I'm On Pins And Needles Now (Pun Intended)

[Cordelia]

I am SOOOOO upset, my arterial line wouldn't work this morning. I was stabbed SIX (and I wish I could use some choicy words right now) times before the nurse finallly gave up. So, my arm is super sore and its's swollen. They wanted me to come in and dialyzie tonight. Problem is, I have plans to go out, something important, but told them I would cancel my plans to come in and dialyze. It would have been lousy having to cancel the special plans I had but I would have done it for the sake of getting a treatment in this weekend.   Well, guess what, they want me to come in on Monday afternoon instead. So, I will be going from Thurs morning  to Monday afternoon with no dialysis.

I've NEVER missed a treatment, ever in the 2 years almost that I've been dialysizing. Needless tosay, I'm confident I'll be fine "fluid wise" cuz I gain very little fluid between treatments based on the reason that I behave myself and don't walk in heavy for every treatment.

They want me coming in on Monday instead to give my arm a rest.

But, I'm scared sh*tless that IF this arterial vein doesn't work on Monday, what will happen.

I'm scared, I just had my catheter removed on Monday. I don't want another catheter put in.

I'm sorry, I'm just angry, I just had to vent here. I know this sort of thing happens, but I was doing so good and now this and it HAD to happen less than a week of having my other life line removed.

This sucks not knowing now what Monday will bring!!!!!!!!!!!                             And I"M officially SICK of dialysis, I want to scream, I already had a little cry!!!!!

                                                           

[billybags]

Cordelia, I feel so awful for you, but these things happen. You go out and have a good time to-night. Forget about dialysis and your sore arm.Things will go OK on Monday. Thinking about you.

[boswife]

I HATE (a rare word for me) dialysis!!!!  I'm so sorry your going through this but Monday will be fine. Try to get someone who knows hour fistula well or who is very experienced. Prayers with you and comfort hugs

[Traveller1947]

By Monday afternoon, your arm will be much less sore and swollen.  When you get there, ask for the most experienced nurse to put you on, as boswife recommends.   In the meantime, do as billybags recommends, put all of this out of your mind and enjoy your evening out.  All the best to you, as always.

[jeannea]

A good cry can be totally worth it. Go for it. Then enjoy your weekend. I hope it will be ok on Mon.

[Rerun]

Agreed... ask for the best person to get the needle in.  If they can't they will schedule you for a fistulagram ASAP.  You will be fine.

         

[MaryD]

 

[MooseMom]

Oooooh, I can just FEEL your anxiety from here!  Believe me, I'd be feeling EXACTLY THE SAME WAY!  All of the "what ifs"...oh, that's maddening.

However valid your anxiety is, it is also equally valid to be hopeful that things will work out just fine, that this type of thing happens all too often and that the usual remedy is to rest the arm and try again in a few days.  I hope you are able to enjoy what is left of the weekend.  I am eager to hear how things go on Monday, so don't forget to update us.  I'm really sorry that this has happened and that it has caused you such anguish.

[amanda100wilson]

   

[Bajanne]

Just giving you a cyberhug from me and your IHD family   We will be listening out to hear how thing go with you. My caring thoughts and prayers are with you.

[Cordelia]

                    Thank you all for your support and encouragement!!!!!! I went out lastnight and put it on the backburner lastnight and enjoyed the night out.

I have been keeping myself busy today to try to help keep my mind off of it, which is helping. I find the busier I keep myself the easier it is to keep my mind off.       

I'll be back in tomorrow and let you all know how I fared out.       

Thanks so much for thinking of me!         

[MaryJoe]

Cordelia - Holding good thoughts that all will go well for you tomorrow.  I'm glad you were able to enjoy your night out.  Also sending prayers your way for relief from the worry and anxiety.

MJ

[dialysisadvocate]

I, too, understand what you are going through and my heart goes out to you.. I am hoping that tomorrow brings an easy time of it-- I agree with the poster who said ask for the most experienced person. Sometimes staff become defensive when you ask for someone else, but it is YOUR body and you have a right to do such.... Thoughts with you --
Roberta

[Cordelia]

Thank you MaryJoe and Dialysisadvocate.                       Thank you both for your best wishes!                  I'm heading there for this afternoon to hopefully dialyze.   

Yes, Boswife's advice is really good!                     

I'll be back later today to let you all know how things went.         

[MomoMcSleepy]

Gosh, I'm so sorry!  How frustrating and scary.  I hope that all your arm needed was avoid rest and a good nurse.  I hope that it went well today!   

[Whamo]

Welcome to my world. I hope you have better luck today.

[Cordelia]

Thank you so much MomoMcSleepy and Whamo.              

Omg, Whamo, I feel for you!!!!                

Everything went well.          I was soooo nervous today getting hooked up.  My nurse chalked it up to that Saturday was just a bad day.         

They had me dialyze 15 minutes longer today since I missed Saturdays shift. So I did 4 hrs instead of 3, 3/4 for time.

Lucky for me, potassium is never ever an issue, so no worries.

I don't go back til Thursday so I get another little weekend.       

Gosh, does the worry ever go away of having to have that cath put in again even after using a fistula problem free for months or even years?              

[MooseMom]

I'm so glad today went better, Cordelia.  You ask a good question...does the fear of having to go back to a catheter ever go away?  Probably not.  I'd bet that after many months of using a working fistula without any problems, that fear does lessen, but I don't know if it will ever go away completely.  I know how much you hated that catheter, and that hatred leaves a lasting impression.  But hopefully you won't even have to use a fistula for that much longer because that transplant is something real you can set your sights on!

[Cordelia]

I'm so glad today went better, Cordelia.  You ask a good question...does the fear of having to go back to a catheter ever go away?  Probably not.  I'd bet that after many months of using a working fistula without any problems, that fear does lessen, but I don't know if it will ever go away completely.  I know how much you hated that catheter, and that hatred leaves a lasting impression.  But hopefully you won't even have to use a fistula for that much longer because that transplant is something real you can set your sights on!

I'm guessing that too, MM.  You're probably right, the longer without it, the fear likely 'lessens" as you put it, but the fear likely never "entirely" goes away.

Oh, you're so right on the hating thing that it leave a lasting impression, so true!!   

I agree with you, hopefully the fistula won't be something I need for too much longer.......I really, really hope that a transplant comes for me soon!!!   

Thanks for your best wishes!!