Ann's Show and Tell Summer. Not for weak stomachs.

[G-Ma]

Hi all.  I have missed you.  I tried to die due to the dialysis center nurses not listening to me.  i was ill the whole month of June, heart doing constant flipflops and the last weekend my fistula quit, I called Renal Dr in the evening when I checked it and he said to go to dialysis early the next am and have the nurses send me to DAS...they refused..said it was all in my mind...hooked me up..of course nothing went anywhere, Sunday, finally after Saul and my sons pushing went to ER..they thought I was deep into atrial fib and shot 12 tubes of stuff into me until my heart was in rhythm, then did dialysis which still did nothing and Echo and lots of tests...came screaming when they found my potassium level was 18..made me drink lots of shit, did emerg fistulagram and dialysis and a couple days in hosp..then home.  I refused to go back to the D center, found out they had been "adding" potassium to my dialysis instead of removing... so another renal Dr made a 5 min arrng to get me into his clinic...ended up with another fistulagram last week Monday and now starting to feel better.  Dr said it looked like I had not dialyzed for 2 weeks and was going into a coma..it was not fun...if you want to do that at least they can medicate you..I was doing it cold turkey...Saul had to go home a week ago but I have been so tired..finally went out today and am going to bed soon...I now have dialysis t, th and sat at 6:45 am which I love, wonderful techs and nurses...all pampering, and my 2 favorite Drs in NC, and fun never ends..last week I got a letter saying AT&T "oops" due to an error of theirs decided to drop me from their health ins effective Jan 2008...yes 2008....so I wrote a detailed email and sent it to US Labor Dept, Senators, Congress Committees and everyone I could and my Davita Social Worker..who by the way is fantastic and makes everything her responsibility got me reinstated yesterday with no break..of course they didn't like the heat in the kitchen either....I still am fighting the money they want but that is minor..at least I have ins, and now have to return all the medical calls saying "do you know you don't have ins?"...wrong.  I think I'm at the bottom of this hill and perhaps can move up now.  I hope everyone is doing well and having a good summer.

[paris]

Oh my goodness, Ann!  You have been through hell and back!!  We have missed you, but I was hoping you were kicking up your heels with Saul.  I had no idea how bad things were.  I will keep saying lots of prayers for things to start really improving.  Good news about the insurance, though!  There is enough stress without fighting the insurance company.   It is really good to see your post. It hasn't been the same without you!  Rest!  Love you   

[willowtreewren]

 

So sad to hear of your troubles. But now that you are at a new center, things should improve. I am thinking of you. Treatment like this is unconscionable.

 

All in your head!!! 

I really, really get ticked off when medical staff take that line.

Get better, and better and better.

 

Aleta

[okarol]

Yay! Good to see you back! You've been missed!  I didn't have your emergency info so I was worrying when you disappeared. I hope things get better and better Ann. Take care!

[Mizar]

I wish People knew, what Our Lives are really like. 

[petey]

Goodness, G-ma!  What an experience!  I'm not glad that you've had such a tough time lately, but I'm certainly glad that things seem to be looking better.

  Damn!  I hate nurses, techs, and other medical professionals who don't listen to the patient.  It always makes me want to slap some faces.

I wish People knew, what Our Lives are really like. 

Very few others could handle all that ESRD and dialysis folks handle.  Only the strong survive.  (And, G-ma, I think you're a "strong" one.)

[twirl]

good grief
I thought you would have photos ( not for weak stomachs) but this was worse --
things have to get better -- you will see
and remember to post - we love and miss you

[Hanify]

Good to hear you're surviving - but what a journey!  Dan and I were just asking about you the other day.  Hope things continue to improve.  Glad you're back.

[jbeany]

Holy cow!  What a summer!   

[David13]

Sorry to hear about why you were away, but I am glad you are back, G-Ma!   

[Wattle]

   OMG  Why are there soooo many MORONS in the renal profession? I am so glad you have Saul on your side.   

[del]

Use the big stick!! I hate it when people look at you and tell you it is all in your head.  to them!!  A neph made the mistake of telling hubby it was all in his head when Pd stopped working for him.  Ended up he had 25 lbs of fluid on!!!  Hubby let her have it that day - she didn't tell him it was all in his head again!! 

[dwcrawford]

G-Ma, I've been looking for you.   Sorry about all the problems but I was really glad to see your post today.  Missed you.  Dan

[Jess21]

  G-ma glad you are feeling better!!!!!!
WHY do they not listen when we say something is wrong with our fistuals?    Mine stopped temporarily last Thanksgiving..they said it was "all in my head" too... 4 days later I got 4 clots taken out! 

[G-Ma]

I love you all and thank you so much for caring....what the hell....I would like to see the textbook..is it physicians for dummies..it's all in your head...if I hear that ever again you know what I will do and I'll end up behind bars but who cares.  Not any more.  All of you use this for a lesson.  I told the boys and Saul..this was a test and you all passed.  Have a good night all.

[Jean]

Gosh, G-Ma, everyone was wondering where you were. Sorry to hear so much went wrong for you, but glad you are on the mend again. Borrrow Kitkatz stick and let them have it and please post when you can and tell us how you are doing.

[Des]

I am really horrified at the stupidity of some medical staff...... I think that NOTHING is in their heads....

Hope you sort out all your insurance "stuff" soon.

Good luck !

I am thinking of you.

Hugs
 

[rose1999]

Hi Ann, So pleased you are back and in one piece.  What a time you've had and here we were thinking you were having too good a time to post here!  I admire your strength and hope all goes smoothly from now on

[KICKSTART]

SNAP!!! I have had a similar problem  only with me , i changed from manual pd to APD and KEPT telling them i didnt feel right since i had . They blamed it on anything except the machine EVEN asked me if i had been missing dialysis ! I too was showing all the signs of high potassium . I ended up as an emergency and even then they denied it was high potassium TILL my results had come back ..et voila ..my potassium had doubled!! I have done another thread (Trust your Instincts) if you feel well enough to read it. So i know exactly what you have been going through , we could have held hands and gone through it together ! Im glad your picking up a bit now because i know how awful it is and how bad you feel. I have to plod on a while yet , im off APD and back on 6 manual exchanges a day to treat mine. It does make you want to 

[pelagia]

I hope you will be feeling better every day now that you are in a better clinic.

If you want to get your frustrations out - try this. 

First find a tennis racquet (or borrow one?), or a handball racquet, - badminton racquet won't work because it's too flimsy.

Make a big pile of pillows on the bed or couch.

Hold the racquet so that the narrow end is perpendicular to the floor.

Now beat the you know what out of the pillows.

This has worked well for me this summer and I hope it works for you.

 

[Rerun]

They were adding... adding potassium to you on dialysis?  How scary.  AND nothing was done to them? 

Where do they get these people?           Glad you are better!   

[cariad]

Horrifying. Absolutely horrifying.

Horray for you and your family for knowing better and getting to the ER!

Hope you continue to feel better! 

[G-Ma]

Oh Lord Kickstart, I wouldn't have wished this feeling on anybody...we have prevailed as have everyone here who has had something horrible going on in their lives.  I really hope we all have a fantastic fall as that is my time of the year.  D today was great except for my low BP, but fast tech got one line cleared as the other was clotting so only lost about 10 inches of tubing with clots.  He was a moving machine.  Thanks for the hints Pelagia...good idea...I do so love to "break dishes" but am running low.  Take a deep breath and blow the bad away.  Thanks and hugs to all.