Missing heparin.

[Vt Big Rig]

Traveling near Cheshire, MA. All set up to run. No heparin. Anybody nearby that can spare some.

[cassandra]

How did you get on Vt?
I was on the boat, so only just read your situation. Was about to reply, but you're in Cheshire MA no t UK. Sorry

   


Love,mluck, strength, Cas

[Charlie B53]

All I can suggest is phone calls to local Hospitals and maybe aid car station, firehouse.    Hopefully someone will understand the necessity and find a way to dispense from their supply.

[SutureSelf]

Traveling near Cheshire, MA. All set up to run. No heparin. Anybody nearby that can spare some.

If you are with one of the Big 2 for profits, they probably have a clinic in the area.  Have your clinic contact and see if they will give you a vial.  If that doesn't work, have your nephrologist call a prescription in to a local CVS or other large pharmacy.  Other option, contact your home training nurse/nephrologist and ask of the possibility of treatment w/o heparin and doing 100 cc saline flushes every 30 minutes. 

[Vt Big Rig]

Well, I am no longer with one of the big 2. The clinic said they could not call in across state lines. They said use 50 cc flush every 30 minutes and add that fluid to the amount I was taking off.
Also said since my bags where connected and we were primed the setup was only good for 4 hours. Never heard that before.
Anyway the 50 cc flushes worked.

[PrimeTimer]

Well, I am no longer with one of the big 2. The clinic said they could not call in across state lines. They said use 50 cc flush every 30 minutes and add that fluid to the amount I was taking off.
Also said since my bags where connected and we were primed the setup was only good for 4 hours. Never heard that before.
Anyway the 50 cc flushes worked.

Glad that worked out for you. I'd probably be in a panic mode. They might have been talking about the Heparin being good for only a 4-hour run. After that, I think you need more Heparin. 

[Michael Murphy]

After having a massive bleed in my left eye I don't use heparin during dialysis,  every half an hour 100 cc's of saline are used to flush the lines.  The only problem is when they forget and I clot the lines.

[Simon Dog]

Also said since my bags where connected and we were primed the setup was only good for 4 hours. Never heard that before.

This is a matter of clinic policy.   The FMC clinic I use has a 2 hour maximum setup to treatment start time in the clinic, and recommends the same to their home hemo patients.

[justagirl2325]

I have never heard that, I do the set ups all the time at home and just leave them waiting for him to get home from work whenever.  I use a different machine but I think I will ask them if that applies to us.

Also, thanks for the reminder to re-order heparin.

[SutureSelf]

Also said since my bags where connected and we were primed the setup was only good for 4 hours. Never heard that before.

This is a matter of clinic policy.   The FMC clinic I use has a 2 hour maximum setup to treatment start time in the clinic, and recommends the same to their home hemo patients.

It has nothing to do with the physical viability of the dialyzer - they are the same ones used for extended hour treatments either for incenter machines or home nxstage. What it has to with is giving a patient who is late coming in,  a 2 hour window before his set up is taken down and reset for the ext patient.  The clinic will consider a half treatment OK, better than nothing, but anything less, reschedule.  It's economics (profit), not medical related, especially when talking incenter.

[SutureSelf]

Well, I am no longer with one of the big 2. The clinic said they could not call in across state lines. They said use 50 cc flush every 30 minutes and add that fluid to the amount I was taking off.
Also said since my bags where connected and we were primed the setup was only good for 4 hours. Never heard that before.
Anyway the 50 cc flushes worked.

Not so sure using this to leave one of the big 2 is wise, not even as a last straw issue unless the clinic was totally arrogant/dismissive in its response to you.  I believe any clinic would give you the same answer that I had suggested you ask about.  Flushes are pretty much standard, epecially in medical situations like michadl murphy brought up where bleeding could be an issue.  Glad you were able to get in your treatment and learned something new as well.

[PrimeTimer]

Hope the rest of your trip went okay, VT. You certainly have put in a lot of mileage. You may have gotten a little hitch in your giddyup along the way but kudos for not letting dialysis stop you! 

[Simon Dog]

It has nothing to do with the physical viability of the dialyzer - they are the same ones used for extended hour treatments either for incenter machines or home nxstage. What it has to with is giving a patient who is late coming in,  a 2 hour window before his set up is taken down and reset for the ext patient.  The clinic will consider a half treatment OK, better than nothing, but anything less, reschedule.  It's economics (profit), not medical related, especially when talking incenter.

The clinic I use enforces this standard even if the setup is left over from another patient who never showed and there is plenty of time for a full treatment.   The home care RN also explains it is policy for home care patients to limit pre-setup to two hours in advance.

[Vt Big Rig]

Well, I am no longer with one of the big 2. The clinic said they could not call in across state lines. They said use 50 cc flush every 30 minutes and add that fluid to the amount I was taking off.
Also said since my bags where connected and we were primed the setup was only good for 4 hours. Never heard that before.
Anyway the 50 cc flushes worked.

Not so sure using this to leave one of the big 2 is wise, not even as a last straw issue unless the clinic was totally arrogant/dismissive in its response to you.  I believe any clinic would give you the same answer that I had suggested you ask about.  Flushes are pretty much standard, epecially in medical situations like michadl murphy brought up where bleeding could be an issue.  Glad you were able to get in your treatment and learned something new as well.

I did not use this to leave the big 2. I left because we moved and the nearest big 2 with a home program is about 80 miles away.

[Maggie and Jeff]

NxStage states the cartridge is good for 72 hours from starting the prime.

Experience has taught me not to stop the pumps until we are starting.

If left primed with the pumps stopped the cartridge needs reprimed after about 30 minutes.

If left running in #23 mode as long as you are done before 72 hours your good to go.

[cbatsea]

I do "set-up" sometimes 24 hours in advance...it's all enclosed....no problems!  I never actually ASKED at the clinic, because they have to follow whatever "guidelines" they're told to follow.  We simply don't have time to do set-up AND treatment in one, fell swoop....so it is what it is.  The saline is the same in the lines as in the bag!!