Things to take to dialysis

[gotmoose]

I'm starting dialysis in a week to two. Was wondering what kind of ideas and suggestions you have to keep busy while under going dialysis for 4 hours.
Thanks gotmoose

[cassandra]

If you're allowed to eat and drink, something light to eat, a blanket, something to read. Maybe Emla cream, or spray to numb the needling?

Good luck, Cas

[gotmoose]

What is Elma cream for? Not sure if I'm allowed to eat or drink during it. Hoping they have Wifi.

[cassandra]

Emla cream is for numbing the skin, so the needles don't hurt so much.

Yeah, wifi will make a huge difference.

Love, Cas

[gotmoose]

Thanks for the info Cas

[OlManRivah]

I take my Kindle Fire where I download my local newspaper and various magazines and books.
I also take some hard candy.
Take some headphones to plug into the TV.

[Simon Dog]

Laptop, wifi, downloaded Netflix movies (playlater.tv) or copies of Redbox movies (slysoft.com), or use Netfflix directly if your clinic's wifi supports it.   

[kitkatz]

I have a 2 part kit I take with me to dialysis.

Part 1
an egg crate mattress twin size- to make the chair more comfortable
a sheet to cover the mattress with
a pillow for the head and neck
a bleacher pillow to sit on.
a warm, soft blanket

Part 2
bag to carry this stuff in
Snacks-cereal, suckers, cereal bars, finger foods
cup of ice
noise canceling headphones
kindle fire tablet


Wear something comfortable.

[gotmoose]

Thanks all for the replys . Hoping Dialysis will go smoothly and make me feel better

[Michael Murphy]

I bring the following

1 small pillow
1 fuzzy blanket (it gets cold)
1 small blanket (if it's really cold)
1 bottle of water (it's important to crack the cap prior to starting cause you will only have one hand to use if you have a fistula in a arm)
Food selected so it can be eaten with one hand
iPad Air , books, movies, games, mail, and web access in one package
Holder for iPad ( wonderful holder on thinkgeek.com that looks like a spider and holds iPad so it works great with one hand)
iPhone to listen to music and make or receive calls.
Headset (this is important helps for phone calls, and allows the music to drown out the noise so I can nap)
Chargers for both iPad and iPhone
Also nice if you need them
A cushion to sit on.( I used to use a gel foam cushion when I started because as I sat there for 4 hours my butt began to hurt)

You are going to be stuck in a hard medical recliner for three to four hours not able to move much.  Dress comfortably, wear light clothes.
Good luck. I know it's a terrifying thing to start but it's not as bad as you think it will be.
         

[cattlekid]

I had to bring blankets and pillow to my old center, along with a light snack and a bottle of water (after I fought the staff to be allowed to bring the last two items into the center at all).

I was traveling and visited a different center for treatment.  They were wondering why I was dragging all of that stuff into the center....sure enough they provided as many pillows and heated blankets as I wanted.  I told my nurse about it when I returned and I just got the eye roll.   

[gotmoose]

Thank you for all the ideas. Not sure what they have as far as rules to what I can bring or not bring. Dialysis has got to make me feel better then I do now. GFR is 10. This horrible taste is driving me nuts.

[Michael Murphy]

My advise on taste small bottle of mouthwash to use frequently till you start, or toothbrush with small toothpaste.  It's miserable but dialysis emlinates it fine,

[Simon Dog]

They were wondering why I was dragging all of that stuff into the center....sure enough they provided as many pillows and heated blankets as I wanted.

I asked for a blanket at my first treatment - was told they didn't provide these.

A nurse in the back room (treatment planning meetings, home D treatment) had access to the fleece blankets with the triangular FMC logo and gave me a couple - guess the nurses in the clinic didn't have access to the secret stash.

[Sugarlump]

I have a real sheepskin that I sit on, much more comfortable than just the chair after 4 hours.
I always have the day's newspaper (only chance I get to read it cover to cover) and do the crossword, sudoko and other puzzles (keep the brain active)
I sometimes read a book and I often colour in an adult colouring book (they are all the rage now) and it's a very relaxing way to while away the hours...
Plenty of ice and I like crisps or similar, helps keep my salt levels up during dialysis.

Good luck  you are joining a very elite club!!!

[Alex C.]

Man, some of you people carry a LOT of junk to dialysis! Do you carry it in a little red wagon??

FWIW, all you really need is a blanket (not too heavy, because you're likely gonna need to cram it back into your bag one-handed), maybe a pillow (I carry one small pillow to put under my knees, to prevent leg cramps), reading material, ear buds, your phone, and maybe a small bottle of water. I also carry a 'neck pillow', because those dialysis chairs are made for somebody about 6" shorter than me, and they provide very little neck support. All of this I fit into a large Wal-Mart cloth shopping bag.

BTW, don't bring anything that you wouldn't mind getting blood on. It's gonna happen sooner or later.

[gotmoose]

You all have some good ideas, thanks. Might be delayed little bit now on Dialysis. Have to have a fistula gram done in morning. I'm wanting to get on with this and get started. Got my back packed and ready to go. Just hope I do as well as my mother did before she was transplanted.
Gotmoose

[iolaire]

Travel pillow
In ear headphones (to block the noise)
Food (nuts or raisins at the start and an apple at the end)
Ice Water (refillable, I'm not fluid controlled yet)
iPhone
Backup batter pack for iPhone (my iPhone is near dead after three plus hours of playing on the internet via Wi-Fi)
Kindle (but I don't read that much at D, more on the commute)
Socks (hospital or airplane so I can change out of my work shoes and socks)

To pass time I read and browse a lot on my iPhone.  I've purposely not turned on the TV in 1.5 years since I think that would be a time drain that would burn me out.  Usually I have a playlist from Amazon Prime music playing. My DaVita center seems to block the main ports for email so I use the gMail app for my personal email over Apple Mail well in center.  Streaming from Comcast and Amazon Prime works but I don't really watch movies at D, I get enough of those at home.  I'm not yet cold enough to need a blanket, but I do change into socks.

[iolaire]

iPad Air , books, movies, games, mail, and web access in one package

How is it holding the Air for a long time with one hand? 

I got rid of my original iPad and moved to the iPhone exclusively because the iPad was heavy for one handed use and using a stand only works well for watching movies.  I'm thinking a larger iPhone would be nice but also think about the Air.

[Hootie]

A good attitude is the most important thing to bring to treatment. 

 

[Michael Murphy]

To use a iPad one handed the web site thinkgeek.com sells a device called a tablift for 59.99.  It has 4 flexible legs that sit on the chair arms and hold the iPad firmly so using 1 handed is no problem. It's designed to work with most tablet devices.   I use my iPhone to play music so I can nap.

[kristina]

... I always take two different books to choose from :
one book on a historical riddle and the other one is at the moment a very interesting biography
and then I also take my weekly crosswords with me, but only the one’s where interesting prices are offered for the winner ...
(Mind you, I have not won a price yet, but I am very keen and there is still hope...)
I also take my evening meal with me, i.e. my favourite potato salad and a few cashew-nuts...
... Then I add my kidney warmers (against the draft) and my cosy bed-shoes .... and that is all...
... I always look forward to each treatment; not only because it keeps me alive but also because it makes me feel so much better ...
... and on the way there we (my husband and I) listen to wonderful classical music in the car, i.e. Vivaldi (he is our favourite at the moment)...
Good luck wishes from Kristina.

[gotmoose]

I'm actualy looking forward somewhat to starting dialysis in hopes that it will make me feel better. Tired of feeling like crap. Has to be better then how I feel now.

[Vt Big Rig]

As much as I dreaded starting there is NO QUESTION I feel better than I did for months before we started.

[kitkatz]

IF you have an Ikea near you, the blue bags they sell to carry your stuff out of the store make a great bag to carry the blankets and pillows.