going on.  I think because it is a germy environment we take extra percaution where at KFC or McDonalds we just go in and sit down after someone with scabies!!

Umm...Rerun...Ewwwwwwww!

[angieskidney]

what do diabetics do in units where there is a no food rule??

[Russ]

what do diabetics do in units where there is a no food rule??

My clinic has a no food rule.  I'm diabetic and my run-time is 5 hours so I'm at the clinic for about 6 hours.  It can be rough at times so I try to bring crackers or hard candy.   Nobody says anything other than did you bring me some.

[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,

Come on......Burger King has more germs than that clinic.  They wipe down everything with bleach and I know they don't get it all, but I'm clean and I wash my hands before going on.  I think because it is a germy environment we take extra percaution where at KFC or McDonalds we just go in and sit down after someone with scabies!!

Hate to tell you Rerun, but there aren't to many people in KFC, BK or Micky D's on a Fresenius 2008K machine...kinda like comparing apples to oranges.  Believe me, I am a germaphob and I know bacteria is everywhere...but I'd much rather eat at the nearest BK than the nearest dialysis unit.

Fixed quote - Rerun - Moderator

[Rerun]

I heard a news story that your "cell phone" is probably dirtier that your toilet.

I'd rather eat on a dialysis machine and risk the germs than be sick from no nourishment and having all my blood sucked out and cleaned.  You can't even begin to know that feeling.

[number1nephnurse]

I heard a news story that your "cell phone" is probably dirtier that your toilet.

I'd rather eat on a dialysis machine and risk the germs than be sick from no nourishment and having all my blood sucked out and cleaned.  You can't even begin to know that feeling.

Yeah I think i heard that  new story also, hate to tell ya..my phone is much cleaner than any toilet.  Anywhooo, I may never truly know the feeling of "having all my blood sucked out and cleaned" and I honestly hope I will never have to experience such a thing, just giving my evidenced based professional opinion. No need to get offended this is an open forum is it not. Seems to me that the healthcare personnel are treated like the antichrist or something.  Just so you know, Rerun, I've been in the field for 11 years , as a tech and a nurse, I have friends who are current patients, I do extensive research to further improve my practice, I am an active participant in improving the quality of life for my patients, this is not just a job for me it is a passion. You have to have passion to work in such and intense field. Its not easy for the healthcare providers ether.

[Rerun]

I'm very glad that you like your job.  It would be hard to work as a dialysis nurse or tech. 

Please go to the introduction section and let us know a little bit about yourself.  No address or telephone number  , but just your experience and what part of the world you are from. 

   Welcome to our forum.  Everyone is welcome to give opinions but you should have thick skin to take opinions back.

[Dr. Evil]

I had a patient choke and die while on dialysis once....several more have choked and needed Heimlich-type maneuvers to save them.

I advise against it, but then most people don't listen to much of my diet advice anyway!

The dialysis centers generally have a no eating policy, and sometimes make you sign a waiver if you want to eat.  They have to protect themselves as much as possible from lawsuits.  However, the rule is generally not enforced.  The ESRD networks generally argue in favor of letting people have snacks.

The diabetes question comes up a lot, but it really is not a problem.  The dialysate (what your blood is being dialyzed against) has a blood sugar of about 180 or so....so no one is really going to drop their blood sugars during dialysis unless they took a huge dose of insulin.

[jedimaster]

Now that I do dialysis at home I eat as I like....I know I have to keep the environment as clean as possible and I do....no blood pressure problems whatsoever....

[okarol]

My friend in Paris told me the dialysis center there is really nice :

Benefits of the American Hospital of Paris Dialysis Center
• Equipment and infrastructure ensuring the highest level of security and quality
• Doctors present on site during the entire session
• A modern, comfortable environment
• Dialysis stations reserved for travelers:  no waiting list!
• International services (bilingual English/French staff; Japanese, Chinese, and Arabic interpreters)
• Flexible opening hours
• A selection of light meals à la carte, prepared by dieticians.

The food is served to you while in your chair!

https://www.american-hospital.org/Dialysis-Center.1154+M57d0acf4f16.0.html

[Zach]

What, no prices?
 

[Jaybird]

I get too HUNGRY while on dialysis not to eat. I usually eat a snack throughout dialysis, and have lunch near the end of my dialysis. It always messes with my weight, but I compensate for that by writing down what I eat and how much on my flow chart.

-Jaybird

[thegrammalady]

my start time is 5:30 am. i can't face food at 4:15. if i didn't eat during dialysis i would be very sick. i usually take 2 hardboiled eggs, some dry cereal or rice cakes and some sort of fruit. some mornings i take coffee with me. occasionally they have apples for us. not everyone eats. i really don't care about policy, i'm not letting anyone make me sick. luckily i don't have to worry about it

[George Jung]

I don't know what the policy is at my center and I really could care less.  NOBODY is going to tell me I can't eat something, that is my decision to make.  Plain and simple.

[kitkatz]

Paris here I come!

[RichardMEL]

heh yeah Paris looks good... and those French women... ooh la la! oops better watch out my BP will rise

Our unit is good about food. They have breakfast for the morning shift (but I am not on that so don't know what it is) and lunch for the afternoon shift. Lunch well.. I wouldn't call it lunch but it's something - 6 small triangle sandwiches, a cup of tea/coffee/water/cordial (your choice - I have a hot cup of tea!) and some fruit - usually peaches or pears.

The nurses just add .5 litre to the UF to take into account the meal/drink. i don't have to fruit so I get away with .35 or .4.

They're also good about giving you another drink if you need it.

I also have some candy (like jelly beans, musk sticks etc) in a container I take with me. The staff seem to eat more from there than I do (but I don't mind - they are all lovely) and I keep it to have in the last hour or two to up my BP a bit to starve off cramp. Been doing it a couple of months and voila.. no cramp!!!

[kianhu]

Our clinic does not allow eating on tx.  I will occasionally see someone sneaking though.  lol  Many years ago, I saw a fairly new patient drop his pressure, aspirate and die while eating cheese crackers on dialysis.  It was terrible experience for patients and staff. 

[Chicken Little]

My friend in Paris told me the dialysis center there is really nice :

Benefits of the American Hospital of Paris Dialysis Center
• Equipment and infrastructure ensuring the highest level of security and quality
• Doctors present on site during the entire session
• A modern, comfortable environment
• Dialysis stations reserved for travelers:  no waiting list!
• International services (bilingual English/French staff; Japanese, Chinese, and Arabic interpreters)
• Flexible opening hours
• A selection of light meals à la carte, prepared by dieticians.

The food is served to you while in your chair!

https://www.american-hospital.org/Dialysis-Center.1154+M57d0acf4f16.0.html

Ohhhhh!  I wonder how long the transplant list is?   Je parle français!

My unit allows food.  I usually bring a low sodium turkey sandwich and some grapes.  My BP doesn't drop when I eat though, it rises.   

[Jannie]

I was told to eat a little food before dialysis. But I get up at 4 am to be at the center at 5:15 and I just have no appetite. I may have a sip of juice. At the center, there's no food allowed, but you can get a small cup of ice chips .

[Diane]

We have a no eating policy, although patients can have hard candy and beverages.  (The choking stories are very scary and I may suggest to our nurse manager to only have hard candy on a stick from now on).  As a dietitian, I am very torn about this topic.  I know if I was a patient, I would definitely want to eat something, because no matter what shift you are on, you will miss a meal (AND I DON'T MISS MEALS  )  All too often my patients are malnourished.  Missing 3 meals per week definitely does add up.  Having said that, I also understand what the nurse is saying.  We have patients who want to eat on treatment, and I pretty much tell them to do it on the sly.  Most people don't want to get sick on treatment, so if they get sick from eating, they probably won't want to eat again.  It's easy for me to say that though, because if someone vomits on treatment, I can leave the room.  I have tried to change the policy in my unit for these reasons, but I haven't been successful.  One concern I do have is how someone's eating will affect the patients around them.  What if someone brings in a big, very aromatic, fast food meal and the smell makes their neighbor nauseous.  I would want to give some rules about what can be brought, but then I come would come off as a Hitler!  Oh bother!  It is a dilemma and there is no easy answer. 
Diane

[Rerun]

Or WHAT?  Are they going to ban you from dialysis?  Remember (and you may remind them) who the customer is and who is paying their wages!

The reason people choke is because they are trying to "sneak" it.  I have my Nepro drink, 1 blueberry poptart, and two cups of ice every session.  Don't even get between me and my Pop Tart! 

                                                                         

[kitkatz]

Alright Rerun! I will sit right beside you with my strawberry poptart and my baggie of captain crunch cereal.  Cheers!

[thegrammalady]

you can choke on hard candy so in my book choking isn't a valid reason.

[Krisna]

I eat at my center.  They have a policy in place too that says it's unsanitary but I carry antibacterial gel with me to solve that problem.  My friend and I found an Italian restaurant nearby that delivers.  We have ordered from there before while on dialysis!  Some of the other centers don't even have ice machines so it really depends on which center you go to around here.  I always take a Sprite with me! 

My center is moving soon though.  So, I don't know what will happen then.  I do know that no one will be able to tell me I can't eat during my treatment.  I dialyze from noon to 3 pm.  I don't eat breakfast so I have to eat something during my treatment!