"In Center" Nocturnal Dialysis

[Rerun]

My Nephrologist in Spokane wants me to do "in center" nocturnal dialysis.  I guess you go to the clinic 3 nights a week and sleep.  Anyone here on that schedule?






EDITED:Moved to new Nocturnal section- kitkatz,Moderator

[Bajanne]

I like the sound of that.  I wish they had that here.  I would be the first to sign up.  Then I could spend my days exactly how I wanted.

[goofynina]

will you be sleeping there the whole night or just the 4 or 5 hours?  then it depends on what time you will be getting home, cuz if it is at some ridiculous hour in the morning like 3am or something, i'd really think about it first, but other than that, i think it sounds pretty cool.

[jdat]

I have met some people who have done it and who "love" ( you get my meaning ) it over the usual sessions.

You are running longer session times ( 6 8 10 hours ... whatever ... but usually always more than 4! ) which puts much less strain on the body ( because of pump speeds ).

[Bajanne]

I WOULD LOVE THAT!!!  I wouldn't mind the longer session - I would sleep through them, get up and go home in the morning.  I don't think our nurses would like it though.
As it is, they are the only nurses with a fixed schedule that does not include nights. 

[Rerun]

When I know more, I'll share.   

[angieskidney]

I wish they would do that here because then you could have a longer time on dialysis which I think would be better on the body. Am I right?

[Rerun]

Yes, I would think slower, longer would be easier on the heart etc....  but you sleep anyway, so you are not wasting any time really.

Except I probably won't be able to get up and post at 2:30 in the morning anymore.  It will be a couple of months before I move up that way, so we'll see.  Right now I'm on a catheter and I'm not sure if a "fistula" is a requirement.  I have a fistula too, but I'm using this cathater until it falls out!

[angieskidney]

Yes, I would think slower, longer would be easier on the heart etc....  but you sleep anyway, so you are not wasting any time really.

Except I probably won't be able to get up and post at 2:30 in the morning anymore.  It will be a couple of months before I move up that way, so we'll see.  Right now I'm on a catheter and I'm not sure if a "fistula" is a requirement.  I have a fistula too, but I'm using this cathater until it falls out!

I wish I had that choice They pushed me toward the fistula but I am just glad it seems to be working alright this time. Not like my first one. The nurses are saying they think I might have gotten too dried out in dialysis for the first one to work since the surgeon said my viens were so tiny. Anyway, Now I am looking forward to be able to swim for the first time in years when I get the catheter out .. but if only I could be on nocturnal again (I was only on PD) ... then I would not be going thru the really low BP like I am right now ... (even on in-between dialysis days)

[Panda_9]

Thats a great offer rerun, I would definitely give it a go. If its not your cup of tea then at least you tried. Give it at least a month, and hopefully you will feel better than you do now, and it will be enough incentive to keep doing nocturnal. I do it at home every second night, and there is no way I would go back in-centre permanently. I have been going in for a break the last 2 weeks, due to stress and anxiety, but thats a whole other story.

[atech]

Hi everyone, sorry i haven't been able to stop in say hello in a while. I hope you all are doing good. I have been reading some of the post concerning nocturnal dialysis. I want to let you know I have been working the nocturnal shift for going on almost two years now. I love working with our patients on nocturnal. They all and I sincerely mean all of our patients are very satisfied doing the nocturnal shift. They tell us how much better they feel. At our unit we run Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday nights. Our first patient usually goes on the machine at 7:00 and they run 8 hours. We run them at a slower blood flow rate. We usually run at a 300 blood flow. We run at a slower speed but longer hours therefore we have better outcomes. Our patients labs are awesome. They also report to us that they no longer have that washed-out feeling they had running on days. I would love to hear from others about their experiences regarding nocturnal. Please let me know what you think. Have a great day....

[Razman]

I'm not on dialysis yet but I have already met my trainer.  The time is coming and I want to be prepared to go ASAP. I will be doing it at home every other night.  All of my research has shown that it is the best method and it is nice to hear your side.

[Rerun]

Everyother night would be perfect.  I can't do it at home but I would think that would be best.

Best of luck.                         

[Brightsky69]

I don't know much about in center nocturnal dialysis. I doubt I would like it. I need a bed to get a good nights sleep. I am about to start on PD and the cycler machine so i can do PD while I sleep at home. I am hoping I don't have any trouble sleeping on the machine.

[Treasure]

Ok, I have a question for people doing incenter nocturnal dialysis. Does your center use regular dialysis chairs, nocturnal dialysis chair (lies flat) or hospital beds?  My center mostly uses regular dialysis chairs. They got a nocturnal chair for me (because I was the most persistent complainer), but for no other patients-- very problematic.  One of the docs said she went to a conference and asked around and that other clinics are using regular dialysis chairs for nocturnal-- but I have different things from patients.

I just want to get a feel for what is being done out there.

Michelle/Treasure  www.niteynitedialysis.blogspot.com

[kitkatz]

There are normal dialysis chairs in the clinic area. There is a back room area with six beds in it.  I have one of those beds.  Thank you Lord!

[Rerun]

I have a normal dialysis chair that I make pretty comfy with an eggshell crate pad and sheets and blankets and pillows.

It is okay.

[twirl]

Dear Rerun -
can we have a photo of you as you are going to camp out at dialysis 

you know your book -- Dialysis for Dummies - needs to have photos   

I don't know how this would work but have any funny stories relating to your dog and dialysis ?
just seems like if anyone could make it funny - you could
I remember they used to poo poo when you were gone - it could be funny   

[thegrammalady]

my center got new chairs for the nocturnal session. they are softer and lay flat (if you want) and have heat. they don't need someone to put your feet up for you, you can adjust it yourself. works well for me but i know it doesn't for everyone. one of our group refuses to use it.

[kitkatz]

You should see me at nocturnal dialysis.  I bring a huge blanket in and a body pillow, plus a cup of ice and my snack bag.  They have me in a bed, so I arrive, set down my blanket and pillow ice cup and snack bag. I usually have to move the BP cuff off the machine to put my cup of ice in the holder on the machine, no where else for it.  Take off my shoes, wander to the scale, weigh, wander back.. Put the cuff on my arm, take my blood pressure standing up. Usually sky high (Not my real pressure.)  Then I fix two pillows for my head, adjust the bed up, get a third pillow for my left arm. I have had to put paper pillow cases on these pillows a few times.  Then I hit the bed and lie down and take my real blood pressure. It has dropped to 145/85 or so by now.  I pull the TV close, put the headphones on the TV and on my ears. Then I move the BP cord over my head and the the right of my head so it is not in the way.  Wait on the tech to needle me. Boss the tech around while he works on me. Pull the blanket up and watch TV until 9 or 9:30 pm. Then ask for Benadryl and Tylenol and off the sleep for a few hours.  Up between 3 and 4. Off by 4 a.m.

[Jean]

A little bit off topic, but I have seen so many of you write about taking benedryl and tylenol and I am wondering about sleeping pills and/or Vicodin or is that not allowed?

[kitkatz]

The doc will give sleeping pills if needed.  Vicodin can be addictive so used for serious pain only.

[Rerun]

I have a reaction if too much benedryl is given, so I have sleeping pills which are basically benedryl but I break them in fourths and only take a 1/4.  I always have one and if I don't fall asleep by a certain time I take it.

[jamoman]

I take both pill & shot works great. asleep by 10 up by 3.

[Treasure]

I had a few minutes free and thought I would check in with ya'll.  In-center nocturnal is going alright, for the most part. Aside from getting maybe 3 hours of sleep and my needles hurting the whole time. *le sigh*  Actually, I have been getting restless again-- not in my sleeping, but wanting to never have to see the inside of a dialysis unit, EVER EVER AGAIN!  Which means that I have been bugging the research doctor about any cures for my kidney disease. 

My rantings about nocturnal dialysis have made it all the way around the world-- a Dutch site is now carrying my blog. hehehe. I haven't been blogging much lately, though, because I have had a massive project going on at work and my Internet has been intermittently down.  But when I return to blogging I want to talk about Natalie Cole and the fact that many of our in-center nocturnals need oxygen during their treatments (is it sleep apnea because we have to sleep on our backs in those chairs? hmmmm)

How are you all faring?

Treasure/Michelle