Questions for NxStage users

[SkyDancer]

Hi  ,
                 I have a few questions about supplies using NxStage.We've been told a little information by the nephrologist and the home nurse,but I wanted to ask actual users of this system.Besides the machine and bags of fluid do they supply you with anything else? Such as BP cuff,masks, sterile gowns,biohazard and sharps containers? I didn't know if you actually needed all of this stuff or not.Anything anyone can tell me would be much appreciated.

[tyefly]

I just finish training and am at home now... first week...   the clinic supplied me with all of that stuff... scale, BP, sharps container, mask, all of your supplies.... I brought them home from the clinic....   several boxes....I am still working on a chair.... I was told to just come and pick up what ever I needed from the clinic....   So far so good..

[petey]

When we started NxStage (July of 2007), Marvin's clinic supplied BP cuff, scales, fax machine, centrifuge, thermometer, etc.  Every month when we go for Marvin's check-up, we pick up more gloves, masks, sharps containers, band-aids, gauze, chux, tape, alcohol swabs, betadine swabs, needles, vials (for lab draws), heparin, etc.  (And, yes, you need all of the above.)

NxStage sends us the dialysate, warmer disposables, waste line extensions, purification paks, cartridges, saks (for making a three-day batch), etc. (anything dealing with the machine itself).

Make a place for plenty of storage!  Get your space organized so you have "a place for everything, and everything in its place."

[willowtreewren]

The only things we supplied are the trash can and bags, and bleach.

[SkyDancer]

WOW! Thanks for the info everyone." I think I need a bigger box" Hopefully I can come up with a good storage solution.

[silverhead]

I purchased a 2 door, 5 shelf metal cabinet that conveniently holds all the supplies except the cartridges, and saks for the main storage, and for daily use supplies i found a 7 drawer plastic unit (3 large and 4 small drawers) that holds a week or so of daily use "stuff" that is next to the Cycler.

[Zog]

We get Henry Schein flexible fabric strips to cover the needle sites from our center.  They are hard to remove without pulling on the needle or skin.  We used to get Kendall Curity.  They remove easy. Get the Curity bandages if possible.  Bill Peckham recommends buying Walgreens store brand bandages for this reason.  Band-Aid fabric strips also remove easily.  We have been using those lately.  I need to buy a value box of 1200 online somewhere for cheap and just get it over with.

You are going to get a lot of supplies from your center, but don't feel like you can't go out and get some better ones (or demand them) if the ones they give you don't work well.  We got our own scale and chair.  You are going to be spending a lot of time on dialysis.  Treat it like anything else in life.  Some people will spend a bagillion dollars on a car or dining room set they sit in a few minutes a day.  If you have to sit on dialysis for a few hours, might as well invest a little in making the experience better.

We have two of the 7 drawer Sterilite clear plastic boxes for syringes and bandages.  We have a wide 3 drawer one the we keep needle sets in because they don't fit well in narrow drawers.  We also keep gloves and masks in there, although we don't use them any since we stopped using the catheter.  If you ever notice most nurses and techs wear masks and gloves for their protection, not yours.  The gloves aren't sterile, they just keep nurses from getting cooties or AIDS or hepatitis should they have a cut on their hands.  Just watch one the next time you go to a center, they will touch everything in the room and 3 or 4 patients with the same set of gloves.

We got a Tablemate II, its great if you want to eat or work on something while you are in the chair.

[SkyDancer]

 If you ever notice most nurses and techs wear masks and gloves for their protection, not yours.  The gloves aren't sterile, they just keep nurses from getting cooties

The Techs at mom's clinic are somewhat better than the new nephrologist.Her first day there she dropped a pair of gloves on the floor,and then put the same gloves on to examine one of the patients.( Don't think too kindly of this neph,but not possible to switch right now ).The techs and the facility manager just have a little problem with passing gas in front of the patients too. I'd be nice if they gave you a gas mask to wear.

As for the band-aids and tape,we already buy our own for mom to take to her clinic.The manager told us the company will no longer pay for them.We also have to make sure they are latex free due to allergies.

[Zog]

The manager told us the company will no longer pay for them.

Those cheap a$$ bast*rds!  Have you ever seen the bills for one treatment?

[M3Riddler]

Hi  ,
                 I have a few questions about supplies using NxStage.We've been told a little information by the nephrologist and the home nurse,but I wanted to ask actual users of this system.Besides the machine and bags of fluid do they supply you with anything else? Such as BP cuff,masks, sterile gowns,biohazard and sharps containers? I didn't know if you actually needed all of this stuff or not.Anything anyone can tell me would be much appreciated.

Skydancer,

You may have already heard from others, but here is how it is handled:

NxStage will supply you monthly with:
1.Dialysate bags if you do not use pureflow
2. drainlines
3. warmer bags (depending on new or old warmer model given)
4. Any Pureflow supplies - saks, paks, control panels etc...

Your Clinic will provide all ancillary supplies...
1. saline bags
2. syringes
3. needles
4. sharps container
5. gowns if needed
6. masks
7. gloves
anything else that may be needed.  They may or may not provide you with a bp machine and a few others. You may have to purchase on your own.

///M3R
www.nxstageusers.com

[SkyDancer]

Those cheap a$$ bast*rds!  Have you ever seen the bills for one treatment?
[/quote]
That they are Zog!I can't believe what they charge for treatments and any "budget cuts" sure don't reflect on our bills.Even the nephrologists charge an arm and a leg just for 1-2 minutes of their time.NxStage is looking better and better every day.

[M3Riddler]

Those cheap a$$ bast*rds!  Have you ever seen the bills for one treatment?

That they are Zog!I can't believe what they charge for treatments and any "budget cuts" sure don't reflect on our bills.Even the nephrologists charge an arm and a leg just for 1-2 minutes of their time.NxStage is looking better and better every day.
[/quote]

Yes,
Unfortunately, the bills are high and you know they will only go up as the services go down. There is a whole section on Medicare and Dialysis and how it will affect you. Message me and I can send you the link. It explains what will and will not be paid for by Medicare. Some are good, while others bad.

But for freedom, NxStage will give you indepence you will not have in-center.

///M3R

[tyefly]

Can you put that information on here about the medicare what they will pay for     for all of us to read......

[Bill Peckham]

Home Dialysis Central has an Ask The Expert forum where you can ask Beth Witten questions about Medicare and or insurance coverage for home dialysis. She is a great resource.