will it ever get better

[woodsman]

sat and tuesday sessions went horrible, 5 sticks each time, seems like the crew covering for vacations need some retraining.... they hurt me bad with the 15 gage needles...

[Desert Dancer]

Geez Louise, woodsman, AGAIN? I know you said you were thinking about self-cannulating; are you still thinking about it? Now might be the time. Sounds to me like everyone at your center needs some remedial training, fer cryin' out loud.

If you want something done right...

[looneytunes]

I agree with DD....maybe you need to take KK's stick with you to your next session and start breaking some heads!   

[MooseMom]

I just don't understand what the problem is.  This is just awful.  Other than the sticks, is everything else going pretty well?  Can you give some more thought to self cannulation?  Surely that must be better than what you are going through now.

[woodsman]

They sais they don't do self cann there, i feel washed out after and i am off work. I sleep bad if any

[MooseMom]

They sais they don't do self cann there, i feel washed out after and i am off work. I sleep bad if any

That's BS.  No, it's not that they "don't do" self cann, it's that they "won't do".  I'm horrified that they are forcing you into such a dreadful situation and won't do a damned thing to help you help yourself.  OK, the next obvious question is, "is it possible for you to find another clinic that WILL teach you?"

[Ang]

make some noise,get another tech thats a bit more knowledgable

[Desert Dancer]

They sais they don't do self cann there

Obviously they 'don't do' regular cannulation either, with the rank incompetence displayed by damned near everyone who touches you.

I agree with MM; it's not that they 'don't', it's that they 'won't'. Start making some noise about it. Start looking for a new clinic and let them know you're looking for a new clinic; they don't want to lose you as a 'customer'. It's YOUR body, goddamnit. You shouldn't have to submit to thrice-weekly mutilation just because they're threatened by the fact you might be more proficient at it than they are.

[boswife]

this is so wrong and it sickens me.  Who on Gods green earth can you talk to about this?  Are others there going through the same crap??

[rsudock]

 

[okarol]

 
Ask for a meeting with the center's manager and find out how to get better care!! 

[Jean]

That is just ridiculous Woodsman, holler and get some attention, dont let this continue any longer!!   

[woodsman]

Last 3 times went well i told them who i want to stick me and they agreed, now the 15's are not so bad...

[Big E]

Last 3 times went well i told them who i want to stick me and they agreed, now the 15's are not so bad...

 

[MooseMom]

Last 3 times went well i told them who i want to stick me and they agreed, now the 15's are not so bad...

That's a big step forward.  So glad to hear it.

[woodsman]

They sure leave big holes though..... I have a ct scan on thursday for the transplnt folks we shall see how it goes, then off to dialysis to remove the ct scan injection

[lmunchkin]

Good luck tomorrow!  I hope all goes well, Lord, you have surely been put "through it!

God Bless

lmunchkin

[boswife]

I hope now it WILL get better..  Geesh!   God willing, your on your way and best of luck with that transplant process..  You sure have our prayers for  some good news all around...   

[lmunchkin]

FYI, I use 15's on my hubby!

lmunch

[Bill Peckham]

They sais they don't do self cann there, i feel washed out after and i am off work. I sleep bad if any

I don't think it is up to them - I think the conditions for coverage require that they support your decision to put in your own needles. This would be a good time for your Network to do some education. Which Renal Network covers your area?

[dialysisadvocate]

This is a COMMON complaint that I hear from patients ---->staff can not cannulate without hurting me, they are not trained, they stick me several times.

I believe this is what is written related to self cannulation in facilitiies ----cannulate upon receiving the proper training and demonstrating competency. The patient’s right to participate in aspects of his or her care is addressed at § 494.70(a)(5), and as written, is flexible enough to include self-cannulation as well as other forms of in-center self-care and home dialysis----

I agree with those who commented about faciilities not wanting to... Many facilities do not want to and I have heard that when some patients have gone to the Network that  they have had no results to any satisfaction, while many have. I would suggest speaking with your physician and telling him/her that you want to be involved in your care and self-cannulate because the staff , obviously, at times, are not conducting safe practices. The wrong methods of cannulation can result in loss of your fistula, e.g. numerous pseudoaneurysms resulting in potential loss of fistula depending upon the size and number of these and how much area is left to stick. I have observed this ...

Interesting, as I see it, that the oversight, government agency, CMS certainly has focused on training and certification of technicians --esp in cannulation but then we continue to see such as this person has described.

And, you can always file a complaint with the state agency.... Remember, most patients, receive cookie-cutter training in the dialysis unit and from the post of many here, I think that supports what I have just stated.

Above opinions of
Roberta Mikles BA RN
Dialysis Patient Safety Advocate
NON CONNECTED in any way to the dialysis industry
www.qualitysafepatientcare.com

[jbeany]

I just don't get that attitude.  I was the first patient to train for the newly acquired NxStage program at my center (after a lot of pushing and begging from a number of the patients to get one started, including me.)  When I started learning to self-stick, the nurses and techs were so excited to help me learn.  Most had never seen anyone do it, and we all worked together to figure out how I was going to manage it one-handed.

[MooseMom]

It just seems like common sense to let patients self cannulate if they want to as it frees up time for those patients who need more of the staff's time.

I have been thinking a lot about how I will approach my neph/clinic staff once I start D.  They won't know that I can even spell "cannulation".  I think I will go in with the breezy attitude of, "Well, of course I'm going to learn to stick myself, and of course I'm going to want to train to do my own dialysis.  Why wouldn't I?"

What's unfortunate is that clinic staffs vary in quality; it's a very hit and miss affair, it seems, and it shouldn't be that way.  There are plenty of members here on IHD who really like their clinic and are happy with the staff.  But for those who are unlucky enough to have that extra burden of poorly trained staff, well, that's such a shame.

[woodsman]

Well everything has gone well and have had perfect sticks and now the 15's are not as bad as at first. I hope this continues...

[boswife]

woodsman, im so glad for you.. How are you feeling these days?  It's got to be starting to 'ease' your mind a bit now that you've seen what it can be.  I too hope it will continue.