The waiting to start dialysis is so frustrating and worrying

[myporkchop]

Thanks for the well wishes

Day 3 - was a little bit stressful for mum and she contaminated her catheter again, so they quickly fixed that. Then she accidently prepared the cold bag of dialysis rather than grab the warm one. Just little things, but the nurse was concerned enough that he thinks sending her home tomorrow is a bit too quick and wants her to keep coming back to learn until she has it perfect.
My mum was feeling a bit down on herself, but they reminded her this was only Day 3 and there is 2 weeks allocated to her to train and it is not a race to learn.
Deep down I think she is quite relieved about not being rushed (me too), but the days are sooo draining for her, her energy level is very low and she is really tired.

She will get there

[Charlie B53]

Practice, practice, practice.  It will get old and boring before she is finished.   She WILL make mistakes.  But it is far better to make mistakes because they tend to make us remember what NOT to do.  There are no short-cuts.  Everything MUST BE done in order and without contamination to ensure she stays infection free.

Two weeks will go by rather quickly and it won't be so long that she will dread the training.

Give her time, she will get it right.   Patience pays off.

[kickingandscreaming]

When I was learning PD, everyone laughed at me, but I'm glad I wasn't swayed.  I made a highly-detailed step-by-step write  up in my own words of every single part of the set up and break down procedure.  I hung the paper where i needed to do PD and used the "script" as a back up so I didn't feel like I had to hold ALL the details in mind all the time.  I did the same thing when I learned the cycler.  It wasn't long  before I didn't need to refer to it at all, but at least it was there if I had a "senior moment" or brainjam.

And, BTW, they laughed, but now offer a copy of my script to their other trainees. So hah hah!

[Kathymac2]

I still remember being taught sterile technique as a nursing student. I got yelled at in front of the class by my instructor for placing the screw top from a bottle of sterile saline face side down on the sterile field which contaminated everything. It was just nerves. Overtime the process becomes second nature and it becomes easier to remember. You do always have to pay attention and not get distracted when using sterile technique.

I think your idea of writing everything down is a good one k&s. I'll probably want to do that too so I can have my notes to refer to until I'm comfortable with the process.

Kathy

[myporkchop]

That is a great idea the step guide. They have given my mum instruction sheet to follow but had to cut the chart in half, number them etc as every time the nurses leave the room she would fall off to sleep and forget which step she is up to. They suggested she use a peg and clip it to the chart that comes next so when she wakes up she just has to find the chart that the peg is on.
Day 5 she is doing so well, only once she contaminated but every step she is doing really well. So proud of her.

[Charlie B53]

Practice pays off.  It won't be long, she will have it under control.   The clip for a place marker is a great idea.

[myporkchop]

Practice sure does pay off Hopefully once she starts the proper dialysis treatment she will be less sleepy and have more energy.
I don't blame her for being sleepy at the training tho as they are long days and early morning starts.

[myporkchop]

.

[kickingandscreaming]

When it rains, it pours.  I hope you can all get through this unfortunate bump in the road with no major consequences for your mum's health.  It's a lot to deal with and laden, I'm sure, with very difficult emotions and memories.  I don't understand what his partner stands to get from putting you all through this.  Some people just like to sue people. Very sad.

[myporkchop]

I agree k&s nothing to gain what so ever. We will get thru this.
Back at training today, they think she will be able to go home tomorrow and start proper dialysis which will be great

[Fabkiwi06]

Big squeezes to you and your family. That's a difficult situation no matter what the other circumstances are. I'm going through my own stupid legal drama right now... I completely sympathize. Even the things that should be very simple are made 20 times more complicated when lawyers are involved. Hopefully it will be resolved easily and quickly for everyone involved. 

One step at a time. Mom is on the mend and she is getting the treatment she needs. And, even better, it sounds like it's slowly making a difference. This too shall pass.

[myporkchop]

Thanku fabkiwi, u are right this will pass then we can get on with our lives. I hope your situation works out well for u too xx

[Simon Dog]

Even the things that should be very simple are made 20 times more complicated when lawyers are involved.

When dealing with divorces or estates, the legal problems tend to get solved when the lawyers see the pool of money about to run dry, leaving the client with crabs and icewater.

[myporkchop]

Home now doing dialysis. It is a lot different being in your own home than the clinic. She hasn't noticed a difference yet but soon i hope. Discharge from clinic next week all going well

[Charlie B53]

In my first two weeks on PD I took off just about 40 pounds of water weight.

Mom needs to keep wearing the support socks to keep excess water out of her legs.  Keeping that fluid circulating helps make it come off during dialysis.

Once she gets a lot of that excess of she will begin to notice how much better she feels.

[myporkchop]

Thanks Charlie