Yeah, they really do care..........NOT!!

[Ravenwolf]

 I am sick of my sometimes dialysis clinic. I say sometimes clinic because, I am on home dialysis but, they are always finding some cockamamie reason to drag me in there. The staff and I don't really get along so, why don't they leave me the hell alone? These folks for the most part are Napoleonic dictators. They are so used to the meek, humble, timid little 90 year old ladies, they think they are all powerful. Not that they are all bad. Some of the techs are really decent people. It's the permanent staff that needs a good clubbing  . Once I was "In the chair", and had a severe case of restless legs syndrome. If you sit during one of those attacks, the pain becomes excruciating. I kept begging everybody in earshot to "PLEASE LET ME UP". It feel on deaf ears. After a little more time as the pain intensified, I shouted out in pain. Unfortunately the shout was  rather profane. Sorry, hell I was hurting severely. What happens? The social worker comes over and scolds me for my profanity. I told her I needed to get up, I couldn't stand sitting there anymore. She called herself  trying to talk me through it. OH YEAH, that was a lot of good. After I would not settle down, she asked a tech to let me up. This is the same tech that walked by me earlier, observed me in pain and, when I asked her to please help me said,"This isn't my section". What does it take to get these idiots to realize that, when you are in pain in those chairs, when you are restricted it affects you mentally also. You get extremely desperate. Now my social worker is threatening that, if I don't see a psychiatrist and get on medication, they will kick me out of the clinic. Impotent threat because I do home dialysis. I am already out. What kind of monster  would resort to a threat like that? What does nurse Ratched want, to drug me into submission. I am going to the Network people with this one. It's way too big for the clinic itself. The V.A. might also want to know how a disabled vet is being treated. Way I see it is, a whole lot of people have shouted out worse than what I said with no repercussion, such as; "I am going to kill you" and "I'm bringing my gun tomorrow". That coupled with that dizzy nutritionist badgering me about taking medications I don't even have, has driven to the point of just quitting. If I have to put up with their foolishness, I'd rather be with Saint Peter  . I would also tell you about the Hitlerian Charge nurse also but, this is already almost a novel. God save me!

[willowtreewren]

 

OMG! I'm so glad we did not have to deal with that kind of treatment.

I wish I could do something to help!

 

Aleta

[lmunchkin]

My Goodness!  It almost sounds Draconium.  Hope you find a way out!  Really, I would report it, but doubt anything will be done, but try at least!

Good luck & God Bless,
lmunchkin

[Ravenwolf]

 Draconian is just the word for it. It has been like that from day one for me. When I first transferred from my old clinic the charge nurse treated me like a criminal. I took a wrong turn and ended up in the employee area. It was like I was robbing a bank.  At that time all the techs were really nice people. After i was gone on home dialysis for two years, the whole crew seemed to be gone and replaced. Worst of all to me is my Neph, who must have trained under Josef Mengele. He keeps wanting to force treatments on me nobody else has to take. He now understands that, if he doesn't back off, I am going to pound him into doctor jelly. At 6':3" and 280 lbs., he knows I can back it up. I will be looking for another Neph tomorrow. You ladies have already helped me by your understanding. I will get me a new Neph, continue my home dialysis and try to enjoy what life I may have left.

[Jean]

Youve got it Ravenwolf. Glad you are standing up for yourself.

[lmunchkin]

Hey, they put their clothes on just like you!  Its your body, your life and they need to "KNOW" that! 

Good luck & God Bless,
lmunchkin
 

[fearless]

I have nothing to offer, but I appreciate your post because after today I am furious with my clinic as well.  The people who want to help me are being prevented by the ones who want to hurt me!  (they don't really want to hurt me, I'll just say: they don't care if I do get hurt)  How can someone look right in your open, honest face and feed you a line of s*** you know is all about money for the company?  WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS!  WE SHOULD COME BEFORE MONEY!  How can you not care that we are hurting when we are right there with you in this room in this moment? 

i guess the paycheck is too important, and if keeping that means ignoring the suffering of those of us on whom the money is being made (does that make sense even? , then we are second

[Ravenwolf]

  Fearless, One of the big problems with the clinics is, they think we are so desperate that, we will take any mistreatment just to stay alive. I have already told the folks at mine that, death isn't the worst thing that can happen to me. I said, "I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees". I guess they think they really own us. That is the way they behave. They bark orders like they are commanding their dogs. That is why I chose home dialysis. I control what happens here. No attitudes or bad manners in my place.

[lmunchkin]

I really like our clinic where we go for check ups, Ravenwolf.  They are not like that!  I walk around that clinic and talk to everyone there.  I know them all and I believe they have a fond respect for me.  Heck, I even went riding Motorcycles with a couple of them.  But more importantly, they are going to respect my husband and have.

I truly believe that they care for my husband and will accomodate in anyway.  But I do demand that too.  So are they genuine because they want to be or because I want them to be?  Who knows, but as long as he is taken care of, then Momma is happy.  If momma is happy, then everybody is happy!  Lol...

What kind of dialysis you do at home, Ravenw?

lmunchkin
 

[fearless]

yes, home dialysis is better.  I did that for 8 years (PD).  Now I'm trying to get back to it ASAP. (home hemo)
there is such an incredible difference between in-clinic and home dialysis.  I was treated like a human when i was on home D.  Now I feel like - I don't even know what anymore.  There are just a couple of people there who have taken it upon themselves to try to squelch any control i have over my own treatment.  Every step is a battle with them.  Sometimes they act like it's their company and they're trying to save money on me.  Or they're just on a power trip and veto my every request just because they can.  I have to play all kinds of games between the doctor, the nurses and the clinical director to try to get what I want/need.  I've also realized just recently that a number of the techs and other nurses are unhappy about the way things are too.  It seems that since the clinic changed hands a few years back it's slowly been placing it's own "rules" ahead of individualized patient care, and the happiness of even it's own employees (except the ones who seem to enjoy the game)  UGH!  I thank God for the people in-clinic who are brave enough to do what they can to put the patients first.

[HILINE]

imo PD sucks, all you think about is dialysiis

[Ravenwolf]

 Imunchkin, I have been on home PD for 2 years. I avoid hemo as it is rough on the heart an, I have serious heart disease.

 @ fearless. I guess the bottom line is, dialysis clinics are for-profit businesses. Patients at some clinics are only product. When we come in, they are only stocking the shelves. When we leave and the next shift comes in, they are only rotating the stock. Like you I feel human at home dialysing.

 @HILINE. I think about all kinds of things on PD. I go to Church on Sunday. I visit restaurants regularly. When I am on the machine, I am all over the place, cleaning, cooking, playing videogames. I even went outside on time and barbecued.  You can think what you always did on PD. Those who only think about the treatment, are probably unimaginative and, are probably afraid of it.

[HILINE]

Imunchkin, I have been on home PD for 2 years. I avoid hemo as it is rough on the heart an, I have serious heart disease.

 @ fearless. I guess the bottom line is, dialysis clinics are for-profit businesses. Patients at some clinics are only product. When we come in, they are only stocking the shelves. When we leave and the next shift comes in, they are only rotating the stock. Like you I feel human at home dialysing.

 @HILINE. I think about all kinds of things on PD. I go to Church on Sunday. I visit restaurants regularly. When I am on the machine, I am all over the place, cleaning, cooking, playing videogames. I even went outside on time and barbecued.  You can think what you always did on PD. Those who only think about the treatment, are probably unimaginative and, are probably afraid of it.

NO I was not afraid of PD, it wasn't for me, 7 days a week was too much

[NDXUFan]

Draconian is just the word for it. It has been like that from day one for me. When I first transferred from my old clinic the charge nurse treated me like a criminal. I took a wrong turn and ended up in the employee area. It was like I was robbing a bank.  At that time all the techs were really nice people. After i was gone on home dialysis for two years, the whole crew seemed to be gone and replaced. Worst of all to me is my Neph, who must have trained under Josef Mengele. He keeps wanting to force treatments on me nobody else has to take. He now understands that, if he doesn't back off, I am going to pound him into doctor jelly. At 6':3" and 280 lbs., he knows I can back it up. I will be looking for another Neph tomorrow. You ladies have already helped me by your understanding. I will get me a new Neph, continue my home dialysis and try to enjoy what life I may have left.

As a former police officer, you and I are about the same size, I am 6'3" 250, bench 450.  Too bad we cannot beat up dialysis personnel that are arrogant and abuse patients, or better yet, take them to jail.....