I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: twirl on July 14, 2010, 03:40:26 PM

Title: lap tops
Post by: twirl on July 14, 2010, 03:40:26 PM
I got a lap top for Christmas to use in dialysis ---
fine until today, I was told patients can no longer plug anything into their outlets -----
I am mad because the lap top helps pass the time in the chair ---
and my battery - even on low light --- will only run for 1 -2 hours
we get no coffee anymore -- can't snack --- have to have an escort to walk around -- scales, bathroom or anything --- even to leave the place ---
just depressed ------ dialysis still sucks

Title: Re: lap tops
Post by: Sunny on July 14, 2010, 04:25:49 PM
What do they expect you to do with your time? Stare at the walls?
I'm thinking of getting a cell phone that also accesses the internet and plays movies to avoid this kind of thing. They are afraid you are using too much electricity. I wish things were going better for you.
Title: Re: lap tops
Post by: RainingRoses on July 14, 2010, 04:41:48 PM
Considering how much dialysis cost per day, it's pretty shocking that the clinic would begrudge your using electricity. They are making a profit.    What reason did they give for this new rule?  Do you have the option of changing clinics?
Title: Re: lap tops
Post by: RightSide on July 14, 2010, 08:41:13 PM
What do they expect you to do with your time? Stare at the walls?
I'm thinking of getting a cell phone that also accesses the internet and plays movies to avoid this kind of thing. They are afraid you are using too much electricity. I wish things were going better for you.
Apple's new iPad sounds like a perfect choice for acltivities during dialysis.  I may buy it (or a competing pad product) myself.
Title: Re: lap tops
Post by: cariad on July 14, 2010, 09:39:34 PM
An escort to walk around?! ??? :waiting; Are they afraid you'll steal something?

Twirl, sorry, but I hate your clinic. Wait.... do I even need to apologise for saying that?

They treat criminals better than this. Shameless.

Title: Re: lap tops
Post by: fc2821 on July 14, 2010, 09:47:57 PM
   One fellow at my clinic has an ipad.  He was showing it to me the other day.  It is great and I'd want one except for the price.  Ouch!!!  His was $800, but he got the top of the line one, he says. 

    Luckily at my clinic they have a "terminal" for lack of a better term which is a combination TV (direct TV), internet connection (I check email and surf the web with it to pass 4 hours every session..if I get one that works that is.  Touch screen keyboard. Practice the one handed typing), satellite radio, you can play some games on it but not very good ones, or you can watch Frescenius educational videos for dialysis patients.  We are very fortunate they have this set up.  I do not know what other facilities of Frescenius have this. 
Title: Re: lap tops
Post by: Stacy Without An E on July 14, 2010, 09:56:47 PM
I have the same problem with my 17" HP...even on Power Saver it only lasts around two hours.  Less if I'm using the DVD player.  Most PC laptops only come with a 6 cell battery.  Most laptop producers are making 12 cell batteries.  They are larger, so they make the back of the laptop rise up an inch or so, but when the computer is on your lap at Dialysis, it really shouldn't matter.

They usually run from $100 - $150 on average.  I know, more cash out of your pocket, but since they're being goons at your clinic, it might be a good investment.

The excuse we get is that they don't want anything plugged into the same outlet as the machine, which I guess I can understand.  But why not provide more free standing outlets?

I'm on the night shift, so usually I can get away with using a plug if I need to.  This may due to the fact that we presently don't have a Clinic Manager.  Thank goodness too: she was only hiring new employees based on how hot she thought they were.  We now have a few dorky guys on the staff that spend the last half of their shift sitting around talking shit.

Yeah, thank goodness she's history.
Title: Re: lap tops
Post by: natnnnat on July 15, 2010, 05:10:24 AM
Can you get, like, two spare batteries for your laptop?  Can you change your laptop battery with one hand?
Title: Re: lap tops
Post by: crickiepoo on July 15, 2010, 09:40:53 AM
I got a lap top for Christmas to use in dialysis ---
fine until today, I was told patients can no longer plug anything into their outlets -----
I am mad because the lap top helps pass the time in the chair ---
and my battery - even on low light --- will only run for 1 -2 hours
we get no coffee anymore -- can't snack --- have to have an escort to walk around -- scales, bathroom or anything --- even to leave the place ---
just depressed ------ dialysis still sucks

I have a laptop, and I believe my batter would last through my treatment.
We aren't allowed to plug anything in either.
Nor do we get "offered" any coffee, aren't "really" allowed to have snacks, and they are SUPPOSED to escort everyone to places.
They start to implement new rules but never really enforce them so they usually just slide.
The only BIG downfall I hate about my center is that they don't have wifi. :/
I take my laptop every once in a while to work on my graphics, but I'd like to get online.
I can pay $30/mo. to get tethering from my blackberry, but I don't wanna spend that kind of money. LOL
Title: Re: lap tops
Post by: KICKSTART on July 15, 2010, 02:30:41 PM
Well hello there twirlipoos ! Now you know full well you are supposed to go in there ,sleep for 4 hours and please sit still while they fasten that ball and chain around your ankle ! Is a portable dvd player an option? and make a flask of coffee up .. i would .. and sandwiches!  >:D
Title: Re: lap tops
Post by: RichardMEL on July 16, 2010, 01:45:47 AM
what the hell? "escorts"???? (like you want to be there doing stuff???).... can't use a power plug? what on earth?!

Prisoners get cable TV and stuff and you get that? Fairdinkum unbelieveable!!!!

I'm allowed to plug my laptop in no problem. They don't have wi-fi, but that's OK as I just like to sit and watch videos and stuff to pass my time, but I think I'd hit the roof if they had crap like that....

"escorts"??!! what the..!?!
Title: Re: lap tops
Post by: YLGuy on July 17, 2010, 07:07:19 PM
Netbook + WiFi + Netflix =  :)
Title: Re: lap tops
Post by: brandi1leigh on July 17, 2010, 07:16:03 PM
Netbook + WiFi + Netflix =  :)

So jealous. My center doesn't have WiFi. The clinic next door does, but we don't. In terms of some of the complaints, not having wifi is a pretty small one.
Title: Re: lap tops
Post by: Riki on July 17, 2010, 07:46:15 PM
We were told that we weren't allowed to have wifi at our centre.. something to do with the signal screwing with the calibration of the machines, which I know is a load of bs.. we can have laptops and portable dvd players if we want.  Their original policy was no cell phones, but I kept sneaking my blackberry in, and eventually they relented. I'm not the only one who was sneaking a phone in.. *LOL*  I've never needed to be escorted anywhere, and they only do if I ask, because my vision isn't the best, but then we only have nine chairs anyway
Title: Re: lap tops
Post by: Hubbs on August 08, 2010, 09:00:14 AM
I'm not into that stuff yet at the center. don't even have a lappy.. TV yeah. but no remote  :stressed;. I think we can use the outlets  i brought a heating paid once.  my center has rules but they bend them everyday. and they have security cams everywhere! when they first were informed of them working. they went by the book! and I couldn't walk around. but a week later  things were back to normal. one thing about being in Fla. we are over taken by old people. wait. they took away the old people and brought back Sr. citizens.  i am 50 and one of the few youngest in that place.  only cute women there are the techs and nurses.  ::)
Title: Re: lap tops
Post by: RightSide on August 08, 2010, 08:25:26 PM
We were told that we weren't allowed to have wifi at our centre.. something to do with the signal screwing with the calibration of the machines, which I know is a load of bs.. we can have laptops and portable dvd players if we want.
We have wifi at our center,
and a couple of patients bring their laptops with them to surf the Internet while being dialyzed.

Like I said,
I'm sure that I'll get a pad computer before the year is out.

The only question is, which one.
There are a couple in development that beat the iPad.