I start dialysis Tuesday! :(

[paddbear0000]

Well it's official. I start dialysis on Tuesday. I just got back from my neph appointment. My function dropped to 8%, down 1% in a week and a half! My creat is now 6 and my phosphorus level is now high. My potassium is still normal though. I'd rather have it the other way around though. I love cheese! I'm so sad. The doctor is the medical director of the local hospital's dialysis clinic, as well as his office's dialysis clinics, so I will be going to those. He got me in for the 11:30am time slot on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays for the first month at the hospital. There are only a few chairs there because it's really for hospital patients, so after I "get settled" into dialysis (about a month or so), he'll have me start going to one of the larger clinics.

My fistula surgery is the day after tomorrow, so the surgeon is going to place my catheter as well. In a way I'm kind of glad I'm starting because I'm tired of the roller coaster of feeling crappy or downright miserable.

[Sluff]

Good luck on Tuesday paddygurl, I will be thinking of you and I hope the experience goes smooth. Give yourself some time for adjusting to dialysis. We will be there in spirit.   

[Joe Paul]

Well, it sucks to finally have to start - but as you said, it'll be good to get off the roller coaster of down, and miserable. Keep in mind though, it will take time before you get on an even keel. Even once on dialysis, they tend to challenge your dry weight, another set of the blues. Good luck with this new chapter of life, I hope it goes well 

[kellyt]

Oh Padd, I'm both happy and sad for you at the same time.  I hope that dialysis can make you feel a little better, but I'm so sad that you have to do this at all.  You will definitely be in my thoughts on Tuesday.    

[Mizar]

I'm Sorry, You have to start Dialysis. It is a whole New way of Life, but I know You will feel better. Surround Yourself, with Family, Friends and IHD.

[paddbear0000]

Thanks. I don't think he's having any fluid removed at this point.

Now I need suggestions of what to bring with me on my first day! I bought a nice, thick fleece white blanket that i can bleach if I get blood on it, as well as a bleachable, t-shirt jersey fabric pillow case cover for a pillow. I'm going to call them tomorrow to see if they have wi-fi. I sure hope so! I'll go nuts. My poor husband is going to bring me the first day and he's going to be so bored!

[Wenchie58]

 Bring whatever you want to make you comfy!!  Warm fuzzy socks might be good....and IPOD...a book.  Oh and they better have wi-fi!  Laptops are like American Express...don't leave home without them!

  I hope the best for you, time to adjust and soon feel better (so you can cheat and eat something decadent and not feel ill)

  God Bless.

[kitkatz]

Lordy! Lord!  What a week you will have!   Here is my advice to a starting out dialysis patient:

Be aware of your weight on and off the machine.  Dry weight is a fickle thing.
If you feel funny on the machine tell someone immediately.

Bring:
Must Haves
Warm fuzzy socks on your feet.
A warm blanket
a book
a magazine
a puzzle book
headphones for the TV
A head pillow for your neck
Hand warmers for keeping warm if you get cold easy. The local sports place will have these.

Could Have:
Radio or CD player with CDs
Portable DVD player and DVDS with battery pack
Fun stuff to do

[MandaMe1986]

I hope it makes you feel better.  Good luck

[kitkatz]

Oh and a sense of the ridiculous and mundane in life when you are there.

And a sense of humor!

[okarol]

Awww Padd, I hope it makes you feel better. Life inside a dialysis unit was a foreign and frightening experience for Jenna at first, I think, even though we had tried to prepare for when it happened, I don’t think we really knew what to expect. We were fortunate to live close to a well-regarded unit and she got good care. But we had to stay on top of what was going on, always reviewing her lab slips (we asked that they be faxed to us and we kept them in a notebook), constantly double checking her dry weight so they would not remove too much fluid (she was still urinating so they had to reset the machines default), asking questions and getting help from other patients (we didn't know about IHD when Jenna started, so you are way ahead of many patients who are just starting out!). I cannot recall, are you already on Medicare? If not, be sure to apply right away. Good luck!  

[paris]

You have been preparing for a long time.  You are going to be dealing with a lot of changes during the next week.  We'll be here, supporting you with prayers and good thoughts.    

[monrein]

It's not good but at the same time it is good that you're going to start Paddbear.  I hope that it will help you to begin feeling a bit better, not immediately like the first time or anything, but in due course.  Sometimes you can feel awful at first because the body adapts to all the toxins running around and is unsettled as they get the boot.  But for me it really made a huge difference to how I was feeling.  Appetite will return, vomiting stop and so on.  You know that you have us all going with you on Tuesday,  I'll be sitting on your shoulder but not too heavily and I hope that you will remember that you're very far from alone there.
 

[cris]

Paddbear,
we're here, we're here....your journey to dialysis is surely be not something to dream on. But one thing is sure, you can tackle and defeat all the obstacles. Food watch, exercise, and keen observations of your self, guarding your lab test, being on guard of nurses and doctors who imposes themselves, who thinks they feel what you feel are your best armors on this battle.
Prayers for you to go things smoothly.
love,
cris

[paddbear0000]

Thanks so much for the kind words and support. Yo have no idea how much it means to me! And thanks for all the ideas. At the beginning, my treatments are going to be in a hospital clinic which has only 5 chairs. I'm going to call and see how much space there is so I can bring all of my stuff. Usually the clinic is just for hospital patients. I'm hoping my husband will be allowed to stay.

I do have a question regarding the socks though. Everyone keeps mentioning warm socks. Do they not let you wear shoes??

[pelagia]

Oh PB, I guess we knew this day was coming, but then suddenly here it is.  When my husband started dialysis we knew almost nothing.  You have taken the time to learn and from my perspective, you seem about as well-prepared for this as anyone could be.  I hope that you don't have too many ups and downs.  We'll be staying posted and wishing you the best. 

[del]

Good luck.    Like others have said it will probably take your body a while to get used to being cleaner and it will take a while to get your dry weight right.  At hubby's unit I was allowed in as long as there wasn't anybody being put on the machine or being taken off the machine.  in a little while you will feel  a lot better.  Take care.    We knew nothing about dialysis when hubby first started so at least you have a lot head start on that!!!

[kitkatz]

Wearing shoes in a recliner for four hours sucks. Dump the shoes and wear the socks.

[monrein]

You definitely don't want to wear shoes.

[Romona]

  I hope all goes well for you.

[Rerun]

Thanks. I don't think he's having any fluid removed at this point.

Now I need suggestions of what to bring with me on my first day! I bought a nice, thick fleece white blanket that i can bleach if I get blood on it, as well as a bleachable, t-shirt jersey fabric pillow case cover for a pillow. I'm going to call them tomorrow to see if they have wi-fi. I sure hope so! I'll go nuts. My poor husband is going to bring me the first day and he's going to be so bored!

To get blood out use plain old Hydrogen Peroxide.  Dump it on and scrub it and it bubbles it right out.  Then throw it in the washer.

                   

I wore shoes for only 3 hours, but for 8 I kick them off.  I weigh with the same shoes on everytime so that never affects the weight.  I would NOT walk around the clinic with just socks on.  ICKY!

Dirty Fish Bowl Syndrome:  You will feel like a fish feels when he has been swimming around in dirty water and then thrown in clean water.... a little sick.  But, it gets better when your body gets use to the cleaner blood.

[charee]

Good luck  , you should be feeling lots better after a few sessions ,  i will be thinking of you

[MIbarra]

   I hope everything goes well for you! You'll see how much better you will feel after a while on dialysis. I didn't realize how "sick" I had been feeling until about 4 weeks of treatment.

[Chris]

If you need a CD player, I have a couple of them that CellCept sent me.With dialysis starting, there maybe more oportunities for help in your area on top of your vision problems. As stated earlier, apply for Medicare and disability (have as much documentation as possible from all doctrs) before making the first visit with a case worker there. You may also get assistance from state Medicaid now too. Try to see if there is Ohio Department of Rehabilitation (mines called Illinois Department of Rehabilitation) and they can help you with vision/schooling, show your other areas of help, and then there might be a county service for disability and senior services which I am now forgeting what mine is called and I just went there today. The county can help you get into other programs for financial assistance even though husband works, you can get money because he is your caregiver. You may not feel like driving for a bit when you first start dialysis, but we are all different and some of these agencies may provide transportation service or taxi vouchers. Of course each state is different, but this is what is available in mine and might be in yours to some degree that may assist you in some manner.

As for your husband, he doesn't have to stay there, maybe he can waste some time at a mall, use the hospitals library, or something in the area.

Good Luck on your first day and your surgery. Hope all goes well.

[Mimi]

I hate you are going to have to start, but I do think you will feel better after a few weeks.  I hope things will go smoothly for you.  You will be in my prayers.

Love, Mimi