Learning to Self-Cannulate Next Week

[GraphicBass]

Charge nurse stopped by my chair Thursday and casually asked if I'd like to learn to put in my own needles. I just about jumped out of my chair to say "yes!". She said they'd taught a couple of others to do so, and those patients really liked being able to control the process themselves.

I'm looking forward to learning how to do this, even though the four techs who usually do this for me are pretty good. Each of them, however, has a slightly different technique, which has made it difficult for my buttonholes to fully mature, even though they're mostly workable. We've had to go back to sharps for a fews days, several times, on each of them, to re-form the channel.

From what I've read, doing it myself will be the ultimate in consistency in cannulation!

Good thing I stopped being afraid of needles at about the time I started dialysis!

gary

[MooseMom]

That is fantastic news!  You know, out of all the things I fear about dialysis, the needles just are not one of those things, and I've always planned to learn to self-cannulate.  That's terrific that the nurse thinks you'd be a good candidate for it.  Being able to control even just this one bit of your treatment is so important when there is so much else that is beyond our control.

So, when do you start learning?  Will you PLEASE post all about it?  I want to know EVERYTHING!!   

[Ang]

more power to you

[jbeany]

Go Gary!  If I managed, after the amount of fainting I did at the beginning just looking at them, you are going to do fine, I promise!  I think it hurts less, actually.  You can feel exactly what the needle is doing from both ends, plus you are so busy focusing on the process, you don't really notice the needle stick.

[monrein]

I agree that this is absolutely the best way to go if one can get over the initial thought of the thing.  I hated having others stick me and also found it hurt way less.  Best of luck.

[rsudock]

This is awesome news! I will be following this thread b/c the next time I go on D, I will learn how to stick myself and take more control over my treatment. Thank you for giving me hope that I can do this too! Keep us updated with how it goes!!! Good luck!

xo,
R

[boswife]

  man that makes me so happy for you!!!  I think your going to feel a whole bunch of satisfaction and pride in being able to take that much more control..  I think it's GREAT!

[YLGuy]

  That is great.  I self-cannulate and don't have to worry if my tech is sick or on vacation.

[tyefly]

I think its great too.... I self cannulate and use buttonholes... I have a upper arm fistula and I have to use a 1.25 inch needle.... its a little deep....  but I getter done.... you will find its much better than having someone else do it....  just make sure you go in at the same angle   EVERY time.... I have learn that..... if you dont  then you find new meat and its hurts.... I have no pain at all... works great.

[Bruno]

There's a terrific article by Epoman on this site and it helped me heaps when I started. You get a more consistent result if you do it yourself as is only natural when you have one person doing it instead of 2 or 3 and the other huge goal to look forward to is if you can handle the needles yourself you can get to do it at home rather than in a centre.
Angle and direction are the keys to successful cannulation and it always requires good self control to do it, I'm terrified of needles (used to faint at the dentist) and approach every session with trepidation.
The question I'm most often asked is does the pain get less? And the answer is ... sometimes no pain at all then next time...just a little.

[GraphicBass]

Well, I haven't started the learning process yet, because I stopped going to dialysis on Thursday!

No, I'm not planning to die; it was on doctor's orders. During my regular visit on Wednesday, I just about fell off the exam table when she asked, "Would you like to stop dialysis?

I think I did fall off, but on the way down was shouting YES!, YES!, YES!.....

Turns out that my creatinine clearances from the many 24-hour urine tests I was doing nearly monthly reported a kidney function of 31-34%. You have to be at 15% or less to be on dialysis, so faster than the charge nurse could say "abra kazaam," I was booted from my claim on my chair at the center. Apparently, I've had 30%+ clearance all the back to early 2010, but went intro crisis in October and needed emergency dialysis. Once on, they wanted to leave me on until everything was stable and I lost all the fluid.

Which happened. I routinely had perfect blood work. My weight went steadily down. And I was good on fluid, which showed in the minimal amount they had to take off each time.

Not sure I believe it quite yet, and my wife is "cautiously optimistic" for the time being. I'm back on the diuretics, iron and Procrit, watching fat, sugar, salts, water, protein. hemoglobin, potassium, iron and Vitamin D, a mile walk every day (uphill both was!), proper rest. and every other darned thing, but but it sure beats 4 hours a day in that chair (not counting travel and hookup/off). My monthly doctor visits will continues, to make sure I stay on track.

I have several things back in my life, and I find I value them more than ever:

I value the relief that I'm not going to die of cardiac arrest during a stressful hyper-filtration session.
I value the extra time I have at home to spend with my family.
I value the lack of being "washed out" so I can focus on our business most intently, with the goal of eaning some money to make up for falling income the last three years.
I value being able to go out tonight and have the energy and focus to enjoy the show, rather than be a zombie because I'm too tired.
I value just being out after 9 p.m. without worrying about getting up at 4:40 a.m. for my 6:00 hook up hookup time.
I value the weight that's been lifted from my family's shoulder and am thankful that they have their "Dad" back: strong, confident, able to lift the world, and working with them again instead of letting them do the work while I watch.

I know it's very early to say that I'm "re-bounded" for certain or permanently. But I'm sure going to fight hard to keep from feeling the way I did the week before I started dialysis as an emergent patient. I may end up there yet, through age or just plan worn-out organs, but it won't be because of something I did to myself.

So wish me luck. I'm proud to have been part of "The Big D" community, and I'll always have two holes in my arm as battle honors. Keep a chair warm for me, as I'll be back here from time to time if anyone's interested in status reports from one who escaped the chair without a transplant!

Tired now, so going to bed. Sorry for the long post; it seems I had a lot to say!

gary (graphicbass)

[boswife]

ohhhhhhh my goodness!!     what a wonderful wonderful thing to hear!!  I was soooooooooo sure we were going to have that happen as well but no such luck... You cant even believe how happy i am to hear that those words were spoke to you.......         So wonderfully happy... Sleep well, and God is GOOD 

[Bill Peckham]

Awesome!

[YLGuy]

Wow! 

[GraphicBass]

Thanks, all.

Can't hardly believe it myself, but I've "skipped" two treatments ad feel fine -- been out walking a mile each day and being careful in all things. Have an appt. with doctor in 3 weeks, so hopefully, all will continue to go well.

gary

[rsudock]

 

[jbeany]

 

Fabulous!!  Wishing you many, many more D-free days!

[boswife]

Not that your going to be popping on here real quick but i got a question if ya dont mind.  Sooooooooooo, it's your 'urine' tests that are giving you the clearence right?  and when do they give those? (as in before/aft treatment etc)  I have been fussing to get those tests done for hubby for oh about a year now and i cant figure why they wont give them to him.  His D started in the hospital after he wasnt getting rid of all the meds he was pumped with but in the past, when things like this would happen, he always bounced back to gfr in upper 20's to 30's.  Never would test him again... 

but............. about you im still jumpen for joy     

[GraphicBass]

Boswife, sorry to now be back for a week or two — been busy!

Yes, a "24 hour clearance" using urine and blood test set my kidney function. I've done three in the last two month to check and verify and re-verify the level of function. I'm surprised your unit or doctor is not ordering, except they're expensive and may not be allowed to order so many. But a  year -- I got them at least once a quarter to make sure the baseline didn't drop.

Sounds like a little judicious shouting at some higher-ups may be in order!

Good luck and keep at it!

gary

[dyann]

Thats wonderful news,  I self-cannulate and I cannot do buttonholes so it is a needle everytime,  but its ok it doesnt bother me much just the initial thought then it was done,  I am one of the lucky ones as I dont need the numbing medication I just stick myself.  I hope all goes well for you.