Ok! I Wimped out of having two Needles!

[kevno]

On Saturday I was supposed to have tried two needles again, with Rachel putting them is, (BUT) I saw Rachel putting another patient on. So I got Anna-Lisa to put me on the Machine. I knew Anna-Lisa would only put one needle in and use my line.  I still can not get used to the idea of having two needles, I have been having one needle for such a long time now. Rachel was not a happy nurse when she saw I had gone behind her back, and got Anna-Lisa to put me on. She said that she would get me NEXT TIME! . Yeah if she catches me!

More info if I get caught

Kevno
(Try to smile every day, you will feel better for it)

[Sara]

Kevno, would you indulge a newbie and explain what it means to have 1 or 2 needles. 

[hyperlite]

With a fistula or a graft, they basically make a "super vein" that is able to have blood drawn from it and is able to have the blood return to it as well...So they use 2 needles, one to act as the arterial line (blood away from the heart) and one to act as the venous line (blood towards the heart). when only 1 needle is used, it will usually draw the blood (arterial line) and they use the catheter as the venous line...i hope that explained it well enough

[kevno]

2001 My Bp dropped so low that fistula stopped.  So the Doctors put tescio Lines in my neck for dailysis. The Doctors did not try to start my fistula straight away, they left it for over a year.  By then it was too late and the bottom 6inches of the fistula failed so I only have a 2inch stretch, where it can be needled without much trouble. Plus I have a very bad needle phobia. Just flash backs from when I was a child on dialysis.  Ten years old being held down to put the needle in, having my arm strapped to a board to keep the arm straight. The memories are still very powerfull when I go on the machine.  I Have been using one needle in the fistula and one of the lines in my neck.  I have Two lines in my neck, We call them tescio lines, the first two lines failed after about 9months. The Lines that I have in my neck now, I have had in since October 2003. So I am now so used to just having one needle used, plus on line.  But the lines are slowly failing Can only get pump speed of 200 - 250 With two needles in a fully developed fistula you can get pump speeds of 300. With when my fistula worked OK, I was getting pump speed of 300. Meant more litres of blood went through the kidney. Better clearance. Better blood results. Supposed to feel better.

Now back to the two needles, There is just one nurse on the unit who I can trust even to have a go at putting two needle in Rachel. But as I said I managed to Keep out of her way a Saturday. Really it would be better for me it I could get back to having two needles.  But that Phobia keeps me back.  I have gone through three specialist about this Phobia. The one I have now moved to is a Professor.

If you want to read more  See "I hate Needles!!!!!!!!!!"

Kevno
(the one thing I fear, is fear)

[Rerun]

This may not be the place, but they are going to try my fistula for the second time tomorrow with "one" needle and the other line in my catheter in my chest.  Much the same as you Kevo.  They tried the needle 3 weeks ago and it blew the vein.  Pray for me that it works.  I don't want any more problems. 

[Bear]

I dreaded the idea of having things in my neck!!!! SO I didn't....
The first time they tried to use my fistula I had a huge 'blow'
and after another 15 mins of sticking & poking me about, it
was "see ya l8r' and I had to go back next day, to start again.
Once they got me putting them in myself....it is a hurdle, I admit
....it was better, with fewer errors. You can 'feel' whether it's
right or not. THe standard @ my unit was to try & have 2 sets of
buttonholes & alternate, but with me (& a few others there)
this has been easier said than done.
Sites '1 & 3' are much better thant '2 & 4', so get used
about 2-1.
THe thought of neck lines still gives me the shivers        

[Rerun]

I asked about the "Buttonhole" technique and was told it takes special needles and they don't have them.

So, I guess that is that!   

[Black]

I asked about the "Buttonhole" technique and was told it takes special needles and they don't have them.

So, I guess that is that!

Oh, for chrissakes, they can order them -- blunts aren't hard to get and medicare should cover them because w/ a buttonhole a fistula can last for decades!

BTW, if Gus sees this he can probably tell you how to get them yourself.

[Rerun]

Blunts?  As in Not Sharp?  :0

I'll have to do some research on these again.   

[Epoman]

Blunts?  As in Not Sharp?  :0

I'll have to do some research on these again.   

Yes when using a buttonhole technique after the insertion track is established, you use non-sharp (dull) blunt needles. And they pain should go away completely. Since you are sticking the EXACT same spot everytime the skin will deaden.

[geoffcamp]

I had a cath for a short period of time and hated the whole fear of infection and not being able to swim (living in FL I swim all the time).  I was a chicken at first and used lidicane for a few treatments but then one day I was told to try it with out it and it didn't really hurt.  I just recently lost my fistula and the did six operations to get a new kind of graft that is natural (more like a fistula) I think they call it a collagen graft and it is all the way up my left arm the bottom needle goes in right under my arm which I thought was going to be very sensitive but so far there has been very minimal pain if any.  I think you just have to get used to it.

[Rerun]

Hey Kevno...... I did it.  I had 2 needles today.  It went okay, but it makes me sick to look at the big picture!  THREE TIMES A WEEK!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[O in]

Hey Kevno...... I did it.  I had 2 needles today.  It went okay, but it makes me sick to look at the big picture!  THREE TIMES A WEEK!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhh

keep it up rerun it doesnt take long to reach the stage where it dosent hurt at all

luv oin

[kevno]

Well Done Rerun, maybe I  will have a go If Rachel is on the unit tomorrow My fistula is not a good one.  So only a very experience nurse like Rachel, will even have a go at putting in two needles.  I lost one of y lines on Tuesday.  So I am running out of time, for the fistula.  It's just that dam needle Phobia that is always there. Flash back form when I was a child, being held down to put the needles in, my arm strapped to a board, then having Valium to calm me down.  I was only ten at the time.  It even goes back further than that.; When I was on the ward in hospital, I always knew when it was my turn for taking blood, Two Nurses and one Doctor.  Thats from when I was six years old in the early 70's.

Keep your fingers crossed for me, I will have a go



Kevno
(No pain!, No Gain!)  I always hated that saying!

[kevno]

Did not see Rachel until about 10am,I got put on the machine at 8.05am. Then she wanted to do an ECG on me.  So the answer is NO, still not had two needles. , Unfortunately I told Rachel about this site so she is having a look at this site tonight. To see how much I have slandered her.  Will have to be careful what  I say about. Rachel (sister Vicious!) .


Kevno
PS Rachel you still owe me 75p for that Coffee!

[Epoman]

Did not see Rachel until about 10am,I got put on the machine at 8.05am. Then she wanted to do an ECG on me.  So the answer is NO, still not had two needles. , Unfortunately I told Rachel about this site so she is having a look at this site tonight. To see how much I have slandered her.  Will have to be careful what  I say about. Rachel (sister Vicious!) .


Kevno
PS Rachel you still owe me 75p for that Coffee!

Well hopefully Rachel will join and post and help answer some of the questions or just give her opinion of our rants. 
So Rachel if your reading this your welcome to join us.

- Epoman

[Bear]

  Hey ReRun - the 'blunts' are also shorter than the standard 'sharps'.
UNfortunately with a fistula that decided to take a slight hike across
my arm back towards its original home  , I've had to use a lot of
sharps again since Xmas, trying to re-establish 'buttonholes'.
  Basically the idea of buttonhole sites (I'm surprised you haven't seen
the video - it was one of several 'must view' ones at my unit & like most,
is a yankie production) is that you establish scar tissue there, so blunts go
in easier & there's less nerve endings there.
  Anyway, positions #1 & #3 now seem to be working - I've got blunts in
both t wice this past week.....fingers x'd  :
   ...if your unit won;t get em, get em yourself....then you can learn to
self-cannulate & you're off'n'running!!!