Ok, I am not scared of needles, I have been diabetic for 28 years. I have a fairly high pain tolerance, but I still use the cream. No fistula was possible, so I now have a graft. I know I cannot use button holes with a graft, so it sharp sticks all the way. My wife is a cardiac nurse and she is a pro at starting IV’s. When we were in home hemo training, she stuck me the first time and has never missed. You should see my track lines, perfectly strait and no aneurisms. I don’t think I could have a spot on my graft that has not been used. I guess I am saying that my wife is so good, I don’t want to go backwards and go through any bad sticks. I do want to stick myself because that is the only thing I cannot do for myself. I have read many of the caregiver’s forms and see that my wife really needs a break. Also, sometimes she does not get home from work until late and it makes a later night for both of us. I just can’t get up the guts. I would love to have her come home one night and find me almost done with a treatment. What tricks does everyone have?How did you do it the first time?How do you get the odd angle?
Quote from: Dan.Larrabee on March 10, 2009, 02:28:53 AMOk, I am not scared of needles, I have been diabetic for 28 years. I have a fairly high pain tolerance, but I still use the cream. No fistula was possible, so I now have a graft. I know I cannot use button holes with a graft, so it sharp sticks all the way. My wife is a cardiac nurse and she is a pro at starting IV’s. When we were in home hemo training, she stuck me the first time and has never missed. You should see my track lines, perfectly strait and no aneurisms. I don’t think I could have a spot on my graft that has not been used. I guess I am saying that my wife is so good, I don’t want to go backwards and go through any bad sticks. I do want to stick myself because that is the only thing I cannot do for myself. I have read many of the caregiver’s forms and see that my wife really needs a break. Also, sometimes she does not get home from work until late and it makes a later night for both of us. I just can’t get up the guts. I would love to have her come home one night and find me almost done with a treatment. What tricks does everyone have?How did you do it the first time?How do you get the odd angle?Hi Dan. The only problem you had was that you waited too long. It's really not a big deal. I just started using my fistula and started my own needles during home training 2 weeks later. The thought of doing it really bothered me so I just wouldn't let myself think about it. I simply decided to do my needles and turned off the mental switch. I knew I had to begin at some point and waiting was only going to make it worse. If other people could do it, then I could. That's all I needed to know. It was that simple. No eeewwww, or "I can't" or "I don't want to".... I HAD to so I DID. And the rest was history. I'm no pro yet - only been doing this for a couple of weeks but I'm doing it and glad I am.Just turn off the mind switch and put it in cruise control. Just do it. You'll be fine and sad that you didn't start sooner.Wendy
The picture of the needle is a 17ga. Green is always 17, and 15 is blue.Good luck, and once you do it you will be suprised how easy it is, and then once you get good at it, you won't want anyone else to ever poke you.
I Hate Dialysis Message Board
I Hate Dialysis Message Board
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