I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: F.A.Q. (Frequently Asked Questions) => Topic started by: TexanSummer on March 25, 2011, 04:12:16 PM
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Charles went to D today & said during the third hour one of the nurses/techs noticed that the top of his filter was getting thick & looked like it was clotting. Is that normal?
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No, not normal but it can happen if there isn't enough heparin in the lines. If it does clot all the way then those lines have to be thrown away and new ones started.
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I'm sorry it took so long, but I wanted to say thanks for your info!!! Much appreciated! :thx;
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Clotting in the filter is normal for me if they don't give heparin about every hour. The first few times I was in dialysis they didn't know this, of course. Now they're prepared for it. I'm known as a "fast clotter" when the needles are pulled.
I did clot up in the needles after they were inserted, but before I got hooked up. What a mess! Had to get re-stuck in a new buttonhole. Ouch.
gary
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thankfully he hasn't had that problem again..but now we know what needs to happen....the center was (as I later found out) on top of that & had the heparin standing by just in case...now it's just waiting for the day he can get the fistula done so we can look forward to getting that blasted CVC out of his chest! I hate that thing!!! lol
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I'm also a "fast clotter." I can't recall the exact dose, but I require an ungodly amount of heparin to keep my lines from clotting off. On the plus side, I don't have to hold for very long when I get off!