First dialysis is over

[gotmoose]

Well I survived my 1st session. Wasn't to bad , Needles didn't really hurt going in caused they numbed the area. Coming out how ever they hurt some. They attempted to pull 2 kilos fluid off but had to slow down and be happy with 1.6 due to small cramps in my calves. The chair sucked, and yup was plenty cold there. Felt little tired and unsteady once I got back on my feet, but over all not to bad. I do know how ever I sure as hell wouldn't want to do this for long time. Don't see how some people can do it for 10-20+ yrs.

[Michael Murphy]

While I have only been on Dialysis 2 years, it seems like forever I have learned to stop thinking of Dialysis as a never ending string of treatments I have taken a page from AA and take it not one day at a time but one week at a time.  I go Monday, Wednesday, and Friday,  and very Friday I celebrate the ending of my week. It sort of gives me a feeling of completion and the knowledge I don't have to go to Dialysis any more this week seems to help.  Next week starts a new cycle but next week is next weeks problem.  When I started I found the chair very uncomfortable so I bought a gel foam pillow and it helped a lot as time went by I finally could give it up but it certainly helped for the first year.the chill in the center is just a fact.  Bring a warm blanket,  it really helps.  If your fistula is in your arm and you can sew put a zipper in your fistula arm of a warm hoody sweatshirt.  How do you feel. I hope at least you feel better. 

[Alex C.]

Tried pulling 2000 ml off on the first session? Holy cow!!!

[Simon Dog]

The chair sucked

Walmart.com has lots of wheelchair cushions made by "drive" - I find one of these really helps.

Don't see how some people can do it for 10-20+ yrs.

I don't even think about how long it will be, I just do it one day at a time.  I may be the exception, but I could do this forever as long as I continue to have a good life.

[gotmoose]

Yes 2 kilos or the way the nurse explained it was 2 full IV bags of solution not sure if that's a lot at once. Thank god the cramps didn't get bad. Had few minor cramps last night but the worse part was I couldn't fall asleep. just felt weird and my fistula arm kind of felt like it was vibrating ever so lightly but couldn't visually see it happening.

[Vt Big Rig]

As far as the fluid they will figure out your dry weight quickly. Just be sure you continue to tell them how YOU FEEL. My first time I felt un sure on my feet and sometimes I still do but I know it will go away. I think it is sitting there so long not really related to the dialysis.

I was cold also in the beginning but that apparently was more of an anemic problem because that straightened out also.

Needles, I do not use any of the numbing agents, seems too much trouble. They ouch a little going in and some times sting coming out. I have not had trouble with the chair. May be it is my fat a##.

I am happy for you that it went well. As for the permanency, I listened to Mr. Murphy about a day and week at a time. We run M,T,W,T.   Tuesday feels like a mini vacation and Thursday night is time to celebrate. Next week is next week and we will handle it.

Besides the options are not very attractive.

[Simon Dog]

We run M,T,W,T.   

Are you saying you take 3 days in a row off each week?

[Vt Big Rig]

We run M,T,W,T.   

Are you saying you take 3 days in a row off each week?

Serious brain fart.

 We run S,M,W,T.

[Bungarian]

1 kilo of water equals 1 liter. If they take 2 kilos off that is the same as a 2 liter coke.

[gotmoose]

That seems like a lot of fluid at once to remove at one treatment.

[iolaire]

Glad to hear that it went well.  As other say speak up when you start to cramp.  And of course figure out how much you can drink between treatments.  Most of dialysis is sort of cookie cutter so if you help to manage your own treatment you will help yourself.  The tech/nurse are only making estimates as far as your dry weight and how much you gained between treatments.

Also you mentioned problems sleeping.  Hopefully that is just the first day of dialysis stress keeping you up.  Otherwise its fairly common to have problems sleeping after dialysis.  If you search this site you will find some threads on the subject.  I've started to have problems sleeping after about 1.5 years on dialysis and don't have a clear solution yet.  Its stressful because I've always been able to sleep very well.  I can say that it appears to be unconnected to whether I sleep in dialysis during my afternoon shift.  I use Tylenol PM at times but that doesn't always work.  I think my overall comfort and the temperature of the room impacts my sleep ability.

[Michael Murphy]

One of the people I attend dialysis with over a holiday weekend put on 10 kilos.  He wasn't listening when he was told that watermelon counted as fluid and he ate two whole watermelons by himself.  One on Saturday one on Sunday. That week instead of Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, he was Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,and Friday.
They took pity and let him take Saturday off.  The problem is excess water leaves the staff between a rock and a hard place. Not take off enough and risk the patient having a heart attack, take off enough and the patient cramps.this is why I am so protective of my remaining kidney function.  I currently don't retain fluid so I am not fluid restricted.  The hard part of dialysis appears pro be the need to follow the fluid guidelines your nephrologist sets.

[iolaire]

One of the people I attend dialysis with over a holiday weekend put on 10 kilos.   He wasn't listening when he was told that watermelon counted as fluid and he ate two whole watermelons by himself.  One on Saturday one on Sunday. That week instead of Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, he was Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,and Friday.

!!! yes don't be "that" person.

[noahvale]

*

[gotmoose]

For now they haven't said much about fluid restriction. I still urinate every 2 hrs 24/7. sometimes not a lot but my kidneys still removing fluid to some extent. They are trying to figure out my dry weight and if any restriction will come with it. I know the night of my first treatment I didn't urinate as much as I usually do. Maybe cause they pulled so much off me earlier. Believe I drink around 60-80 ounces fluid a day.

[Michael Murphy]

I believe the fluid restriction is 32 to 40 oz above your out put.  This is why I try so hard to protect my poor battered kidneys. My current quality of life is dependent on the little darlings still keeping on.  What has driven me nuts is the attitude you are on dialysis so if the test causes some kidney damage so what. A PA in my cardiologists office said that to me when I told them that I wanted the dye for my angioplasty reduced in amount. What I said back can't be repeated in polite company. Thank God the cardiac surgeon understood and he did the test with only 10 cc' s of contrast.  Good luck with the next couple of weeks, the center and your doctor will be trying to set your dry weight correctly it appears that this is as much art as science.