Introduction

[jd2004]

Hi! My name is Veronica. I'm 32, working on my second bachelors degree, trying to find a part time job, waiting on a second transplant, and I am starting dialysis again for the second time tomorrow afternoon. However, this is my first time on in-center hemodialysis, and I admit, I am still scared crapless about side effect after treatment. I have heard about the fatigue, but what else should I be on the lookout for besides bleed-outs?  Any advice on how to survive my first day?

[Simon Dog]

Bring a laptop or tablet to while away the time while you dialize and consider a Netflix or Hulu subscription.

[Charlie B53]

Hi Veronica and Welcome to IHD!

The toughest part of in-clinic, besides holding still while they stab those huge needles into you, is NOT gaining the excess water weight between sessions.

For me, keeping under 3 kilos to take off is the fine line between cramping and staying relatively normal.  3 kilos plus that additional half kilo they call rinse-back, the amount of saline they give you to flush all your blood back to you out of the dializer/machine, seems to put me over that fine line and I most often cramp.  If not immediately then later that night in bed asleep, I will wake up with those terrible calf cramps.  The ones you just got to stand up and walk or they seem to just get worse.

How to stay under that 3 kilo amount?    It ain't all wine and roses.   I go through a bunch of Lifesavers, the mint ones seem to have less sugar, and less potassium/phosphorus, which is another thing you will need to start paying attention to.

Has your Dr prescribed 'Binders' for you yet?  The first time your Labs come back high he will.  Take them with EVERYTHING you eat.  And no more soda's either.  Bubble gum works very well for me.  Other than that gas thing.  All those spit bubbles eventually want OUT.

If you haven't already, Kidney School  http://kidneyschool.org/  is a great site to learn far more than you ever wanted to know about kidneys, dialysis, diets, Food, and even more.  I just can't remember it all.  I am a 'Guy' after all.

Glad to have you aboard.

Take Care,

Charlie B53

[Blake nighsonger]

Bring a pair of ear plug, helps drown out annoyances while resting. I enjoyed a news paper.  Thanks

[lulu836]

You can still have some of the carbonated drinks such as Sprite and  Gingerale and even Root Beer.  If worst comes to worst  there is  always ice cold water.

[iolaire]

@jd2004 welcome to the group.  My recommendation would be to try to get an afternoon shift so you can go home afterwards and should you have side effects sleep them off - but you already have an afternoon shift so that is good. 

I think many relatively healthy CKD patients do ok with dialysis.  The big key is to figure out what works for you.  The centers will try to pull of a lot of water which may be needed or may not.  If you can figure out what your dry weight should be they should listen your instructions re fluid removal.  It helps getting into a good equilibrium where you don't have too much fluid and also don't pull off extra causing cramps.  I felt I was able to better control my dry weight because only I knew if I had a huge lunch (or something like that) prior to the treatment that would add to my weight.  Also if/well you are still urinating that gives you some freedom to teach yourself fluid control before you start having fluid related "accidents" causing the center to need to pull off tons of fluid - it might also give you a bit of a grace period to start to figure out a dialysis diet that works for you.

Bring a laptop or tablet to while away the time while you dialize and consider a Netflix or Hulu subscription.

And invest in a cheap big battery pack for your mobile device -  more than likely you will have issues trying to use them for a full session.

Bring a pair of ear plug, helps drown out annoyances while resting. I enjoyed a news paper.  Thanks

Yes and along those lines, please try to be a good neighbor by texting friends versus spending a lot of time talking on the phone which impacts everyone around you including those who sit behind your back - especially don't use speakerphone...

[Simon Dog]

And invest in a cheap big battery pack for your mobile device -  more than likely you will have issues trying to use them for a full session.

I have never had a clinic decline a request to plug in a charger for me while in treatment.

[kristina]

Hello Veronica and welcome to IHD,
... It could be an idea to bring one of your favourite books to your first dialysis-session and since you already feel "at home" with this book, that "at home" feeling could help you a lot to get through the first dialysis-session in as much comfort as is possible.
During my 4-hours-dialysis-sessions I always spend the first two hours to read an interesting book or do some crosswords and/or read through an interesting magazine and the last two hours I watch an interesting film (with head-phones) or listen to an interesting concert (again with head phones) ...
I send you best wishes and good luck from Kristina.

[LorinnPKD]

Hi Veronica! 

I always bring a blanket because it gets chilly.  And a low-sodium snack.  And an iPad with good headphones -- my clinic has wifi so I watch Netflix on the iPad.  The snack is best if it takes a little time to eat it -- anything to help pass the time!  And I wear slippers to treatment because it makes me happy.

I slept a lot more post-treatment when I first got started, but now I can get away with a quick nap some days.

Wishing you a good first day!

[iolaire]

And I wear slippers to treatment because it makes me happy.

I always changed from work (dress) socks and shoes to either hospital or airplane socks.  Its nice to have a transition and let your feet relax and breath...

[MonicaJade]

Hi Veronica. I usually take my iPad, and headphones and listen to audiobooks on the Overdrive app. It lets you rent books and audiobooks from the public library.

[Paul]

 
Hello Veronica Welcome to the site.

First off - Headphones. If you are using a laptop/tablet/smartphone without, people will throw things at you (Well not literally, but the nurses/techs will get requests from other patients to confiscate your device).

Second bit of advice (and this may be controversial): Learn everything you can about dialysis and do not be afraid to contradict the nurses/techs if you think that what they are doing is wrong.

Third bit of advice (and this will be controversial): Be prepared to get bolshie if the nurses/techs refuse to listen to what you are saying. Remember, these days most clinics prefer to refer to people on dialysis as "clients" rather that "patients". Well if you are their "client", they are legally obliged to listen to you. (And if you are a "patient", they are morally obliged.)

[LorinnPKD]

Paul is so right!  Ask questions!

I ask a ton of questions. I always check my venous and arterial pressures to make sure they are in range, I consult with the staff on where to set up/continue the next line of sticks (the ladder), I check the flow speed and temperature, if I'm getting an infusion I ask the nurse about it.  If something seems iffy or weird, I ask about it.  Most techs and nurses are fine with it as I'm typically pretty respectful and positive about it.

[LoneHighway]

Don’t assume you will feel bad after treatment. I always feel great and am ravenously hungry. 

[deanpegal]

Hello Veronica, I'm Dean, Nice to meet you!

[cassandra]

Welcome to the site Veronica


   


Take care, Cas