Here I go!

[Tracy]

Today is my first day for in center D.  I was in the hospital for 5 days and got out yesterday.  They wanted me in the hospital to watch me as they gradually started me on D.  I have had 3 treatments so far and my BUN went from 116 to 49.  So, I am already feeling better.  So much to learn.  I am a little nervous about today, just because it is all new.  I loved my nurse that did my D all three times in the hospital.  He was excellent.  I hope the nurses at the center are as good.

Wish me luck!  Tracy

[Jean]

Sure do wish you lots of luck on your new journey. Glad your visit to the dialysis center worked out well. That is so encouraging to those of us who are still waiting.

[monrein]

Wishing you luck and also wishing you good, competent and caring nurses and doctors.  We're here to give whatever support you might need. 

[sullidog]

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.
Troy

[Tracy]

Today is the day after my first in center treatment.  Basicallhy it was a nightmare.  The lady that stuck me said she had been doing it for 7 years, so I felt confident that she knew what she was doing.  Thirty minutes later and 4 sticks later, she finally got the needles in with two other nurses to come help.  Luckily, the emla cream had me numb enough that I couldn't really feel what she was doing.  My blood pressure dropped and they stopped pulling water off of me the last 30 minutes.  They had to keep me 30  extra minutes because my blood pressure was so low.  Then, I realized I hadn't eaten since 11am and it was now 8 pm.  I was so dizzy and had such a bad headache and was exhausted.  In the hospital, I was energetic and the nurse had no trouble sticking me.  This lady was telling me my fistula was not big enough and that I should excercise it.  The nurse that stuck me in the hospital didn't have one bit of problem.  Well, today I wasn't able to go to work because i woke up so dizzy and head hurting.  I have a HUGE knot on my fistula and it hurts like crazy.  I don't look forward to going back at all, but what choice do I have.  I will ask that a different nurse do it tomorrow.  btw, I am feeling better now.  But after missing 5 days  of work for bieing in the hospital and now another day, it has me a little freaked out.    Thanks for letting me rant!  

[okarol]

Oh man, thats awful. Did you ice your arm? So sorry you had a bad experience. They need to be really careful about taking fluid off if your weight is stable and you are still urinating. I hope next time goes better. 

[KICKSTART]

This is the problem with hemo , you dont get 2 days the same or so it seems! Hopefully you will get a run of good days , so the odd bad day that crops up wont feel so bad.

[cloud393]

Oh, I'm so sorry you had such a bad experience at your clinic.  I just recently started using my fistula and felt the same way you are feeling.  I am still nervous about who sticks me.  One of the most experienced nurses at my clinic infiltrated mine last week.  I guess it happens but, it sure does stink.  Hopefully things will go better next time.     

[tyefly]

Oh  Yes....... I certainly remember my first time   just a few months ago.......  Infiltration  a few times....cramps......low BP........  a baby fistula......  I am glad I am pass those days.......   Be strong and learn how to do as much your self.....that way it will be done the same way each day.......  you will be in control and no one can hurt you....... I now do my own needles and do hemo at home.......   It workd way better  ...... 
   no cramps,,,,, no low BP......  feel like normal.......  works great....

  stay with us    and let us know how you are doing each day.......  there is so much to learn.........

[jamoman]

i had same problems also, but i started buttonholes from first week, now no infiltrations even if tech can`t get it right the first time, but i have watched enough that i can tell them what angle & what degree of pitch. like it`s already been said pay close attention   all aspects, stick ,machine settings etc. i`m very sorry for your pain & suffering, best of luck & hang in .

[texasstyle]

I'm sorry things didn't go well. One important thing I feel, is to learn all you and be your own best advocate regarding your health and your dialysis treatments. When my husband had it done in the hosp. They were quite attentive to him. In center though there's a number of people to take care of.You're just starting you'll understand what to expect as time goes by.  For your new fistula & "excessing" it. There are little rubber balls you can use to drip on to and release which you will do several times to help build up the fistula. We kept one on our coffee table so he could always grab while watching tv. There's an awful lot of pressure that will be going through your new vein. It's your lifeline now. Maybe ask your clinic if they have one of those "ball" things there. One day at a time.

[peleroja]

Best of luck in getting everything you want out of dialysis, including excellent nurses and techs.

[billybags]

Tracy that sounds awful, hope it is better for you the next time.

[kitkatz]

I hope things get better for you in center as the days progress.

[lola]

Tracy hope things get better for you. Will your center do buttonholes? Otto does his own needles since they were having problems.

[Tracy]

Friday wasn't much better.  They stuck me 3 times and you should see my arm. It is a HUGE bruise.  Thank goodness for the numbing cream.  I have a question though, how do they know how long to run you.  I had to go 3 1/2 hours on Friday, that was my first time to go that long.  I have had severe headaches with each treatment, but I seem to get them right after I get my meds shot into the lines.  One lady whispered to me that they need to do them slower.  The nurse just stands there with the meds in the syringe and pushes them in.  It seems to be slow, but the lady that spoke to me, sat across from me and watched the whole thing.  The nurse said I was probably reacting to that brand of iron and that today they will switch me.

By the way, do you feel better soon?  Cause it is very hard for me to get up the next day after dialysis.  I work full time and do D after work.  I get home about 9:30pm at night and up at 5:15am the next day.  But I tell ya, I'm pooped.  This was my first time to go 2 days without D and I feel exhausted.  I am just curious to know if I will have more energy or not.

Thank you so much for all the support.  I sure do need it!

 

[jdwills83]

Tracy,

Don't be afraid to ask for someone else to stick you.  Once you feel comfortable with the people who get it right, ask for them to stick you every time.  I think it is always a battle for the nurses and techs to get used to someone's new fistula, but the ones who remember how to stick it where it won't hurt you and get it right... are the good ones.  If you want to boost your energy think : PROTEIN PROTEIN PROTEIN.  I always either drink a protein shake before and after, or drink a gatorade protein recovery.   

good luck!

[chiefsfan301]

My center injects the iron very slow, they said it will cause problems if they inject the entire amount all at once.

[RichardMEL]

Tracy - regarding feeling better - it will take maybe 2-3 months while you stabalise on dialysis before the full effects come through and you probably will find that you will have more energy and be able to function better between treatments(obviously it varies for everyone). For me I usually need a nap after a D session and then the next day I do really well. Yesterday though after D I had to go to a dinner function straight away, but I was going fine till after midnight, so some days are better than others.

Re Iron at our unit what they do is first of all they do a test dose to see if you react to it, so they keep a close watch on BP and reaction. Iron is given over the last hour of treatment so it is quite slow. If you pass the test with no reactions then it's just given as normal, again via slow release during the last hour of treatment(usually through the heparin pump once the heparin is finished).