self cannulation needle removal....

[tyefly]

 Ok  everyone.... who does self cannulation needle removal.... I need to know how you take your needles out and hold the gauze with one hand.....  I have been trying to think of how to do this when I start self care and cannulation.....   I can not think of how I am going to take my own needles out with one hand.....  I know some of you do this yourself and would like to know how you do it.....   

[kimcanada]

I take out my own needles... first I place my bandaid lightly over the needle and put it out with middle finger and thumb and press the bandaid down with index finger... Then I either hold for 10 mins to do the next one, or get someone to apply pressure for a min while I do the same on the other needle

[dwcrawford]

Good question.  I've been trying to visualize... though I don't start it till February.  Won't they give you that kind of instruction during your training?

[monrein]

I take out my own needles... first I place my bandaid lightly over the needle and put it out with middle finger and thumb and press the bandaid down with index finger... Then I either hold for 10 mins to do the next one, or get someone to apply pressure for a min while I do the same on the other needle

I did much the same as Kim, except that I used just a gauze till I'd stopped bleeding.  I usually waited only about 5 minutes per site.  Felt a bit awkward at first but soon felt very natural.

[kimcanada]

I take out my own needles... first I place my bandaid lightly over the needle and put it out with middle finger and thumb and press the bandaid down with index finger... Then I either hold for 10 mins to do the next one, or get someone to apply pressure for a min while I do the same on the other needle

I did much the same as Kim, except that I used just a gauze till I'd stopped bleeding.  I usually waited only about 5 minutes per site.  Felt a bit awkward at first but soon felt very natural.

To funny Monrein!  Me giving advice on needles, who would have thunk it!   

[monrein]

I would have thunk it Kim!  I knew you'd get there.   

[Hemodoc]

Dear Tyefly,  I don't remove the needles by myself, my wife always assists, but our technique may be helpful since we rarely have any bleeding before my wife presses down on the gauze. 

First, we pull the needle half way out and then place a band aide directly over the buttonhole but I personally don't let go of the needle.  We then place a 4X4 gauze pad folded in half and then in thirds again and lightly tape it in place.  My first tech taught me how to do this incenter to be able to pull the needle out without pressing down too soon as so many techs do.  I then pull the needle out the same exact angle that I inserted it and after the needle is out, my wife presses down.  I am not sure how easy this would be to do without my wife's help.

You may want to send Bill Peckham an email at DSEN and ask him how he does his since he does not dialyze with a partner.  He is very good with using his hands and doing more than one task at once.  He demonstrated for me once how he does some of these things by himself and I was really impressed how he did it.

Hope this helps,

Peter

[tyefly]

  thx   all are  good points......  I am going to start trying some of those during in center D......  I did email Bill several days ago  but he must be busy .... I havnt seen him on here much lately.......   

[jbeany]

You can attach a syringe to the end of the tubing to give yourself some extra length if you need it.  I did that with an upper left arm fistula when I was on Nxstage.  Then I could pull the needle with my left hand and apply pressure at the same time with my right.

[Bill Peckham]

Ok  everyone.... who does self cannulation needle removal.... I need to know how you take your needles out and hold the gauze with one hand.....  I have been trying to think of how to do this when I start self care and cannulation.....   I can not think of how I am going to take my own needles out with one hand.....  I know some of you do this yourself and would like to know how you do it.....

Remind me where your fistula is Tyefly.

It's easy to practice since you can do it without being cannulated to get the movement down. The basic move is to spread your fingers apart - pressing down the gauze with either your thumb or middle finger depending on your fistula location and the direction of the pull. You grip the line with either your thumb/index finger (when holding the gauze with your middle finger) or you squeeze the line between your first and second fingers while pressing the gauze with your thumb.

Like Peter says it helps to get the needle a little out first and then you really don't have to pull much to get it the rest of the way.

[tyefly]

  I have a upper arm fistula....left arm.....

[tyefly]

  Needle removal  is so easy...... one hand...... not a problem.......   I have that mastered........... Now   just to master the cannulation........   I have done it only a couple of times so more practice is needed.....   thx  everyone for all the pointers .......   6 months from now I am sure I will look back and remember all the worries that I have had with all of this and again   like usually  find out that its a piece of cake.........

[willowtreewren]

So true, so true. 

[Hanify]

In a little while you'll be on here giving pointers to newbies!

[Bill Peckham]

  Needle removal  is so easy...... one hand...... not a problem.......   I have that mastered........... Now   just to master the cannulation........   I have done it only a couple of times so more practice is needed.....   thx  everyone for all the pointers .......   6 months from now I am sure I will look back and remember all the worries that I have had with all of this and again   like usually  find out that its a piece of cake.........

Way to go!

[coorsbob]

You can attach a syringe to the end of the tubing to give yourself some extra length if you need it.  I did that with an upper left arm fistula when I was on Nxstage.  Then I could pull the needle with my left hand and apply pressure at the same time with my right.

Thiss seems to be the safest way to do this alone just remember dont get in a hurry and you will be fine always think before you do. Slow down is key. I do this 5 days a week and it works.

[Bruno]

I pull the needle half out then I grip the cannula with the fingers of the same hand, bending my wrist. I take a folded pad of gauze with the other hand, straighten my wrist which pulls the needle out of the button hole and in that same instant put the gauze pad over the site and apply pressure. I apply pressure for 10 minutes, which is usually enough time and then I tackle the arterial needle.
My fistula is in my left wrist and my buttonholes upper wrist and mid arm below the elbow. I'm right handed.
The big advantage in having a helper is that they can apply pressure (take over from you) whilst you do the arterial. Saves 10 minutes.