Techs keep hurting me!!! New probes, new center...

[kit78]

I use the cream b-4 HD but the techs keep sticking me as if it's going right through the vein!  The nurse always have to come over and back it off and redo it. My fistula was brought right up under the skin.  It's big as well and they all know that.  I had to sit with an ice pac on my upper arm over the needles all 4 hrs yesterday.  It helped for a bit midway thru, but then at the end my upper arm starts to ache really bad!!!  Any suggestions?  I told the doc I was going to go elsewhere if they didn't get it together.  Yes, I know it could be the same elsewhere.

[Riki]

I'd refuse to have the tech stick me, since they don't know what they're doing.  When you see them, do you tell them where to stick? Do you remind them that it's not a deep vessel and they don't need to push as far?  Sometimes they forget, especially if there are a lot of patients.  My nurses have been sticking me for 4 years, and I still have to tell them which way to stick me

[Bill Peckham]

Have you thought about putting in your own needles?

[Krisna]

I always reminded the staff at my unit my fistula was really shallow and straight!  Now my fiance puts my needles in every time.  I'm more comfortable with it that way!

[Chris]

It was similar to my first clinic and I switched. Luckily that worked out and was the best medical change I did. That bad experience made me a better patient regarding my own health.


Good Luck

[obsidianom]

Try for SHORTER needles, like 3/5 inch if they are willing. With a superficial fistula you dont need the full inch length.

[kit78]

Thanks all.  Yes I will ask for shorter needles.  I'm sure I will be told they don't have them!  That's just the way they roll.

[cdwbrooklyn]

When I was in-center, I was very particluar with who pull my needles in.  I didn't allow new techs to stick me.  I watched the tech as if he or she will steal something.  If a tech didn't look confident, I will not let him or her stick me.  If the nurse have to come and correct this tech stick then suggest that someone else do it.  You have the right to ask for someone else because you don't want to be stick twice.  Also, it's good to learn how to do your own needles if you are not afraid.

[kit78]

Today I was mocked by one the techs.  in hopes she didn't have to hear any "whining" today. You put me in pain and have the nerve to say that? So pissed off right now.  See other post I did today about this and bugs if you like.  I called another center to be moved.

[NDXUFan]

I use the cream b-4 HD but the techs keep sticking me as if it's going right through the vein!  The nurse always have to come over and back it off and redo it. My fistula was brought right up under the skin.  It's big as well and they all know that.  I had to sit with an ice pac on my upper arm over the needles all 4 hrs yesterday.  It helped for a bit midway thru, but then at the end my upper arm starts to ache really bad!!!  Any suggestions?  I told the doc I was going to go elsewhere if they didn't get it together.  Yes, I know it could be the same elsewhere.

Explain to them, if they do not stop hurting you, you will contact the local district attorney about filling assault charges. 

-Former Police Officer

[kit78]

ND....you are kidding right?

[jeannea]

I don't think it's assault when you're sitting there asking to be stuck.

[NDXUFan]

ND....you are kidding right?

No, I am not......

[NDXUFan]

I don't think it's assault when you're sitting there asking to be stuck.

2903.13 Assault.

(A) No person shall knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to another or to another's unborn.

(B) No person shall recklessly cause serious physical harm to another or to another's unborn.

(C)

(1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of assault, and the court shall sentence the offender as provided in this division and divisions (C)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (, and (9) of this section. Except as otherwise provided in division (C) (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), or ( of this section, assault is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

Misdemeanor of the first degree is 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine in the State of Ohio

http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/2903.13

[obsidianom]

If you CONSENT to it , it is no longer assault in the medical setting. Otherwise virtually all medical procedures and surgeries would be illegal. That is why we get written consent for any procudure we do. (then we can beat up the patient legally////JUST KIDDING)

[Sugarlump]

My fistula is now eight weeks old and due to be used for the first time on Friday.
I am really nervous (For the dialysis i have received on and off for eight years has always been on a catheter...)
I don't know what scares me most the thought of the pain or that they might damage my fistula...

If someone calls me a cry-baby for whingeing because it hurts I would report them. That it very unprofessional .
Having read this thread i am even more nervous!   

[kit78]

Well at the new place...Davita.  Not even a month yet and last Friday the tech ended up not getting in my fistula but ended up giving me a Hematoma!  That put me on the phone at 6 am Saturday morning and he had me go to the ER.  Then yesterday, a different tech stuck the first needle into my scar from surgery...1 1/2 inches to the left of where she should have been.  Yes she apologized so many times, but geez...I knew it wouldn't be greener on the other side but 2 probs in less than a month???  I can say it is better staffed and clean....no bugs!  If this doesn't work I only have my doc's place to go for HD. 
But there is no place that is a complete safe zone!

[kit78]

Sugarlump...just a few weeks old?  Mine was done last Sept. 2012.  In January 2013 doc moved the vein up to the surface. Started using in May 2013.
Get the numbing cream and some places have a freeze spray that works the same as the cream.  Insurance pays for cream, get from your kidney doc. Otherwise $50 at pharm. unless you do Amazon its $30 some bucks on there. Don't forget the plastic wrap. I have never had a problem until I moved from Fresenius to Davita.  They are all about the money plain and simple.  But I really like a few techs at this one.
Good luck and keep in touch...I am sure all will go well.

[Sugarlump]

Well my fistula got used for the first time yesterday!
Scary!!!
Needle went in okay and i had good blood flow but i found it difficult to keep my arm straight and in one position for three hours. I am not used to that!
Every time I nodded off to sleep my arm twitched! and made alarm go!!! But we did about three hours on one needle. Bit bruised this morning!

Will have second attempt on Friday (only the Head Nurse does new fistulas at our unit) I think the anticipation is worse than the actual administration and learning to eat a sandwich or
read a book one handed will require some practise!
     
 

[Simon Dog]

It does get easier.  I remember the feeling of extreme discomfort I felt when I sat in the chair the first day I was scheduled for a puncturing and saw the needle packages in my setup.     Doing it myself now, no problem.

[NDXUFan]

If you CONSENT to it , it is no longer assault in the medical setting. Otherwise virtually all medical procedures and surgeries would be illegal. That is why we get written consent for any procudure we do. (then we can beat up the patient legally////JUST KIDDING)

However, if you ask them to stop and they do not, it is assault. Beating up patients?  Hmmmm, assaulting a patient who has a nightstick and a firearm is not a very good idea.   

[Simon Dog]

If you CONSENT to it , it is no longer assault in the medical setting. Otherwise virtually all medical procedures and surgeries would be illegal. That is why we get written consent for any procudure we do. (then we can beat up the patient legally////JUST KIDDING)

However, if you ask them to stop and they do not, it is assault. Beating up patients?  Hmmmm, assaulting a patient who has a nightstick and a firearm is not a very good idea.   

Remember the magic words to end any medical procedure - "I withdraw consent".

[Sugarlump]

Because of the amount of bruising and bleeding under the skin, they haven't used my fistula again. They want it to recover before the second attempt. At this rate it is going to take forever to get it working efficiently! I am starting to have problems with my femoral groin line (it is still working well) but where they inserted the line is not healing and the skin is not happy around the stitches (had to be restitched) and the surgeon wants it out as soon as ... I feel pressured from both ways 

[NDXUFan]

If you CONSENT to it , it is no longer assault in the medical setting. Otherwise virtually all medical procedures and surgeries would be illegal. That is why we get written consent for any procudure we do. (then we can beat up the patient legally////JUST KIDDING)

However, if you ask them to stop and they do not, it is assault. Beating up patients?  Hmmmm, assaulting a patient who has a nightstick and a firearm is not a very good idea.   

Remember the magic words to end any medical procedure - "I withdraw consent".

Exactly and if they continue at that point, they can be taken to jail. 

[Simon Dog]

If you aren't up to doing home hemo, consider asking your doc to have you trained on self canulation, that way, you won't have to deal with being stuck by techs who don't know your arm as well as you do.    It also opens up the option of buttonholes.   Some docs swear by them; others swear about them.   Most interesting, fistulafirst.org recommends buttonholes when on the last viable access to preserve it's life.    I told my doc I want my first access treated with the level of care he would give it if it were my last, and he recommended buttonholes.  Working quite well so far - self canulate at home, or at a clinic while traveling.