no dialysis for me today:(

[sullidog]

Well I couldn't get dialysis today. My graft wouldn't run at all, it has a good thrill and bruit, but when they would go to stick it the needles would clot and then when it would run I'd get short of breath and it felt like someone was squeezing the hell out of my arm. We went through this with every tech in the center, stuck every area on the graft possible, still same problem so we decided to give up, I mean we stuck every area possible. I see my surgeon on Monday, I just had a fistulagram 2 weeks ago where they opened up my breakiel vein and my axilary vein and a spot on the graft. The thrill to me is strong, and the bruit is too, but I do know the graft has a lot of scar tissue that must not be picking up on the fistulagrams because my surgeon hasn't said anything about it, but the techs can tell that it's there. My access is close to 2 years old so I think it's about needled out.
Let's hope my surgeon can come up with something on Monday! I've had a few surgeons throughout my graft's life lol.

[willowtreewren]

Oh, dear....

I hope you can get this straightened out soon. 

Not good! 

Aleta

[fearless]

oh man I am so sorry.  That really really sucks.  I pray to God that they can get something going for you.

[sullidog]

As much as I hate dialysis, I would of prefer they would put a line in me and ran me that way because I won't have d again until tuesday but my neph has the potassium checked, and if it's good for which mine was at 4.0, they weren't too worried about not having me do a treatment and since I don't retain fluid do to urine output they weren't too concerned about that either. So I will be going 4 days without treatment but if I start to feel bad you bet I will go to the er and raise heck that I need a line in so I can do dialysis.

[fearless]

for me, if I could pee, I wouldn't be as worried.  I have a lot of self-restraint about food.  I just can't bear it when the fluid accumulates.  I swell up like a balloon, my blood pressure goes up, and OH THE MIGRAINES!!!!!!!   I don't believe it when they say that death from kidney failure is painless.  I would have to be put out of my misery from the blasted headaches. 
Also, if you have urine output, wouldn't the risk of K+ accumulation be lower?  Maybe not.  Everybody's kidney failure is different.
Glad you're standing up for yourself.

[Riki]

I don't believe it when they say that death from kidney failure is painless. 

I've never heard that.  I've only heard that it's a horrible, horrible way to die.  It's definitely not something I wish to experience

Personally, I can't go more than 3 days without a treatment.  I start finding it hard to breathe, and I'm in a lot of pain from the fluid build up

[fearless]

yes Riki, me too.  Here's a webiste that talks about what it's like to die from kidney failure:
http://www.growthhouse.org/mortals/mort2513.html
it's really stupid though, because first it says "dying from kidney failure is fairly gentle"  then it goes on to describe how you can't breathe, and that you can try to suppress the pain with morphine.  WHAT A JOKE!  Living with kidney failure is bad, so dying from it HAS GOT TO SUCK!!!

you are right, and anyone who says it's painless is ignorant

[amanda100wilson]

I think that what is meant, is that it is painless when it is managed, so that the symptoms are treated as they arise.  I may be wrong, but if someone chooses not to dialyse, that they become terminal and can be eligible for hospice care? They should be familiar with the breathing thing because many cancer paitients anf heart patients would also suffer with this.

[billybags]

Sulli, I hope they get it sorted out quickly.

[fearless]

amanda100wilson, you are probably right.  I'm sorry if I was a bit overly dramatic.  Honestly, I think we need to continue focusing on improving our living status.  But every once and a while, especially when older, I guess you can't help but think about what could be.

It makes me think of a simple prayer that children used to be taught.  I think nowadays many think it's too harsh.

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I die before I wake
I pray the Lord my soul to take

so honest and faithful.   

[Whamo]

Yes, I remember reading that drivel that death by kidney failure is painless.  I hate Mondays because I have to go another day without the treatment.  I can't imagine bloating up for two weeks before life finally passes.  As much as I hate dialysis, I would hate not having dialysis even more, well, as long as my kidney function is so bad.  Dialysis also seems to be helping my liver, as I have portal hypertension.  The fluid buildup from the liver gets mitigated with every treatment.