How do you get comfortable?

[casper2636]

When I was younger (not too long ago), I used to give my brother wedgies where I was just left just holding the waist band of his underwear, and the left over was lodged in his crack...what's that called?
By the way, the information on wedgies was invaluable!

[Riki]

yeah... I giggled at the flying dutchman....

Oh.. I just remembered something... Murf, I was going to get a snuggie, and ask the nurses if I could leave it in the blanket warmer... *L*  I never actually did it, though.

[lunadatura]

Ah so nice to know that in additon to the usual symptoms and challenges of ESRD and D we also have mutual company in the NUMB ASS department. NA was particuarly challenging when ( after smashing my knee to bits carrying my PD machine and it causing me to take a tumble down 15 cement steps) I had to be on bed rest and no weight on my bad knee for 3 months - my ass hurt more often than not. Now that I am more mobile and able to be more active in my life in general its less of a problem. Recently thought I had another 4 week stint of hospitalizations (septic schock from IJ catheter) so the NA reoccurred. Stealing the gel cushion of a wheel charir and inserting in under my hind end on top of the D chari idid help.

happy sitting

[tyefly]

 I will admitt that it is uncomfortable to sit for any length of time.... I was one of those who never sat....Now I am doing Dialysis everday... I sit for awhile but then I stand too.... cant move around alot but standing does help..If my pressures go up too high  I just slow down the machine.... take a break....

[greg10]

No one seems to have mentioned this, but you can get a mattress overlay that has alternating filling and emptying, reducing the constant pressure on your back side.  This is generally used in the hospital for preventing bed sores.  It may be of use in this case.  About $60.  This can be noisy for some people.

[lunadatura]

I was recently in a large sports supply store and notice that they had a number of items for watching outdoor sports like inflatable cushions for seats and it made  me think of this diiscussion  so i thought i would share that there are alot of comfort items in the sporting goods store or on line that might make the sport of sitting through D for 4 hours more bearablle 

[Des]

No one seems to have mentioned this, but you can get a mattress overlay that has alternating filling and emptying, reducing the constant pressure on your back side.  This is generally used in the hospital for preventing bed sores.  It may be of use in this case.  About $60.  This can be noisy for some people.

This is a bit inpractical for me. I can not carry so much stuff to the unit as I battle to carry it all with one arm afterwards. Maybe the people that do Nocturnal D can use it.

I constantly change the position of my chair.... ie. the top section up/down and the bottom section up/down. That helps a little.

[Bruno]

Hot news fellow sufferers, I have pioneered a development that I have proven over three (yes, three!) test runs will completely eliminate the "wedgie" problem. It is my intention to patent what is in essence a very simple device and one that contributed to my rehabilitation and re acceptance back into my dialysis ward. Those who no longer spoke to me (yes, there was a time when I was ignored) now greet me even in a somewhat subdued fashion.
What is the secret? I can hear you asking
It's simple, I now wear a thong, in a large size admittedly but certainly in a tasteful colour. (a delicate mauve)
I realise it's normally a ladies garment but folks it works and it's not as though I'm suggesting we fellows adopt it for normal wear (unless?)
On another subject I'd like your advice, I notice I've finished my last three sessions with a severe headache...any suggestions?

[rsudock]

On another subject I'd like your advice, I notice I've finished my last three sessions with a severe headache...any suggestions?

Bruno I noticed I get headaches quite frequently too. A nurse told me it was your body trying to adjust and recaliberate from all the fluids that are gone. I usually go home and go to bed and it is gone the next day. Sometimes I put ice packs on my head.

xo,
R

[casper2636]

I get headaches too, but was told it was the fluids in my head getting used to the pressure changes due to the liquid being moved during the dialysis process. I was told and have been receiving meds (Manatol?) that help relieve them. Don't know if this is fact, but whatever they give me helps, 'cause I know those headaches are awful!

[casper2636]

Oh, ya...In response to the wedgie solution, you're basically saying if you start out with one, you wont worry about getting one though out the session because you started with one?

[billmoria]

     Tonight was impossible! Sat down at machine at 5pm. It had 6 minutes to go. It just would not start. The nurses tried everything and it did not good at all. We had to shut machine down and go thru all the tests again. Still, no luck.    I finally got the clock ticking at 6:45!!!!!!!!!!
4 hours later - my bum was screaming for relief.
Some days it just don't pay to get out of bed - only kidding

[Des]

In our case it doesn't pay to get into one for 5hours. 

[Bruno]

Here's an odd thing...I didn't wear my thong (pale mauve) to my dialysis centre today (it was being laundered and starched) and for the first time in a while I didn't end up with a headache. My mother (who loaned me the thong) said it may have been too tight. She's 60 kg and I'm 112kg.
What do you think? Should I only wear it for cricket practice or is it the wrong colour for a clean living Aussie bloke?

[Stoday]

You must have worn it back-to-front.

[Gandalf]

Must say I agree - the overwhelming sensation of numb bum far outweighs anthing a needle has to offer by way of discomfort, and what makes a bad hair day worse is when the cramps set in near the end of the session.  Find myself staring at that timer with absolute certainly that time has indeed stood still, and that I am forever locked in to the Hell that is internment in a dialysis chair!

[galvo]

Well said, Gandalf.

[natnnnat]

Bruno:  you might think size would be a factor, but I suggest the real problem might be the colour.  Honestly, starched mauve;  it's giving me a headache just thinking about it.

[casper2636]

Just out of curiosity, I'd love to see the sight! Starched? Really?

[Trena]

About a year and a half ago I was sitting in my chair and slid which caused a shear injury to my backside. This means the flesh moved and the muscle didn't. At first it was just sore but I soon after contracted an infection from the placement of my current fistula which caused me to go into septic shock and spend a month in the hospital. I ended up with a Stage 2 bed sore on my tush. After I was released from the hospital I couldn't sit without being on a pillow. I discovered that a memory foam pillow that is about 3 inches thick works very well to prevent the numb butt. I also used a pillow behind my back. The chairs the unit has are old and broken down. After the 4 hour run I was so sore I could hardly walk. I have since switched to home hemo and only run for 2.5 hours a day and have a hospital bed but still have problems with back pain during the run.

[knittingdan]

I find that I can sit on my bum for around 2-3 hours, then I have to move over onto a hip.  Once I've made the transfer, I have to switch hips about once an hour(I run for 8 hours at a time). 

[Bruno]

I have given up the idea of wearing a thong (pale mauve) due to the remarks (some of which have tended to be derogatory) made by several contributors to this thread. I had intended this to be a serious discussion on what can be a serious medical problem as you can see from Trena's post where as you can see she has developed BS (bum shear).
But no matter, I thank all those who made a sincere effort at relating the many methods they have found useful.
For myself, I will continue to fearlessly investigate this problem even though the nurses at my centre have now put a screen around my seat, to protect the other dialysers, I am told.