We have questions

[plugger]

We were in contact with some davita people last summer and we had some questions for them - I'm sorry, we still feel so many questions weren't answered.

Probably the easiest would be is what information do those on dialysis receive when they are doing reuse, about reuse?

For the rest

[Riki]

Reuse??  What is that?

[jeannea]

Are you a Davita patient? If not I don't know why they would answer anything. Even if they did try, I have no idea how they could explain those statistics on mortality. And I thought the reason people come in with kidney disease but die of heart disease was already explained by lots of doctors. I can't remember it all but I'm sure you can google it. Part of it has to do with the 3 day weekend you get on hemo.

[ToddB0130]

i am pre-D, but when I visited a Davita center I am considering using .......they explained re-use as them marking your 'artificial kidney' thingee as 'yours' so that they use the same one for you every time you go through dialysis.  The social worker indicated it's better to use the same one for each treatment.

[cariad]

i am pre-D, but when I visited a Davita center I am considering using .......they explained re-use as them marking your 'artificial kidney' thingee as 'yours' so that they use the same one for you every time you go through dialysis.  The social worker indicated it's better to use the same one for each treatment.

DaVita told you this? This is not directed at you, Todd, but if I may respond:
 

Are they kidding? I have been on dialysis all of 6 weeks in my entire life and even I know this is ludicrous propaganda. I would find another centre if they are going to outright lie to you like that.

Your filter may be yours, do you really want to trust the typical dialysis flunkie to always get that right, 3 times a week for however long you must be on dialysis? Some of your fellow dialysors are going to have deadly, infectious diseases. (Don't know what state you are in, but my understanding is that many states do not even require licensing for techs!) What about the hideous chemicals used to clean the filters between use? People have died when those are not cleaned properly.

That social worker is either lying to your face or is a complete twit. Please proceed with caution, Todd. Read about the potential dangers of reuse via a google search.

[Riki]

Yes, Cariad, that's EXACTLY what I was thinking.  I would never allow anyone to reuse ANY supplies on me.  I thought it funny, when I was in NYC, that the prefilled saline flush syringes they used had in big block letters on the side "ONE TIME USE ONLY."  I always figured that was a given, but I guess in some cases, it has to be labeled right on to the product.

As for reusing the dialyzor, I wouldn't do that either.  They are what filters the toxins from us, right?  I would think that after a while, they would stop working, as they would be clogged up.

One day, while I was holding my sites, the nurse, who was stripping my machine, said to me, "oh my God, it's a wonder you made it through the run."  I froze and asked her why, afraid of what she was going to say.  She showed me the dialyzor, and it had a huge blood clot in it. I've done that before, but normally it would alarm and they'd have to put a new diayzor on.  If they were reusing dialyzors, that blood clot could be a problem with the next run, especially if a bit of it were to break off and go back into my bloodstream.  I think I was quite lucky that day, to be honest.

[plugger]

And I thought the reason people come in with kidney disease but die of heart disease was already explained by lots of doctors.

I had hoped to hear it from davita, but it would be nice to hear what some doctors have to say about it.

[plugger]

 Read about the potential dangers of reuse via a google search.

Also to get started I did post some pro-reuse stuff davita gave us and some things that are anti-reuse:
http://www.dialysisethics2.org/forum/index.php?topic=662.0

(fair and balanced - that's me)

[Joe]

You've been watching KOAA again...

[Riki]

Just the thought of reusing creeps me out.  They are sterile while in the package, and everything is kept sterile.  Once it's been used and removed from the system, it's no longer sterile.  Lord knows what kind of virus or bacteria could show up.  I just feel more comfortable knowing that everything that is used on me is new.  I know that it's different in Canada than in the US, but that is what we pay for with our taxes.  I'd would say it's the same with insurance or medicare.  You pay for it, you should be getting it.

[Lillupie]

i personally think the centers use reuse because it is cheaper and it saves money. I personally hate Davita. They have so many rules to cut corners to save money, just so the people at the top can make more money. I know especially because of this bundling and crap that dialysis centers have to be like this. But I think especially Davita is like this the most. Just IMO.

Lisa

[ToddB0130]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaack !!!   Thanks for the information ........... interesting ........... I will definitely ask for my dialysizor (sp ?) NOT to be re-used.   No problem calling me 'stooopid' ........who knew ??  SCARY.

[lmunchkin]

Hi Lisa, where you been little lady?  Good to hear from you!

I do home hemo, so no problems with reuse here!

lmunchkin
 

[Lillupie]

Hey Imlounchkin!
 How are you? I have been pretty hectic. Well for one I have not be online much. We have laptops and getting one that will go unplugged for longer then 45 min is hard. lol. I just got married on Deceomber 10th. And now I am trying to move down to Tennesse with my daughter to be with my husband (he is in the Army at Ft. Campbell)

So, What is home hemo like?

Lisa

Hi Lisa, where you been little lady?  Good to hear from you!

I do home hemo, so no problems with reuse here!

lmunchkin
 

[HILINE]

I have been using ''reuse''  for 5 years no issues. I do have a choice

[cariad]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaack !!!   Thanks for the information ........... interesting ........... I will definitely ask for my dialysizor (sp ?) NOT to be re-used.   No problem calling me 'stooopid' ........who knew ??  SCARY.

You're so not stupid (nor stooopid!), Todd.

I have been using ''reuse''  for 5 years no issues. I do have a choice

I'm glad that you have a choice, and relieved that you've had no problems, but it only takes one slip-up to do a person in. I would refuse it myself, but so long as you're making an informed choice then that is what really matters.

[plugger]

I remember back in the day having my daughter taken off reuse.  Besides worrying about degrading performance of the dialyser, I was worried about miniscule amounts of the cleaning fluid that the test strips don't account for - they only test for something above a minimum amount.  She was young and I was worried about long-term effects - and as mentioned, I started reading about the mishaps.

[plugger]

You've been watching KOAA again...

KOAA, is that a station in the Springs?  I'm sure if you vouching for them, they are fair and balanced - like me.

[Joe]

That's their buzz line "Fair and balanced coverage" I think they do a pretty good job.

[plugger]

Great minds run the same channel! - though there are those who will try to convince you my mind is made of silly putty (like my wife).

Anyway, I do try to look at both sides of an issue, but will usually eventually form an opinion - maybe even try to revisit it from time to time to see if anything has changed.  An example would be many for-profit medical service companies.  Got my mind changed about them years ago and haven't seen a reason to change it since - think they stink, and continue to think they stink.