I am starting HemoDialysis tomorrow 29Mar

[Rerun]

Are you squeezing a ball to exercise your fistula.  If you squeeze a ball it helps it get bigger so they can't miss.

I'm so sorry.  Best of luck.

               

[Quickfeet]

 

[Jean]

Oh, WOW, Des, what a first day. So sorry to hear that. 

[billybags]

Des that sounds awful, Its bad enough thinking about having to go for hemo but to have all this sh** happen, I don't know what to say. I hope it goes better on Monday, they will get it right eventually. Thinking of you. 

[Des]

some good news. I went for a sonar today to see what is cooking and my fistula is still cool.
  no surgery needed
The radiologist said that when the first "infiltration" took place the swelling blocked off the strong bloodflow to the rest of the fistula. He saw a lot of damaged tissue ( I could have told him that! I was purple and blue) So even if they could get into it the "flow" would not have been strong enough for the machine and the alarms would go off the whole time. 

So next week monday (easter Monday) we will do the whole thing again.

Oh and emla cream helps for about 5 min.

[monrein]

That's good news at least Des.  The fistula can be very delicate and sensitive to infiltration especially at first and the bruising looks even more drastic since heparin is involved too.  I'm very white, well a very pale pinky beige but you know what I mean, and my arm looked a real mess at times. 
Sending you a huge cyber bear hug but not squeezing anywhere near you poor arm.   

[MooseMom]

Well, we will take what little good news we can get!

I'm not sure there is any kind of cream that would completely protect you from what you went through yesterday.

[tyefly]

Well Des     it happened to me at first too.... a couple of times....after a month  or so it becomes easier.....    I would use the lidocain shot.... this really helps with the pain......  after a while  it will become less painfull.....  I just use elma cream now  but I self cannulate and g some times I dont even use the cream......  I hope things go better next week......   Baby fistulas are such a pain  .....mine was   for a month....... 

[Stacy Without An E]

I'm sorry, but nine times is outrageous.  I don't know any more about your clinic, but that sends up a huge warning flag that your staff is full of morons.

It should never, ever, never, ever take nine sticks.  No one should have to suffer that much.  Especially when you're first starting.  I did have some bleeding under the skin which was painful, but once it fully healed it became an easy stick for everyone.

If this continues, please do yourself a favor and ask to speak to the clinic manager about your situation and how to improve it.

[sullidog]

Sounds like the morons at my clinick, I lost my graft, mostly do to them.
Troy

[Lisa]

I too cannot believe they even let the "sticking" get past 3-5x before they quit. 
I assume you are healthy enough to wait another week to dialyze and you are feeling good right now.   

You have found the best place in the world to be for support and comiseration!!!  I hope you are getting along fine and I am looking forward to hearing good news next week!!

[RichardMEL]

9 times is insane. That sucks

We had a new girl start the other week and she clotted up right away also. Luckily for her they just pulled all the lines, set up again, gave some more warfrin and she was OK and had a normal first session.

I'm glad your fistula, in the main, is OK after that horrid start.

Best wishes for next Monday to be much better !!! 

[Des]

thanks all.    I can't wait to start dialysis!!!!!

Thanks for being there. 


I just love dialysis.

[MooseMom]

Uh, no...it's not "I Just Love Dialysis".  It's "I Hate Dialysis".  Get it right, girl!

[Des]

I had my very first dialysis the 5th April 2010 at 16h10.

Yes,  after only 3 (not 9) tries both needles were in. Just a few minutes into it I told the nurse that I don't feel so good.  She then said... : "breath it will be better soon"
 and just like that I was OUT. Yes, my bloodpressure crashed to 30/50. I woke up with my feet in the air and an oxygen mask on. They were talking about ICU amongst themselves and that woke me up completely.(because I ain't going back there again!) I had the ICU doc and a few nurses surrounding me. They were all VERY happy to see me. (so was I) Luckily no ICU for me as my bloodpressure recovered.

The rest of my 3 hours went quick as I just slept through most of it, recovering from my little "episode"

So..... I will be going back for more of that fun tomorrow.....  

[MooseMom]

OK, enough of the dramatics!  It's time for you to get reaaaaaallllllllyyyyyyy bored at dialysis.  No little side trips to ICU, OK?  We're all hoping for less newsworthy posts from you tomorrow....

We're all thinking of you!

[monrein]

Des, I hope you aren't on any BP meds?   As soon as I started D I had to come off all of mine...4 or 5 in total.  People who need to continue with BP meds shouild be sure NOT to take them before a session.

I'm with MM on this too....enough excitement.  Boredom is so good when it's D we're discussing.

[thegrammalady]

that nurse should learn to listen. when a dialysis patient says "i don't feel good" they usually mean it. i hope everything goes better next time.

[billybags]

Des, How are things going?

[looneytunes]

Des...how's it going?  Better?  I've been thinking of you and sending postive vibes your way....

[Des]

My first week has gone by.... many to come. It was quite dramatic but I can now give you guys some info.

They are not taking any fluid off for now. I am using  17gauge needles and a very low pump speed. Oh, and they are only doing 3 hour sessions of HDF not HD?

They doubled my ecotrin.... and they will be adding some iron and potassium next Monday.

They are still "complaining" that they would rather canulate someone else as nothing goes smoothly with me. So I think they draw straws in the tea room to see "who is going to get me" because everytime so far I have had another nurse.    My blood pressure seems to be up and then drops suddenly without warning.... no-one seems to know why.

I haven't fainted again - so that is some good news. The arm hurts today.

Thanks for being there/here for me....

[monrein]

Thanks for this update Des.  I'm glad they're going slow to give your body (and your mind) as well as your fistula a chance to adjust to all that dialysis entails.  I do wish they'd stop complaining about your arm though...not like you chose to have a tricky vein.  I'm also wondering why they keep giving you a different person each time since I would think that you need the BEST cannulator present in the building and someone consistent could learn the tricks of your arm and then others could try as the vessel enlarges and toughens up.  Oh well...the mysteries of dialysis units.
Are you taking any BP meds?  And if you are, try not taking them before your session as that can drop it suddenly even though they're not taking off fluid.
 

[Des]

and....

the centre is quite nice.

Each "chair" has its own tv (5 channels) own remote and own earphones. Midway through I get a sandwidch and tea. The bed has a remote and can "bend" in the middle.Heads up or feet up. Very comfortable. I get covered with a warm blankey and viola! all in all not too bad.

Not a lot of chit-chat going on as everyone either sleeps or watches tv. So I don't need to listen or talk. Cool.!

I arrive at 16h30 and only miss half an hour of work. I leave at 9pm. 

[billybags]

Glad to hear you are doing ok Des.

[Des]

Well it has been just over 2 months of "fun" with dialysis.

I did one more visit to ICU with chest pains - not too serious though.

I am doing 4 hours of HD with a pumpspeed of 300 (I believe this is very good) I upgraded to 16gauge needles.(nearly the biggest)   My  bloodpressure is stable. Doc stopped all my bp meds.

I don't like all the staff at the unit, I get the impression that they are just doing enough not to get into trouble and nothing more. They do not "care" about us. Our unit are relatively clean and they do everything right (sort off)

I get an iron drip every Monday and EPO injections Mondays and Fridays. I take 2 potassium tablets a day (you heard right -bananas!)

I still dread it everytime I go there... I really would rather be somewhere else. So that is still a problem.

Oh.. and I have decided to attempt knitting. Yes, knitting with two straight arms.(I will take a pic hahahah) Well I will rest my arms on the table in front of me... I will let you know how that goes.  Keeping in mind that I NEVER knit.

I will keep you posted.

Lovies