OK, if I'm Not Allowed To Punch Nephrologists, Can I Punch Clinic Managers?

[Paul]

You may have heard me rant in the past about the lack of use by the clinic of my fistula. For those lucky enough not to have heard the story: My fistula was cleared for use by the hospital over a year ago. The clinic refused to use it as the cannula was easier and quicker. I kept moaning and eventually they said it was too small to use, and I have to admit it had gone down a bit by then. They sent me to have an ultrasound and they decided to balloon it, which duly happened. But still the clinic could not be arsed to use it. Eventually my cannula started playing up and could only be used on a speed of 250 or lower, and I have not been getting sufficient clearance because of this. I continued to whine, this time threatened legal action, they tried to use the fistula but eventually gave up, saying it was impossible. To be fair to them  it is now very flat, a slight bulge less than an inch long, but apart from that you could not tell without close examination that there was ever a fistula there. So today the hospital gave me a Doppler scan.

The result was that the collapse was caused by something I cannot remember the name of (technical sounding medical word) however what the technician said was the most likely history of events was: This whatever developed and ballooning the fistula fixed the problem. However LACK OF USE OF THE FISTULA by the clinic caused a second one to develop, causing the second collapse. I asked what the treatment would be and the technician said this would be up to the doctors, they might balloon it again, or I might need a new fistula.

Ballooning hurts, and creating a second fistula has all sorts of possible risks, the most serious of which is death. On top of this I have not been getting proper clearance which, I'm told, is shortening my life expectancy. If I have to wait for a ballooning, that will add a couple of months of insufficient clearance, and a new fistula, probably six months by the time it has developed enough to use.

And this is all because the lazy assed manager refused to use the fistula.

So, the only reason I'm not going in there tomorrow and beating her to death with my walking stick is that if I murder one of their staff they will probably refuse to give me dialysis anymore.

[Charlie B53]

If the Dr wrote the order to use the fistula and the clinic did NOT follow Dr's orders, Heads should roll.

Knowing what level and where to file written complaints makes the highest waves.  Often leading to staff reassignment, or termination as the clinic may be liable for your pain, suffering, increased medical expenses/procedures required because of their neglect.

Document everything.

[GA_DAWG]

I love every one of our Techs and Nurses, but I could get behind a movement to punch the manager. She is as lazy as the one Paul speaks of and only shows up to try to force one of the techs to take an extra shift so she won't have to or do any work to find a substitute, she changes appointment times arbitrarily if a someone she knows qants a better starting time, she is morbidly obese and turns the AC down to freezing.

[Michael Murphy]

I don’t know who to complain to in Britain bit in the US it is CMS.  My guess is that Britain has a similar agency.  GA Dawg CMS has regulations about temperature complain to them.

[Paul]

One good thing about this: I no longer have to spend too much of my day, every day, squeezing that bloody ball. Five times a day, for over a year, and I did not realise how sick of doing that I was until I stopped, and found out how happy I am NOT doing it!

[Charlie B53]

My clinic recently has given me yet another 'egg' squeezy thing.  I now have at least five.  Haven't used any of them much at all.

Oh, I have squeezed them a couple of times when I first get one, just so I know what it feels like as there is a noticeable difference in the density/softness of each one.

But I won't use any of them.  I've given a few to Grandson, a couple to Wife.
And have a few more just laying about the house, collecting dust.

Dog isn't interested.  Cat occasionally bats one across the floor.

So you mean to tell me that some of you actually USE these?

I never would have imagined.

[Riki]

I use them, and I keep one in my school bag.  They are great for stress relief, and not by throwing them at the instructor. *L*  The last time I was given one was when I was in hospital getting my gallbladder removed.  I was getting tingling in my left hand, and it worried me because my fistula is in my left arm.  The doc gave me one of those balls and told me to squeeze it and roll it on the table.  It helped.  After a day or so, the tingling went away.  As annoying as using those little balls can be, I've had my fistula since 2009 and it's never failed me.  It's never needed any work done on it.  Maybe using the ball has nothing to do with it, but it can't hurt












Sp mod Cas

[Charlie B53]

I get 'tinglilng' in both hands if I keep my elbows bent too long.  Something like carpel tunnel only in the elbows.  Dr tells me it isn't bad enough to fix it, yet.  It wakes me up at night so I straighten out my arm(s) and it finally goes away.

[Whamo]

Can you go on PD?  I like being in control of my therapy.  No one is there to bail you out of problems, even Baxter or your on-call nurse, really, but it feels good to solve your own hiccups.