Dialysis sucks, but the alternative is worse, I think

[KatieV]

I've posted several times lately about my needle problems.  We've been driving down to Saratoga Springs, a 2+ hr drive each way, to see my nurse WAY too often lately.  She would get us on the right track with the buttonholes, do a treatment, and send us home.  A few days later, we'd start having issues with the needles again.  Despite trying to "stick" me every day, dialysis treatments became irregular as we couldn't get the needles in even after quite a bit trying some nights.  Many tears were shed over the last couple weeks.  I started to dread dialysis because my arm would hurt so bad.   

Last Wednesday was the same problem.  I went to bed crying after an hour of both my mom and husband trying to cannulate.  The next day, I thought that was the cause of my feeling sick at lunchtime.  I went into an empty office, closed the door, laid down on the floor, and tried to sleep.  As the afternoon progressed, I got worse with chills and nausea.  My sites looked "off" and I was pretty sure I had an infection.  I struggled through the workday and drove myself home.  Took my temp and it was 100.4, so I called my nurse.  She wanted me back in Saratoga first thing in the morning, though wanted me to keep a close eye on my temp overnight.

By the time we got to Saratoga, my fever had gone down, but my sites were not looking good.  My nurse stuck a sharp in for a new Arterial, but had trouble finding a place for a new Venous with my arm being messed up.  After sticking two sharps and getting nothing, they decided to run on a single needle (AGAIN!).  I have a couple sets of cultures in process, along with a couple swabs - one nurse squeezed my buttonhole while the other swabbed puss!  Yuck!  It was definitely not like that the day before.  They decided I should get a catheter placed and give my fistula a break for a couple months.  The hospital across the street had an opening immediately, so they took me off dialysis after only 15 minutes!

The hospital was an older, small one, but I felt much more comfortable there than up at "my" hospital in Vermont.  The doctors/nurses were very nice and we were in and out in no time.  Then back to the center where I went out to the floor (!) to get 4 hours of dialysis and 1 hour of Vanco.  I was pleasantly surprised with how nice it was.  There were skylights and real trees in a big planter/divider.  The staff was really nice too!  We finally got home around 12:30 am and my poor husband still had 2 hours of barn chores to do.

So I've got the weekend off dialysis to recover and then it's back to Saratoga on Monday for 2 days of training to use the catheter for Nocturnal NxStage and more antibiotics!  I know this will be much better for us for a short time.  The needle issues were causing a lot of stress. 

I do have one question right now: I was told multiple times that I'm not allowed to shower with a catheter (or swim).  I have long, very thick hair that will be difficult and time-consuming to wash in the sink.  Is there something out there that I can cover my site with so I can shower safely?  I'm thinking of chopping my hair off (along the lines of Charlize Theron or Edie Sedgwick).  My incredible and long-suffering husband has said I can expect a motorcycle and a douche-and-a-half (5 ton military truck) to show up in the driveway if I do so.     It'll be better for everyone if I can shower!             

[Henry P Snicklesnorter]

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[PatDowns]

I do have one question right now: I was told multiple times that I'm not allowed to shower with a catheter (or swim).  I have long, very thick hair that will be difficult and time-consuming to wash in the sink.  Is there something out there that I can cover my site with so I can shower safely?  I'm thinking of chopping my hair off (along the lines of Charlize Theron or Edie Sedgwick).  My incredible and long-suffering husband has said I can expect a motorcycle and a douche-and-a-half (5 ton military truck) to show up in the driveway if I do so.     It'll be better for everyone if I can shower!           

Check out this product called a KORSHIELD.

http://www.korshield.com/

[Angiepkd]

So sorry you are dealing with all these needle troubles, but glad you are going to get a little break from all the frustration.  I am struggling with the button holes also.  Seems like they heal up and I can't get the blunts in.  I end up using sharps and listening to a lecture from my hubby.  Please enjoy your break from the needles!  I used tegaderm to cover my incisions so I could shower. It works great, but is expensive.  Maybe the clinic will give you some.  Best of luck to you!

[cattlekid]

I also tried the Tegaderm and plastic wrap when I showered with my catheter.  Can hubby help you wash your hair in the sink and then quickly shower the rest?  That's what I did with my chin length hair. 

[Rerun]

I'm sorry you are having all these problems.  We don't use single needle here in the states.  They act like they have NEVER heard of single needle only I know we did back in the 80's because I had them.  Hang in there.  Cut the hair.  You will feel better.  I hope the arm heals.

As for The Alternative.... streets of gold and no dialysis... that is what I'm looking forward to.   

[Emerson Burick]

As for The Alternative.... streets of gold and no dialysis... that is what I'm looking forward to.   

Rerun,
With absolutely no slight meant to your beliefs, can you imagine what streets of gold would actually be like? Between the glare from the sun and being slippery in the rain, those streets would be a complete deathtrap.

[Riki]

As for The Alternative.... streets of gold and no dialysis... that is what I'm looking forward to.   

Rerun,
With absolutely no slight meant to your beliefs, can you imagine what streets of gold would actually be like? Between the glare from the sun and being slippery in the rain, those streets would be a complete deathtrap.

*LMAO*

Yes, practicalities abound, but whoever said Heaven was practical?

[Sax-O-Trix]

I can't offer any advice with your buttonholes, but I couldn't resist letting you know that I student taught in Saratoga Springs HS:). Beautiful area of the country you are in!  I hope you get your access straightened out soon.

[Weggy]

I always showered when I had my tunnel cath. The hospital gave me these pieces of plastic with glue called showershields when I initially left and they worked well. I never had my catheter get wet nor have the dressing get wet. I kept on buying them until I had my catheter removed.

Link to what I bought:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Catheter-Shower-Cover-7-x7-1-Week-Pack-Keep-Your-Catheter-Dry-While-Showering-/320868818674?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab5459ef2

They come in other sizes as well. I think you can get these at walmart too, but it is a variety pack and only has 2 of the larger 7x7s in it.

My advice for using them is:
1. Wash the skin around your catheter with a wash cloth before putting the shield on. Make sure it is dry as well as this will help the showershield to stick to your skin.
2. You have to turn your catheter ends upward so they are under the plastic
3. Steam* can be an issue since the weakest part, for me, was the the bottom piece of the shield. The shield would unstick from the bottom because the showershield had to go under my arm and into my armpit. However, this problem did not happen all the time.
4. Do not have the shower directly spray on the showershield. Water falling from your head is fine though.
5. My dressing was changed everytime I had in-center and I had zero issues with my catheter

*Steam was only problem for the gauze and tape they put on the end of the catheter to keep the 2 ends taped together. To which point, I always took that gauze and tape off since it was useless in my opinion. When I had the catheter first installed, the hospital did not do that procedure and when you get hooked up it is always sterilized anyways.

[kit78]

I used Walgreens waterproof large bandages to cover the area the cath goes in.  Then I used a Ziplock lunch bag to put the wrapped tubes into and "zipped" it at the top.  Then I folded over the ziplock bag and secured it with a Foam "orange" waterproof tape I got at the dollar store in the bandage section.  Then I covered the foam tape with duct tape and then used 2 more pieces going upward overlapping each one so the last one covered the Walgreens waterproof bandage...just in case.   Then after my shower I pulled off the duct tape and unzipped the bag and was done.  95% of time every thing was still dry.  I do bandages and gauze on hand in case it gets wet.  My cath is out now finally after almost a year and never had any trouble.

Don't try this unless you are comfortable doing it but I showered 3-5 times a week the whole time.

Good luck with everything.

[rocker]

DH used a very similar method (Tegaderm for the entry site and plastic covering for the limbs), with the extra step of dipping the cath ends in Except after he was done.  Also never had an infection.