I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: KatieV on November 09, 2012, 12:55:31 PM

Title: Tegaderm
Post by: KatieV on November 09, 2012, 12:55:31 PM
I use buttonholes to access my fistula.  I use Lidocaine/Prilocaine cream to reduce the pain and soften the scabs.  It's applied about 3 hours before and a Tegaderm covers it.  My husband stopped by the dialysis center yesterday to get some more Tegaderms (and chux).  They gave him a couple, but said they were almost out and wouldn't be able to get more.  He believes it's because of cost (not sure if they told him that). 

The nurse told him to tell me to wrap my arm in Saran Wrap!  Because I can carry around a roll of Saran Wrap in my purse so easily....  :sarcasm;  I could keep a roll in my cubicle, but I also have to apply it while I'm out and about. 

Any suggestions?  Besides purchasing it myself as it's $34.50 for a box of 50.  Oh, and my skin is sensitive to tape.  I can handle silk tape during dialysis and overnight for a bandage, but get a rash if I leave it on for half a day.
Title: Re: Tegaderm
Post by: frankswife on November 09, 2012, 01:09:18 PM
Frank has used saran wrap from day one. It works really well for him. He puts on the cream and wraps it up about an hour before he leaves. I guess it works pretty well for him. The only thing I am concerned about is it seems he is using an awful lot of cream, about a tube every 2 weeks, and our insurance will only pay for it once a month.
Title: Re: Tegaderm
Post by: Lillupie on November 09, 2012, 01:23:34 PM

The nurse told him to tell me to wrap my arm in Saran Wrap!  Because I can carry around a roll of Saran Wrap in my purse so easily....  :sarcasm;  I could keep a roll in my cubicle, but I also have to apply it while I'm out and about. 


 :rofl; :rofl; lol
Title: Re: Tegaderm
Post by: amanda100wilson on November 10, 2012, 12:12:40 PM
you can buy a 100unit box of tegaderm for $30.00 on Amazon.  it is fairly standard dialysis unit practice to suggest Saran Wrap,so I think that you were just lucky to get it in the first place.  I prefer tegaderm as they stay in one place whereas the Saran Wrap would move around.  I would rather pay than money than have the hassle of Saran Wrap.

three hours seems a long to e to leave the cream on.  it works in about an hour, after that it starts to lose its effect.
Title: Re: Tegaderm
Post by: Alex C. on November 10, 2012, 12:36:10 PM
BTW, larger grocery stores sometimes carry a half-sized roll of Saran Wrap. sounds like it might be the ideal size. Otherwise, household moving supply places have rolls of shrink-wrap in sizes from 2" to 6" wide.
Title: Re: Tegaderm
Post by: sullidog on November 12, 2012, 04:03:05 PM
Just get a big box of tegaderm from amazon, that's what I did when I had a catheter, the wrap just comes off and it's hard to keep on
Title: Re: Tegaderm
Post by: Simon Dog on November 12, 2012, 08:40:06 PM
I am on PD, and got tape burns from the silk tape but found paper tape (3M Micropore) much gentler on the skin.
Title: Re: Tegaderm
Post by: Riki on November 15, 2012, 01:38:27 PM
I go to the drug store and buy 15 to 20 of them at a time.. 34 cents each.  I use the 6x7cm ones, one at a time, cutting them in half, and putting one half over each access site
Title: Re: Tegaderm
Post by: amanda100wilson on November 15, 2012, 04:39:23 PM
cheaper from Amazon
Title: Re: Tegaderm
Post by: Riki on November 16, 2012, 07:15:09 PM
Can't get them from Amazon in Canada
Title: Re: Tegaderm
Post by: amanda100wilson on November 17, 2012, 10:07:41 AM
Amazon won't ship to Canada?
Title: Re: Tegaderm
Post by: Riki on November 18, 2012, 04:51:31 PM
They won't ship from Amazon.com to Canada, but they will from Amazon.ca, but they only have books, movies, music, and some electronics.. not the wide selection of products that the American site has
Title: Re: Tegaderm
Post by: stringbandbeth on November 19, 2012, 05:30:51 AM
Bear discovered that he gets the same results from just using band aids. Plus they are included in his home hemo supplies so no out of pocket $.Never could get the hang of saran wrap.
Title: Re: Tegaderm
Post by: Riki on November 20, 2012, 12:28:54 PM
saran wrap hates me.. so I'd much rather use the tegaderm.. when I didn't have any, I have used cut up sandwich bags and taped it using plastic tape.. it doesn't stick to itself like saran wrap does