G Ma will try NxStage

[G-Ma]

thanks jbeany.....now I just have to build half a room                   yes, I dd a funny.......

[petey]

G-Ma -- Monroe!!! Mom and Dad live in Wadesboro!  WooHoo!  You're closer to us than I originally thought!  Yes, yes, yes...I feel a trip coming on.  That would be sooooo cool!

Okay, the room.  We turned a spare bedroom (12 x 12) into Marvin's "clinic."  We took everything bedroom-related out (like bed, dresser, etc.).  That gave us room to put in a cabinet (Marvin built) with shelves on top... more shelves on the two other walls...a tv mounted in the corner...his recliner in the almost-middle of the room...his PureFlow and NxStage machine next to his recliner...a small sink in the corner (Mom and Dad had installed for us -- makes it nice).  The closet in that room is a typical bi-fold door closet.  His supplies take up about 2/3 of the bottom of it (I still have some coats, etc. hanging on the other 1/3 and the entire top shelf is full of my Christmas stuff).  Jbeany's right, all the supplies come in boxes and they stack as tightly as you need them to.  However, this kind of set-up is not always possible.

The couple that we trained with for home hemo didn't have a bedroom to spare (three teen-age children).  They set up in the corner of their den with the machine and a recliner.  They drilled a hole in the wall to the laundry room behind and ran the water in/drain out lines through there to their washing machine!  They stacked, stacked, stacked boxes in the corner of the den.  But, then after only three months on home hemo, this guy got a kidney/pancreas transplant!!  Double WOO-HOO!

Make do with what you have available!  It will work!

[petey]

G-ma ---  I forgot to add that the only time we're stacked box-to-box is when the supplies first arrive.  After a week, the stacks dwindle down.  By the almost end of the month, it's not bad at all (because we've used up most of the supplies).  But, then a new shipment arrives and we're up to our bellybuttons in boxes again!

[twirl]

  hope all goes to your best
thinking of you








EDITED:Fixed smiley tag error-kitkatz,moderator

[G-Ma]

petey...you are not helping...I will sooooo have to build half a room.....perhaps nxstage on the deck huh? supplies on the toilet..don't need that anyhooo...oops forgot about that need.....sorry guys...just rambling....kitchen doesn't get used much....hmmmm....tent on some beach somewhere...love warm beaches....does nxstage deliver to hawaii I wonder? hmmm 3 rm tent....I keep threatening to run away....this could be it...the reason....thanks for the flower twirl...I needed that.  ok...I'm going to bed...dragging feet and pouting...I want water...oh do I want water...this has been a tooo much fluid day and one more to go before D..............................no pout picture???

[G-Ma]

oops...forgot my teddly bear....grabbed him by the paw and dragging him with me to bed....still pouting....

[kitkatz]

Here is a teddly bear for you!

[G-Ma]

thank you kitkatz for my very own teddly. 

[G-Ma]

Well all, after many many calls from NXStage and Davita today I am ""starting"" training tomorrow morning at 8:30 am....so why am I not able to sleep??? I am going to try to get my answers in person since each caller gives diff info.  Said I need someone over 18 with me 8 days out of the training period but then NXStage lady says no...her nurse flew into town today and will be at training this week too, to help train some new nurses on the staff.  I'll let you know as I know more.  I'll need all the prayers and luck you can send.

[flip]

Hey, G-Ma...I got stuff to make you sleep. Good luck tomorrow.

[G-Ma]

Still no sleep...sitting up ready to go at 6am and decided not to go.  I feel like I have been steamrolled by this whole thing with nxstage calling all day yesterday and still 90 diifferent answers from them and davita.  I called in center and said I'm staying and talked to home hemo and said canceling for now.  This training thing it too much stress on me and my family trying to work around schedules and home hemo here is """insisting""" someone be with me 4 full days a week for at least 3 weeks....ain't going to happen so guess I'll stay in center for now.  I am so stressed it's unreal....
Flip...please send me some ""recipie"" to sleep.

[cherpep]

G-Ma, I know many people do home dialysis on their own.  I have the utmost respect for them.  However, especially in the beginning, I would highly recommend you having someone there, especially considering how nervous and stressed you are over this.  They don't have to do much except be there to give you some emotional support, or perhaps hand you a piece of gauze, but especially to call for help if necessary.  At the very least, you need to be comfortable with this decision.  If it's not right for you, that's fine.   Just like in-center, there are plusses and minuses.  You just have to decide what is right for you.  If you do go through training, and then decide you're not comfortable with it, can you then go back to in-center?  Maybe you can give it a trial-run by going through training, as long as your in-center optioin remains open.  I hope you can relax and be able to look at it calmly.  Good luck, and keep us updated with your decision.

[monrein]

G-Ma, I'm so sorry this is all adding up to so much stress for you but you really must do what feels comfortable and comforting right now and that sounds like in-centre for the present.  I hope you can carry on doing your own sticks and getting super familiar with everything the machine does ( no matter that it's a different machine, the principles are the same).  The day might come when you want to try again.  However, whatever you do please know that we support your decision one hundred percent and want to support YOU even more, were that possible.

[G-Ma]

Thank you all so much for the support and your info cherpep today.  NxStage lady called this morning 3 times after I decided not to go and talked me into going and talking so asked my oldest son to go along and he was hooked so I am trying this crazy business.  He knew the machine by the time we were there a couple of hours but he builds trucks and engines and now loves the fact that I'll be able to go places...I'm still not sure but doing the training..it was only the first day so we shall see.  I felt great after D...2nd day in a row, no crashing, no washed out feeling, came home, stayed awake...hmmm...today was ok.  Especially after being so stressed all night and this morning.  I am so glad I have this place to go and talk to you all.  It really helps. 

[flip]

I usually take two Tylenol PM and a 2 mg. Ativan. I sleep like a baby every night. Can't you get a friend or family member to go thru the training? I'm sure there is no way they can check and see who's actually there during dialysis. Maybe Bill Peckham will jump in with some advice.

[G-Ma]

Thanks flip...tylenol PM give me MAJOR hallucinations....I may just try some """recipie""" from the hills...   Today I met some corp officers from NxStage....2nd day...my Grndaughter was with me and I believe knows everything..trainer walked her through all the buttons, alarms, connections and fixes several times...I however am so very tired...2 days in a row...I need a week off....depression is starting again..I don't know why and don't know if I want this...family does but....

[funnygarcia]

 

Big changes like you are currently going thru, are hard to cope with for anyone.

I'm new here but wanted to send a hug your way. My husband has been at home for two ? three? weeks now on NxStage. We've had a few bumps along the road-- and I did get really freaked during one day on training. Tiny bit overwhelming-- lots of deep breaths and telling myself it will be okay.

For the most part he runs the show by himself, I hand him tape/TV remote and help out if he has a problem. We live in an 750 sq ft 2 bedroom  apt with two teenagers. Storage is a tight squeeze but it works with a bit of creativity.
Teenagers come in handy for hauling supplies, breaking down boxes and hanging bags. Good sturdy workers! Isn't that what they are for?? 


Best of luck and lots of hugs-- margaritas too?? mmmmm yum

[G-Ma]

Thank you so much.  It's nice to hear from a NXStage newbie...deep breath....my goal initially was to do this by myself as well, now I'm not sure....I'm glad you joined this site and hugs to you too.

[flip]

I talked with Davita today and they didn't say no to the helper deal. I would have change centers and drive 35 miles while I'm training. They said the training would be 2-8 weeks, depending on my comfort level. Then I would go in once a month to see the doctor and have labs drawn.

[del]

Flip you're lucky the training center is only 35 mins from you . It was 6 hr drive from home for us to train for home hemo.  We came home most weekends!!  It was more than worth the drive and the time training to be able to do dialysis at home.

[flip]

They told me that my training would be done during my regular dialysis time 3 days a week.

[G-Ma]

Hmmm...flip...are you sure??? Was that Davita/NxStage?  If so, great for you, then you would not be so tired like this daily thing.  I drive an hour at 7:30 in the morning for only 15 miles, then 1/2 hour back.

[flip]

It is Davita/NxStage and that's what they told me. The training nurse is supposed to call me Friday. I'm okay on the in center hemo and I feel good. I just want the extra flexibility and more travel freedom. Right now all I can do is weekend trips which means skipping dialysis on Saturdays.

[G-Ma]

Yes, that's why I decided to try this because all I can do is also my days off but I have never skipped so I have never gone anywhere...boring, depressing.  Hope it works for you.

[flip]

I don't have any ill effects from skipping except a little extra fluid.