From the Chair - what it's like

[okarol]

I searched and cannot see if this has been posted before. If it has, my apologies.

"From the Chair"
By Lori Tate, BSW.
 (Lori is a social worker with Renal Care Group in Brookhaven, McComb and Mendenhall, Mississippi.)

It all began Thursday, May 13, 1999.  I was relaxing in one of the empty dialysis chairs, talking to patients who were getting off dialysis. I thought to myself "this isn't so bad; why do they complain so much?" Immediately my brain took over; my next thought was "What if I couldn't get up?"

What happened next is hard to tell, it all came into being so fast. I made a decision that would change my life. I decided I would come to the unit on my day off and pretend to be a patient. The nurses, of course, were excited about the idea and all joined in making the experience as real as possible.

First I would weigh with 4 bags of saline (comparable to a weight gain of 4kilos). Secondly, I would sit in the dialysis chair and the saline bags would be placed on me. The bags would be placed on each leg and two in the chest area.  Finally, one bag would be removed each hour. Yes, I agreed to sit in the dialysis chair for 4 hours on my day off! It all seemed like such a good idea for a social worker. I would gain so much empathy for the patients! I was excited! I was feeling great about myself. I'll be honest and admit the words "Super Social Worker" did come to my mind.

However, less than an hour later, I began to think of all the things I needed to do during the weekend. How could I get it all done and still have time for my pretend dialysis?  This is when I began planning my escape. How can I get out of this? How am I going to be still that long? It's not like it's the real thing anyway.

No! I've made a commitment. I've opened my big, fat mouth and now I have got to do it!

Friday, May 14th, 1999.  I spoke with the charge nurse and he explained I would need to arrive at the clinic promptly at 11:30 am. Later in the day, I requested a morning chair. I could get so much more accomplished if only I could get an early chair. However, the charge nurse informed me there were no early seats available. Can you imagine? A fellow employee, we work together! I've helped him out thousands of times. Everyone knows they (nursing staff) simply use the social workers to do all the things they would rather not do. Enough whining, the nurse said 11:30 am. I will be here at 11:30 am.

The big day arrived. At 11:30 am, I was awaiting my turn on "the machine”. Of course, I was not seated until 12:00 (noon) and not completely “hooked up" until 12:10 pm. With saline bags in place, books to read and other patients to talk to, I was ready to begin. The only problem was, I had only been in the chair for fifteen minutes and I was ready to get up. Other things that came to my mind while on the chair were: "These fluid/saline bags feel so heavy", "I am so cold sitting in this chair", "It doesn't feel this cold when I am working", "Is my butt numb?” "I can't move my legs, they’ve fallen asleep". "What machine is beeping?" "I know how to hit the reset button, however, I cannot help because I cannot move". "I wish I could change arms, I'm tired of keeping this arm still." My blood pressure was actually low while" on the machine", I began to wonder, "What does this mean?" "Am I okay?" "Hey nurse, come here!"

It was also unusual to be sitting that low in the chair. When you are seated in the dialysis chair, because of the placement of the unit, you are unable to see anyone who isn't on your side of the room. I knew which nurses were in the unit, however, I couldn't see them from where I was sitting. Also, due to the placement of the machines, I couldn't see anyone on my left. I could only speak with the patient seated directly in front of me, or the patient directly on my right.

Finally when my four hours were up, I did not want to talk to anyone. I had been sitting so long; I just wanted to go home. I felt differently about the experience than I thought I would. I honestly had not been concerned. I was going to teach patients something by my good example. However, they taught me a lot. All of my feelings can be multiplied by a million. I was not stuck by a needle. I did not watch my own blood come out of my body and go through a little tube. I did not have the fear of having to sit in that chair for the rest of my life because my kidneys were no longer functioning. I did not become sick and vomit in front of twenty people. I was able to think about what I would have for supper when I got home, instead of sitting and thinking about all the things I couldn't have.

I did gain a great deal of respect and admiration for the patients. I did not gain any further empathy, as the one thing I fully understand is that I will never fully understand or know what it feels like to be a dialysis patient, unless one day I am one. I can only hope this experience allows me to be more compassionate and more apt to treat patients with the human dignity I know everyone deserves. I also hope that some of the staff members who were working the day I sat in the chair for 4 hours will take the time to stop and think to themselves, "What does it feel like, from the chair?"

-- END --

[jbeany]

Sounds to me like this ought to be a requirement for job training in a clinic!

[Sluff]

Everyone should post this at their clinic.

[Zach]

Thank you for the post okarol !!  Great story -- all patient staff should read it.
 

[Jill D.]

Everyone should post this at their clinic.

I totally agree.

[Black]

Sounds to me like this ought to be a requirement for job training in a clinic!

ITA!! and thanks, Okarol, for posting this!!

[goofynina]

OKarol,  where do you find your stories?  They are all so meaningful and mostly inspirational,  thank you...

[tubes]

  what a great social worker to do that.
i agree.  everyone should post this at their clinic.

[susie q]

Good stuff... thanks for sharing..  

[Fox_nc]

Sounds to me like this ought to be a requirement for job training in a clinic!

Everyone should post this at their clinic.

Hear! Hear!  Maybe I'll print a couple copies and secretly leave them in various parts of the clinic . . .

[Nan]

I love what you have to offer, yes they are inspiring.....thank you!

[okarol]

It just boggles my mind -- this account was written nearly 8 years ago,
but little has changed. Some clinics have really good staff, but too many
have employees who don't have a clue what the patient goes through.

Here's another  article - posted in 1998 on the FDA govt. website - does not seem
to be updated since then - and few changes have occured since then for
dialysis patients, even though great strides have been made regarding kidney
transplantation http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/1998/198_dial.html

[Zach]

It just boggles my mind -- this account was written nearly 8 years ago,
but little has changed. Some clinics have really good staff, but too many
have employees who don't have a clue what the patient goes through.

Here's another  article - posted in 1998 on the FDA govt. website - does not seem
to be updated since then - and few changes have occurred since then for
dialysis patients, even though great strides have been made regarding kidney
transplantation http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/1998/198_dial.html

While they may not be significant to some, there have been changes for the better for those on hemodialysis since 1998.  The article doesn't cover the improvements in the machines, dialysis filters and medications, as well as the better understanding of the nutritional requirements of hemodialysis patients.

The current problem with long term transplant --chronic rejection-- is basically the same issue faced back in 1998.  Unfortunately, significant progress is slow for both forms of renal replacement therapy.

[okarol]

 

[thegrammalady]

it amazes me that there is a social worker out there who even made an attempt. as ya'all probably know i don't have a very high opinion of social workers. (somewhere on the list with lawyers and pond scum) having delt with them for over 20 years i can actually say there are only 2 (maybe 3) that i have ever liked. if i knew this one i think i could add her to my list.

[willieandwinnie]

I think everyone that has anything to do with a dialysis clinic should do what she did. Maybe their minds sets would change. Wishful thinking. Great story Okarol.

willieandwinnie

[goofynina]

I wonder if our one and only KT = Kent Thiry from Davita, has ever done this?    yah right, he couldnt hang 

[Adam_W]

I wonder if our one and only KT = Kent Thiry from Davita, has ever done this?    yah right, he couldnt hang 

He's probably never even set foot in one of his own centres. Must.......resist.........KT rant! Ahh, I'm good now.

Adam

[paddbear0000]

Now if only there was a way to actually hook them up to the machine! 

[KT0930]

Now if only there was a way to actually hook them up to the machine!

Make them experience the cramping!!

Everyone should post this at their clinic.

As I was reading I was considering printing it and giving it to my SW.

[okarol]

Now if only there was a way to actually hook them up to the machine! 

I keep thinking about this. Talk about experiencing the reality of dialysis! 

[WBMW]

thank you for sharing this.

[okarol]

 

[okarol]

 

[monrein]

The social worker who wrote that IS a super-social worker because she recognized something she actually didn't know and did something about it so that she could better understand her clients' points of view.  They could have put in an IV that required keeping an arm dead straight for four hours, just to provide a bit more authenticity to the experience but nonetheless, she gets my