Somedays, you feel like Superwoman

[Meinuk]

Everyone knows I dialyize alone.  Some days, it is incredibly lonely, other days it is empowering.  Today was the latter.  I kicked some home hemo ass.  Today was the most challenging session I have ever had.  I survived it, and I am pretty pleased with myself right now.

It all stated out as a normal 30L run using pureflow.  I primed the machine earlier today, went out for a long walk in Van Cortland Park.  Came home, cooked lunch, puttered and at 3pm sat down to start my run.

#1  Arterial wouldn't work with blunt.  Restuck with sharp.

#2  Arteial clotted- restuck with new sharp.

#4  got a # 36 alarm - fluid balance off had to terminate treatment and perform manual rinseback.

#5  couldn't rinseback.

#6  discarded cartridge.

Ok, now this is where the Supewoman part comes in.  I knew that I would have to re prime the machine, but I didn't want to recannulate myself again.  So, I flushed my lines and taped them to my shirt, like they do in the unit and primed the machine.

#7 pull new cartridge and new saline bag, prime machine.  BUT the cartridge had a manufacturing flaw (second I've seen) the spike for the saline is blunt.  I waste the cartridge and grab another one.

#8  prime cartridge #3.

#9  as cartridge #3 is priming, I head an alarm coming from the pueflow.  I have a leak in the pureflow unit.  (now, I am laughing.  Who would believe this???)

#10 I open boxes and set up for a 20L manual run.  (remember, I am hanging these bags one handed, as I am still cannulated)

I actually worked up a sweat today setting up for dialysis, and my apt looks like a war zone.  I just opened stuff up and threw it on the floor, I'll clean up later.

So, here I am, typing a post one handed, dialyizing away.  It will be a busy night of figuring out what happened with the pueflow and cleaning.  But this afternoon has proven that what ever does not kill you will only make you stronger.  It does remind me that having a partner would make thing so much easier.  I'm gonna have to work on that...

[Zach]

Congratulations!  You've passed the test.

[Meinuk]

Thanks Zach - I never was a very good student - I'll take any passing grade I can get!

Could I consider a transplant to be a graduation present?

[Zach]

Could I consider a transplant to be a graduation present?

I'd gladly give you one of my kidneys, but that won't help you at all.
 

[jbeany]

Nice going!  Coming thru with a sense of humor intact is the most important part!

[paris]

Meinuk, we already thought you were superwoman!  You just keep proving it over and over again.   That graduation present should be coming soon!!  I think this event officially puts you in the "rock star" catagory

[G-Ma]

     You are my hero....OMG..and I have been wanting to do home hemo alone? Fetal position in a corner sounds good to me.

[kitkatz]

You did not know Nxstage sometimes throws a pop quiz in there with their equipment?

[petey]

Way to go, Meinuk!   You truly are a superwoman, and you handled that awful situation like a real pro!

[RichardMEL]

Well done... of course I already knew you were superwoman... didn't I see you flying around in that cape, tight outfit and impossibly short skirt? (flirt flirt  )

[KR Cincy]

Anna...your courage and perseverance never CEASE to amaze me.

And can I get in on some of that flirting??

[cherpep]

I would have given up and called it a day after cartridge #2, and I have a partner.  Great job!!   I have tremendous respect for you, doing it alone.  Now, reading this and how you overcame this challenge - ALL HAIL ANNA!

[Meinuk]

OMG..and I have been wanting to do home hemo alone? Fetal position in a corner sounds good to me.

The prudent thing would have been to end the session at Cartridge # 2 (this is what my nurse would have preferred that I do),  I am just stubborn.  I put a lot of pressure on myself to "prove that it can be done" which is why try to I post about the ups and the downs of doing it alone, I don't want to give the wrong impression.  Sometimes, when people read my posts, I feel like I make it sound too easy, which is a false representation.  It is not easy, but it can be done. 

And as far as being a superhero - well, there is plenty of kryptonite out there to take me down.  Yesterday was like I had just hiked a really long trail, and reached the mountain top.  It was grueling, exhausting but I had such a buzz when it was over (could have been the blood loss)  I had conquered that mountain. Then I celebrated with a game of online scrabble.  (which I promptly lost)

And as for all this flirting!  We need Amanda from Oz back - sorry guys, I am just not up to it.  It is confusing enough being me.  Online flirting does my head in.  This is not to say that the wicked flirt in me won't come out to play every once in a while, I just could never do Susie justice.  (she was the queen of IHD flirting - and Richard, I shudder to think of what I would look like in tights and a cape)

And Paris, as far as Rock Star status, I don't think that I would have been able to handle yesterday as well as I did if I didn't have the comfort of knowing that I am not the only one doing this. Meeting people through IHD really has changed my life.  So, I am really not doing this all alone.  I feel like I started dialysis at the right time in the right place to be afforded all of this support and encouragement, and I am grateful for it every day.

[okarol]

I admire how you got through that one-handed, sweating, determined. You never know, with a partner you might have and more of a dispute or confusion (depending on the partner!  ) Now you've another notch in your belt of Superwoman experiences! 

[twirl]

Well done... of course I already knew you were superwoman... didn't I see you flying around in that cape, tight outfit and impossibly short skirt? (flirt flirt  )

Richard needs to meet Superwoman.
I have almost no Superwoman days anymore but it is still expected by my family
they just do not understand
I am proud of you
I would have freaked

[RichardMEL]

meh you don't need tights and a cape to be superwoman... you're totally super to all of us... and that's not just me flirting!!

I'd love Amanda back but she has a life and a lovely partner I believe.... and I can't even flirt with Tamara.... *pout*

[twirl]

I do not know about Amanda or Tamara
but a man who loves his cat so much has to be a wonderful person
good luck with the tech or nurse at dialysis who stated you might go get a drink together sometimes

[pelagia]

 

[RichardMEL]

lol Twirl... the nurse... she's just a friend.. but thanks for the thought... hehe very kind

Now, let us return to the topic... I'm not trying to derail every thread I find !!!