Losing Your Dialysis Virginity ..........

[ToddB0130]

......... that's right,  I have no shame.  I stole the title of this thread (here's kudos and a shout out to big777bill for originating it ......and for the laugh)

Soooooooo .........tell us all the 'intimate' details about your 'first time' ...

Do you remember it ? (i.e, was it an emergency ? scheduled ?)
Where did you 'do it' ? (hospital ? in center ? Which in center ?)
What was the setting like ? (calm ? chaotic ?)
Did you smoke afterwards ? (ha ha ...that one's a joke)
How did your partners (doctors, nurses, techs) treat you ?
Did it hurt as badly as you anticipated ?
Any advice about 'the first time' for us virgins ? (what to be prepared for ? a 'to do' list ?)

Seriously,  as someone with this 'experience' looming I really appreciate any information about what's to come.  I know this site is called 'I Hate Dialysis',  but the optomist in me is really hoping there are a lot of "it went better than I expected' and 'it was alright' and 'the earth moved' (ha ha ... joking again) responses.  Anxiety over anticipating a bad experience can be pretty high.

(and for those of you who 'don't remember' because it was an emergency situation,  feel free to contribute about your 'first time' with a scheduled session).

THANKS IN ADVANCE EVERYONE !!!

[Cordelia]

Oh! What a neat/cool title!     

Omg, I'd really have to think on this one. I was an emergency situation, I was less than 2 hrs away from kicking the bucket.


Uhhm.... well, I do remember being in the ICU and being told a portable dialysis machine would be brought by my bedside.

Once I was stabilized in the ICU, well enough to be transferred up to another floor/level of the hospital, I was plunked into a ward with 3 other women.....

I was then started on the Tues, Thurs, Sat shift while staying in the hospital. I went to a clinic in the hospital where the really, really sick renal dialysis patients were where there were mostly beds in the unit, not the typical chairs.

Anyways, I do recall clotting on the machine the first time....or ONE of the very early times that I recall and when I heard the alarm on the machine and 3 nurses came running over,......

The nurses were busy around my bedside trying to work with the machine and no one was saying anything-they all had serious expressions on their faces and all I can remember is saying, " Am I DYING?!"  I remember thinking, this is IT, "I'm dying and that's it"     

And then I got a pretty straight-forward answer right away, "No, but we just want to make sure you get your blood back, you're just clotting"

Well, OMG, I was relieved needless to say! LOL     

I can laugh about it now, but it sure wasn't funny back then!     
I can honestly say looking back, it was very traumatic and I was beyond scared!

Oh! I had the neckline in for the first few times too and needless to say, it sucked the big one....I was so uncomfortable and they told me I had to lay on my right side on the bed and I was getting annoyed by the one nurse contantly reminding me not to move. It was a huge challenge and unfortunately to this day, I still get quite a bit of shoulder pain from that bad experience.

I was relieved once I was able to be allowed to sit in a chair within  a week!

BTW, I had NO clue that dialysis would be done. I always envisioned/imagined since being told 20 years ago that I would one day need a kidney transplant when I found out I had PKD. NO ONE--- not even my nephroglist ever told/warned me of dialysis, I just assumed I'd get a kidney pronto once I went into renal failure     

If I knew back then what I know now       

[RichardMEL]

You always remember your first time,right? (strangelty enough popping my D cherry was probably a bit better than the other sort...  )

Well both involved lovely women....

anyway seriusly.

Mine was planned - I had my "date" lined up for 3 weeks before I started, so I knew where and when, and I could even pick out what to wear, put on aftershave etc... 

My siblings both offered to come with me, but I decided no... mostly because I wanted to deal with it myself and well if I was a pathetic mess during it I didn't really want them to see!! I was pretty anxious when I wandered in since, even though I'd been to a training seminiar and had a basic understanding of what to expect, but I had not yet found IHD so I was kind of on my own).

Anyway the staff were very nice to me, and gentle (just what you need for your first time!) and were really good at leading me through the procedure and being patient in explaining things. Given it was in the hospital unit (where I was lucky enough to become a regular outpatient because I live across the road)... anyway since it was my first time it was only going to be a 2 hour session with no fluid removal, just D at a low pump speed - of course at the time all I understood was that it would be a short session done at a lower setting to see how I go - it was only later I understood all that stuff about pump speeds, UFR, baths and so on.

I'd had my fistula for 2 years so it was nice and mature (and sweet nurse Sharon did explaim "oh it's so BIG and FIRM!!"  - and yes I'm still talking about dialysis!!! heh) but I did wuss out and request a local and so the pain wasn't much (that was the only time, after that I went without) and really it went OK until I made the mistake of looking at my just needled fistula and saw a bit of blood pouring out. uh, yeah, not normal. They claim I fainted, I think I got close, but yeah I didn't feel too good at that, so yeah she had to re-needle that arterial needle, but really it was more the image than anything else - like a tiny drop of blood can spread and look way worse than it actually is.

That was really the only hiccup. My BP stayed pretty stable and I was good for that 2 hour run. When I finished I felt a little woozy but not too bad and was OK to go. Again, the "finishing up" procedure they explained what they were doing, and more importantly *WHY* and I had a real understanding for what to expect in two days time - and absolutely when I went back I was much more relaxed about it not being as big a deal as I expected and things went smoothly.

So all in all my firs time was not without a bump or two, but finished out well and she said she'd see me again in a few days... so I guess it was good for her too!! 

[Riverwhispering]

Todd this is the best thread I've seen so far only because It will be soon for me to start the big D

As I've said many times I'm really scared about it.   Scared about starting before I move to Calif and not having any family around and also my fear of needles.  I'm a woos I admit.

[ToddB0130]

Thanks River.  Me too.  My time is coming.  I really hope the thread gets more responses !!

[kristina]

Todd, there is a comprehensive thread about starting dialysis
and I remember reading particularly our member Stoday’s experience
when he mentioned something like he felt like visiting the Nibelungs at his first dialysis.
His comment made me shiver a bit...I wish I could find this thread again...
I am also pre-dialysis with a GFR of 10-12%.

Good luck from Kristina.

[malaka]

I remember it well.  January 13, 2012, approximately 3:00 p.m., Southfield, Michigan.  She was far more experienced than I was, too, even though I was 59 years old and she might not have been even 30!  I wasn't sure what all the needles and tubes were for, but she knew!

[gothiclovemonkey]

Much like the other tytpe of virginity, i actually dont remember much about it. It was uneventful and boring LOL

Do you remember it ? It was scheduled, i went in days before and watched other people like a total voyer...

Where did you 'do it' ? Davita, a clinic... not recommended, if u have a choice go anywhere BUT davita!

What was the setting like ? quite for the most part, BEEEEEEEP beep beep beep beeeeeeep , lots of beeeps!

Did you smoke afterwards ? why, yes, yes i did...

How did your partners (doctors, nurses, techs) treat you ? um... can i say, like dog Sh...?

Did it hurt as badly as you anticipated ? actually not as bad as expected... the first time

Any advice about 'the first time' for us virgins ? go check it out... embrace ur inner voyer ask loads of questions!!!

[RichardMEL]

GLM probably better you did it at Davita than in the back seat of a small car after the prom... 

[rsudock]

great thread I will be back to answer it later!!!

xo,
R

[gothiclovemonkey]

GLM probably better you did it at Davita than in the back seat of a small car after the prom... 

I didnt go to prom!
  (my boyfriend was 'too old' to go to prom, so i didnt go)

[RichardMEL]

wha?! isn't the Prom a right of passage in the USA?!! I'm shocked!!!

[gothiclovemonkey]

ya for most people, but where i live it costs like 50 bucks a couple, its not worth the money, plus the dress, my bf couldnt go, and i really dont like the people i grew up with, none of my friends went to school with me...

[RichardMEL]

I'm hearing your bf couldn't go because the dress he wanted to wear was too expensive? 

Sorry, couldn't resist

[gothiclovemonkey]

 

funny u should say that.... 


but this has gone off topic, sorry about that!!

[Phil]

Do you remember it ?
Scheduled

Where did you 'do it' ?
In center

What was the setting like ?
Calm

Did you smoke afterwards ?
lol

How did your partners (doctors, nurses, techs) treat you ?
Very Very well....they saw how nervous I was, and they helped me a great deal....the nurses in my unit are amazing people.

Did it hurt as badly as you anticipated ?
It was WAYYYYYY better than what I was expecting. No emla cream or anything...the pokes arent as bad as I had dreaded....its more a mental issue to get over.

Any advice about 'the first time' for us virgins ?
I found that the best way to prepare myslef for dialysis, was to learn as much as I could about it, the process....how a session works, how the machine works, how your body works, what each medicine is for etc etc. Learn how to listen to your body and how to understand symptoms so you can catch a problem EARLY and avoid problems like crashing...not fun lol. Talking about dialysis and your problems not only prepares you mentally to cope but also if you understand what is happening to you then it makes everything a little less scary. Believe me And lastley...remember.....eventhough dialysis SUCKS, and we are going through a rough patch...remember that there is ALWAYS someone worse off than you...and that in some weird way we are lucky.

Good luck and remember to be positive and smile, even when there's nothing to really smile about

[deniferfer]

This is too funny... I have 2 first times.. on was a emergency to start hemo and the other was to begin PD

Do your remember it:
Yeah I would hope so..Kinda important day in a girls life

Where was it?
In the hospital with my mom
Then at the children's hospital with my dad 

What was the setting like?
crazy, they could have at least set some mood music
The second time was alot claimer and alot more gentle 

Did you smoke afterwards:
Ummm no I was only 16 and I didn't need to add more heath problems to my list

How did your doctors treat you?
The nurses were very kind but the doctor had popped my lung so I wasn't too keen on him.
Then second time it was just a nurse and she was very kind and treated me well

Did it hurt as badly as you thought it would?
No I don't remember it hurting at all for either one

Any advice about 'the first time' for us virgins ?
 My advice would be that to know this is only a part of your life and that you can still do anything you want. Its going to take awhile till you feel somewhat normal agai and you going to have to learn about yourself all over again. To find out what you can eat and how your body reacts to everything now. Also have a sense of humor about life. The world can be pretty funny even on your bad days. Oh and never give up!
 

[kitkatz]

Do you remember it ? (i.e, was it an emergency ? scheduled ?)

I remember being told they need to start dialysis immediately.  They came into my room and stuck a groin catheter into me.  They should never do that in the patient's bed! It is like being invaded.  Then they brought all of these machines into the room and hooked me up.  I was out of it pretty much.

Where did you 'do it' ? (hospital ? in center ? Which in center ?) First time was in the intensive care of the hospital.

What was the setting like ? (calm ? chaotic ?) I was pretty out of it so it seemed chaotic to me.

Did you smoke afterwards ? (ha ha ...that one's a joke) I wish!


How did your partners (doctors, nurses, techs) treat you ?
They were worried I was going to die on them.  Concerned.  However not forth giving with any information.

Did it hurt as badly as you anticipated ?  Not really.

Any advice about 'the first time' for us virgins ? (what to be prepared for ? a 'to do' list ?)
      Get an access.
      Get as much information as you can!!!

[MomoMcSleepy]

Oh! What a neat/cool title!     

Omg, I'd really have to think on this one. I was an emergency situation, I was less than 2 hrs away from kicking the bucket.


Uhhm.... well, I do remember being in the ICU and being told a portable dialysis machine would be brought by my bedside.

Once I was stabilized in the ICU, well enough to be transferred up to another floor/level of the hospital, I was plunked into a ward with 3 other women.....

I was then started on the Tues, Thurs, Sat shift while staying in the hospital. I went to a clinic in the hospital where the really, really sick renal dialysis patients were where there were mostly beds in the unit, not the typical chairs.

Anyways, I do recall clotting on the machine the first time....or ONE of the very early times that I recall and when I heard the alarm on the machine and 3 nurses came running over,......

The nurses were busy around my bedside trying to work with the machine and no one was saying anything-they all had serious expressions on their faces and all I can remember is saying, " Am I DYING?!"  I remember thinking, this is IT, "I'm dying and that's it"     

And then I got a pretty straight-forward answer right away, "No, but we just want to make sure you get your blood back, you're just clotting"

Well, OMG, I was relieved needless to say! LOL     

I can laugh about it now, but it sure wasn't funny back then!     
I can honestly say looking back, it was very traumatic and I was beyond scared!

Oh! I had the neckline in for the first few times too and needless to say, it sucked the big one....I was so uncomfortable and they told me I had to lay on my right side on the bed and I was getting annoyed by the one nurse contantly reminding me not to move. It was a huge challenge and unfortunately to this day, I still get quite a bit of shoulder pain from that bad experience.

I was relieved once I was able to be allowed to sit in a chair within  a week!

BTW, I had NO clue that dialysis would be done. I always envisioned/imagined since being told 20 years ago that I would one day need a kidney transplant when I found out I had PKD. NO ONE--- not even my nephroglist ever told/warned me of dialysis, I just assumed I'd get a kidney pronto once I went into renal failure     

If I knew back then what I know now       

Wow, so frightening!  It's a shame how little our doctors clue us in.  I always have to look things up and do my research before I go in so I know what questions to ask.  I had to email my doctor when my gfr was about 30 (right after problems first discovered) and admit things were ok or not.  He said they were "not good" because my Renal function was 30%.

[YLGuy]

  In March of 2009 I thought I had pneumonia so I called my doctor and he suggested I just go to the ER for a chest X-Ray.  I was wrong.  I found out that I had congestive heart failure.  They did the labs and found that my creatinine was 8.0.  They then did an ultrasound on my kidneys and informed me that I was in stage 5 renal failure.  I had no idea!   They immediately operated on me and put in the chest catheter and a fistula.  I was stuck in the hospital for 17 days while they ended up pulling 37 pounds of fluid off of me.  The first time I had no idea what was going on.  I was on morphine so everything was kind of a blur.  They had to do the catheter and fistula operations both twice.

[Cordelia]

Oh! What a neat/cool title!     

Omg, I'd really have to think on this one. I was an emergency situation, I was less than 2 hrs away from kicking the bucket.


Uhhm.... well, I do remember being in the ICU and being told a portable dialysis machine would be brought by my bedside.

Once I was stabilized in the ICU, well enough to be transferred up to another floor/level of the hospital, I was plunked into a ward with 3 other women.....

I was then started on the Tues, Thurs, Sat shift while staying in the hospital. I went to a clinic in the hospital where the really, really sick renal dialysis patients were where there were mostly beds in the unit, not the typical chairs.

Anyways, I do recall clotting on the machine the first time....or ONE of the very early times that I recall and when I heard the alarm on the machine and 3 nurses came running over,......

The nurses were busy around my bedside trying to work with the machine and no one was saying anything-they all had serious expressions on their faces and all I can remember is saying, " Am I DYING?!"  I remember thinking, this is IT, "I'm dying and that's it"     

And then I got a pretty straight-forward answer right away, "No, but we just want to make sure you get your blood back, you're just clotting"

Well, OMG, I was relieved needless to say! LOL     

I can laugh about it now, but it sure wasn't funny back then!     
I can honestly say looking back, it was very traumatic and I was beyond scared!

Oh! I had the neckline in for the first few times too and needless to say, it sucked the big one....I was so uncomfortable and they told me I had to lay on my right side on the bed and I was getting annoyed by the one nurse contantly reminding me not to move. It was a huge challenge and unfortunately to this day, I still get quite a bit of shoulder pain from that bad experience.

I was relieved once I was able to be allowed to sit in a chair within  a week!

BTW, I had NO clue that dialysis would be done. I always envisioned/imagined since being told 20 years ago that I would one day need a kidney transplant when I found out I had PKD. NO ONE--- not even my nephroglist ever told/warned me of dialysis, I just assumed I'd get a kidney pronto once I went into renal failure     

If I knew back then what I know now       

Wow, so frightening!  It's a shame how little our doctors clue us in.  I always have to look things up and do my research before I go in so I know what questions to ask.  I had to email my doctor when my gfr was about 30 (right after problems first discovered) and admit things were ok or not.  He said they were "not good" because my Renal function was 30%.

I sure wish I could turn back the time.           But, I know I can't.