Starting dialysis this week..

[jeannea]

Hope is a wonderful thing! Glad it went better for you. I always needed to sleep after my hemo treatments. Unfortunately, I don't have a cure for the boredom. But if you look down this page there's a thread with "Things to do on dialysis" in the title.

[kitkatz]

It is good things are gong better at dialysis.  Been at it 13.5 years,still bored and still hate it, but I am still here.   

[MooseMom]

wvgirl, I'm so relieved to hear that your second time was better.  There is a reason they say that the initiation of dialysis is so traumatic....such a steep learning curve for all involved, you, your neph and everyone involved in your treatment.  I hope you will keep posting about each treatment so that we can monitor your progress!   

[dialysisadvocate]

I think my father in over six years watched every DVD movie that was out there, listened to every tape etc. The unit kept saying they were getting more tv stations - for six years -- never did -- .. he read, etc...
I would stay with him and we could talk, or his friend, but alot of units don't allow visitors --- which is crazy considering cancer chemotherapy units allow visitors and there is a big risk of infection for those patients. I state that because alot of units give the excuse of no visitors as 'it is an infection control issue'.. what a joke considering the staff, in many units, do not even follow their own facility policies and procedures for infection control.. watch your staff and see if they wash their hands before they put on their gloves -- oops sorry to go furhter than the issue in question, but the aforementioned is just one of my pet peeves . At one time our unit tried to say that, then recently with the propublica data I learned how horrific their infection rates were along with their inspection report that identified incorrect practices.
Roberta

[MooseMom]

Roberta, you are right.  While my mom was on dialysis, she travelled all over the US visiting her family, including me, so I accompanied her to many different clinics.  Some encourged visitors while others forbade them.  It was all so random for no seemingly good reason.

[RWKIDD]

HELLO! WV Girl. I am glad you are getting along with hemo. I can not understand why you did not have the option of doing peritoneal dialysis first. I notice so many people go straight to hemo first. I have never had hemo; though I do have a fistula. I started directly on P.D(March 12,2012). My wife knew about P.D. and she basically directed the path for me. I feel alot better; in fact- like a new person. Life is enjoyable once more. I never-ever thought it would be. I would think that P.D. is a kinder approach-more liberal diet, less restrictions ect. How many folks out there never were initially given this option? Why??

[Sue]

Hi RWKiDD   I am pre-dialysis, I've just recently had my fistula op. I will not be able to have PD because I have had too many surgeries, which apparently can cause problems, so I will go straight to HD when my time comes.I was very disappointed, it does seem a good option.

[wvgirl]

Third time went great. I see it does get easier with each session. Needles went in easy. I used the Emla plus asked for the spray. I am a baby! Bored to tears for 3 hours. Tried reading a book and watching TV, but with all the beeping it is hard to even do that. The best part of it was NO headache!!  They kept my dry weight up more than before. I guess that did the trick.
I did the option of PD, but cose HD because my house is currently being remodeled and I have 3 dogs. I was worried with the dust and doggies I would get an infection, plus I chose this because I wanted to just do it 3 days and forget it in between. I regretted my choice after my first time but after yesterday, I think I can handle this. If I don't have a transplant within the next 6-9 months, I will do whatever I can to switch to PD. I have a long drive to dialysis.
I am feeling GREAT! Much better than before. I had no problem following my diet before because I wasn't hungry. Now, the diet is driving me nuts because I want to eat EVERYTHING!! I am craving a Big Mac as I type!!  Don't worry, I will go find something I am allowed to eat, but I am so happy to have food actually taste good again!

[boswife]

i feel like  w/ya    Great news!!  i love when things go right!!! 

[Riverwhispering]

Jeanne you make me so much less scared now.   I go for a second lab today to see if i was just dehydrated or not.  Hopefully I have more time before I have to start

[smokinbeaver]

Jeannea, thanks for your posts of your experiences here! My husband will be starting dialysis next week and we are scared. He had the fistula put in, but because his creatinean is so high they want him to get started and they will put a chest tube in next week. He saw the nephrologist yesterday and he wanted him to do this all right away. My husband wanted to talk to me and the people at work first. He was also told he needs 2 more pints of blood (just got 2 pints 2 weeks ago before the fistula surgery). So its being scheduled for Thurs and Fri next week. The dialysis center tells us people are put in the hosp. first for the first dialysis. My husband asked the nephrologist about this and he denies it. I believe he is not telling us the truth. He was told they will do the chest catheter and do dialysis at the hospital for about 2 hrs, and then the next day they will have him come back to the hospital for dialysis for a longer time. My husband called and talked to a lady we know there at the dialysis center and she told him he will be in the hosp a couple days even though the dr is not telling him this and to show up prepared for it. In the middle of all this, before or after the chest catheter is put in, he will have to get the blood again. The last time they gave him a transfusion, it took over 5 hrs. It sounds like next week he will be at the hospital a very very long time. We have no idea what to expect, everything has been told to us a little bit at a time, but I find your posting your experience very very helpfull. Same thing with all who have written replys! Thanks guys!!!! This is such an emotional roller coaster, I wish I could have xanax too! I got only about 3 hr sleep last night if that....

Sharon

[MooseMom]

wvgirl, I am so incredibly relieved that the third time went so smoothly.  I was so upset after reading how you felt after your first treatment.  I could just imagine how awful it must have felt, wondering if this was how you were going to feel for the rest of your life.     That you have started seeing some light at the edge of the tunnel makes me ecstatic!  I'm so proud of you for finding the courage to go to that second treatment.  I'm not sure I could have done it, but you're braver than me.

[wvgirl]

Just wanted to post again and let you all know that Friday they hit a nerve. Good golly that hurt!! Had to take to needle out, wait for the bleeding to stop and get re-needled. 3 hours of boredome, and afterward WOW!!!! No headache, no tired feeling. I felt great. I went out Saturday night and danced and had so much fun.  Everyone there that I know asked me what happened, and did I change my hair!!!! I kept hearing how I looked good~ I felt like someone new, still do! 3 hours, pain, boredome, to feel like this? Yes, I will do it! If you are getting ready to start, all I can say is give it time. I am loving life again for the first time in so so long. I felt worse than I realized.
smokinbeaver-I didn't have to be hospitalized, but River Whispering said it is common practice where she lives to be hospitalized for a few days. I don't know with the chest catheter, I didn't need one. If he is able to get on the transplant list be careful of blood transfusions. That is what I was told. Good luck to you both. I made it through Friday with no xanax!! It was so stressful before but really does get better. Once he gets started he will feel so much better.

[MooseMom]

wvgirl, speaking entirely selfishly, you have no idea how wonderful it is to read your last post.  For those of us who are not yet on D but are oh so close, hearing you say that it does get better is music to our ears.  Keep those reports coming.

As for hitting a nerve, that must not have been much fun.  Once you were re-needled, though, was it OK?

I'm glad that dialysis is enabling you to enjoy your Saturday nights!  Keep dancing!

[wvgirl]

When they hit the nerve it hurt, but I thought it was just an extremely painful needling. They got the blood flowing and it really started to hurt bad then so I said something. She said there is no way of knowing where the nerves are. She took the needle out, stopped the bleeding. When she re-needled it hurt again, but only for a while. She told me to put ice on it when I got home, and heat on Saturday. It is still a bit sore. I am hoping tomorrow that doesn't happen again.

[Bajanne]

I have only just read this thread.  After the posting about your first hemo treatment, I was about to post and tell you that it gets better.  Then I saw that you have found that out, and quite soon, too.
When I started, I would come home, lie down on the couch and not move from there until morning. I didn't drive myself to or from dialysis, I was so lethargic.  Then after a while, I felt really good after dialysis.  I would drive myself, then leave dialysis and go and teach evening classes!  After seven years now, I have no bad feelings after my dialysis.  It really does get better.
Thanks so much for sharing.  This is how we are able to help each other.