Not a good morning, but got better.

[frankswife]

Today didn't start out too well. Frank got up at 4 am as he usually does on dialysis days and got himself off to dialysis for his 6:00 chair time. At 6:30 I was awakened by rustling and banging in the garage and had my hand on the phone to call the cops when Frank steps out of the garage. What the??? He had gotten upset and walked out of the clinic because they put a new patient on before him when he had been waiting. I actually had been expecting this to happen ever since he started in September and was suprised it took so long. He doesnt have alot of coping skills and he tends to flee when angry/upset. I also think it was just a "I'm really sick of dialysis" day. I wasn't going to nag him about it and just let him cool off for today, but his nurse called and talked to him and he decided to go back and at least get a partial treatment. Now my question is, would he have been ok til Saturday if he hadnt gone back? He's never skipped before so we have no experience. What happens when you skip?

[geoffcamp]

We all have those days!!  At least he went in to get some treatment in!!  Good of you to be understanding as hard as it might be!!  Every so often it's inevitable to have a "blow up" now and again! 

[Riki]

skipping has different effects on different people.  For example, I can't skip.  I don't pee at all, so all the fluid I take in sticks around till dialysis.  If I skip, I get overloaded and feel like crap.  A friend of mine still pees enough that she actually has to have fluid given during dialysis or she'll dehydrate.  She can skip without much trouble, and has started going only 2 days a week instead of 3.

As for patients being taken in first, we must remember that dialysis isn't first come first served.  There could have been a reason Frank had to wait, like a possible problem with his machine.  I know I've had to wait before because something happened to my machine and they had to start the setup over again, and I'm on the first shift as well

[jeannea]

For me, each tech had a certain number of patients to put on. So the order had to do with each tech. Somebody who came after might go before because my tech had a problem with another patient and was running late. Every center is different but it could be something like that. It's ok to be upset sometimes too. This whole business is impossible.

[billybags]

So frankswife , how are things going with you, have they settled down?

[frankswife]

No, things are worse. Not with him going to dialysis, he gets up goes and stays just fine, but at home. Theres something wrong with him. He's mean. Really mean. The last week or so, we've done nothing but fight. He's always short tempered and impatient. I know he's sick... I'm sure it's the illness. He keeps chasing my cats out  of the house and now one has disappeared. I havent seen my kitty since Friday. Those cats are my only comfort and he knows it. Sometimes it seems like he's trying to take everything away from me. I'm sorry, I don't mean to dump on you guys

[cdwbrooklyn]

How long has he been on daiylsis? He maybe going through his angry year, which comes during the first year after starting dailysis for a while. It will pass. He has to find a way to cope with it. It's not easy. He will get pass it. If he gets worse, let the center know so they can get him some help.

[jeannea]

If he's not getting enough dialysis, the toxins can build up in his brain and cause changes. Can you call and talk to someone? Mental changes on dialysis usually mean something is wrong.

[frankswife]

I'm going to talk to Barb, the one nurse he seems to really like and the one who seems to care about him. She's the one that called when he walked out and got him to come back. Hopefully she'll have some insight.

[Riki]

If he's not getting enough dialysis, the toxins can build up in his brain and cause changes. Can you call and talk to someone? Mental changes on dialysis usually mean something is wrong.

I agree with this..

When I was a kid on PD, I was allowed to take one night off a week, usually Saturday.  By Sunday afternoon I was cranky, irritable, and wouldn't go anywhere without my teddy bear, and I was 13.  I can imagine now, how embarrassing that would have been for my parents. *L*  Once I had that first exchange on Sunday evening, I was back to normal.  Toxins can do strange things to us.