Update on First HEMO

[oleboy]

  I have to thank all of you for your support. I arrived and was greeted at the Front door they were waiting on me my wieght was taken my temp was checked and then B/p standing and setting.  I was asked if I knew anything about the process, I said I had been reading alot at IHD about what to expect. The Tech advised me the Doc wanted a 2 hour run using small needles for today and the next few times. Tech told me I would likely have some discomfort at the stick site. Tech had no problem stiking me and I was shown the machine a what was happening to my blood as it passed through the machine (Baxter,Athenia I believe)felt the machine pulling a few times and felt my energy being sapped,They said that would get better with time. Learned I had to hold my own dressings to stop stick bleds.rewieghrd at finish &.3 lbs removed B/P 134/71. Thanks Guys

[Ang]

glad  to  hear  that  your  first  treatment  went  well, sounds  like  yur  tech  is  good  as  he  is  explaining  the  process,  anything  doesn't  make  sense  ask  questions.
good  luck  with  it  all.

[MyssAnne]

YAY!!!

I'm so glad it went so well!!!  The next few should be like that too, and before you
know it, you'll be ready to do PD!!!

[petey]

oleboy,
My Marvin said to tell you that hemo treatments will never get "easy," but the next one will be easier than the first, and the one after that will be easier, and so on and so on.  Are they giving you any shots to numb the access area?  Marvin uses a lidacane cream to numb his site (puts it on about 30 mins. before treatments); it's a prescription cream.  You may want to ask for it.  It sounds like your first day was relatively uneventful -- I hope they all go like that for you.

[Sluff]

Hopefully you will have less fear now that you got that first one out of the way. 

[Ohio Buckeye]

I'm glad it went well for you Oleboy.
Hope it continues to go well also.

[BigSteve]

Good luck you got a capable tech the first time, Buckeye. It really makes a difference. The times I
have one particuar tech have made a difference, but  only a few times have I been really bothered
by the needle sticks. I don't feel that I need a numbing cream, and the one Linocaine shot I had
was worse than the needle. I know many patients hate needles. I go back Monday to the needle
after 1 1/2 months on the chest catheter after my first access clotted. Hope this second access is better.

[rose1999]

Glad to hear it went well,  had been watching the old thread to see how you got on. Take care of yourself.

[Joe Paul]

I'm glad your first run was a good one. Thats great the Tech took the time to explain the process, could be a sign of the care you will receive.

[boxman55]

Hey Oleboy, glad to hear it went well they will increase your run times eventually and go to larger needles as time goes on. If you can take the stick without cream or spray I think that is the way to go saves you a little cash. But if you have to have some numbing effect I prefer the ethyl chloride spray bottle. It temporary freezes the site. Watch your BP and stay on top of your dry weight by doing that it will reduce your chance of cramping. Once you cramp on the machine you have arrived. It is not pleasant. Good luck to you....Boxman

[Psim]

I'm so glad it went well! Onward!

[kitkatz]

It gets easier physically to do dialysis, so watch the mental stuff.   The urge to skip a treatment must be battled, the urge to scream at the injustice of it all.  But then I am glad it has gone well the first time out for you.

[Ken Shelmerdine]

I've never done haemo but I read all about it on this forum and I'm so pleased for you that your first experience wasn't all that bad. Most of the people on IHD do in centre Haemo so you won't go short of advice when ever you need it. Good Luck.

[Bajanne]

Thanks for sharing your experience with us.   I am so glad that the first one went so well.    My first one did as well - very uneventful.  I hope all your sessions are like this.

[willieandwinnie]

Oleboy, glad to hear it went well. Keep us posted on how you are doing. 

[jbeany]

Glad you made it thru the first run - that's always the scariest!  I never completely lost the "washed out" feeling on in-center dialysis, but it did get easier after the first couple of months.  They will be guessing at your "real" dry weight for the first few weeks, so the crashing blood pressures are more common then.  Pay attention to how you feel, and let the techs and nurses know if you start feeling even the slightest bit "off".  Once they get a set dry weight for you, it gets a bit better.  Hang in there!

[kitkatz]

Be aware of changes in your eating habits and weight.  Also sometimes your body says aaargh and wigs out on dialysis. On those days be patient.

[kidney4traci]

I am glad you had an easy start to hemo. I started using lid. cream as previously mentioned, but I really don't think it helped much, so after about two months I stopped.  It really isn't that bad, once you get used to it.  It helps if you get a nurse or tech that knows what they are doing and get a good fast stick.  I hated it when they would go slow -uurrg!   Best of luck in the coming weeks.

[sandgroper]

Thankyou oleboy, reading your post will help me when I first go on hemo in a few weeks

[petey]

Thankyou oleboy, reading your post will help me when I first go on hemo in a few weeks

sandgroper -- we're here for you, too.  Let us know if you have any questions that oleboy didn't ask, and make sure to let us know how it goes for you.

[CW]

Fantastic Olebaoy I am happy everything went well - hoping all goes well for future treatments