Guests during treatment?

[ODAT]

Hi, my mom hasn't started hemo yet, but I'm wondering if anyone would be allowed to sit with her at least through her first few treatments. I'm sure it depends on the center too. Mom will be at a center within a hospital, not sure of the center's name.

[paddbear0000]

Most likely, but you should definitely ask the center that's doing the dialysis. Best wishes to your Mom!

[ODAT]

Hi paddbear, thanks for the info. I kind of thought that'd be the case. Thanks for the well wishes to my mom. I do tell her about all of you's! Good luck to you too.

[paddbear0000]

 

[Stacy Without An E]

Most centers typically make you wait when the patient is being put on and taken off of Dialysis.  I only have an issue (actually it makes me furious) when people bring in what I refer to as "Dopey Guests."  These would be people who bring in their kids and they like to play on the Dialysis chairs.  One guy brought his 22 year old son in and he was playing in the chair putting it up and down and unlocking it so it could roll around the clinic.  He thought it was funny all these patients were stuck in chairs for three hours while he could roll around and mock them.

It's also frustrating when people bring in guests who blab on their cell phone nearby...loudly.  Dude, I'm stuck here.  The least you could do is go in the lobby.  Or outside.  Or just, you know, go to hell.

Sorry this turned into a "Guest Rant."

I guess my advice and suggestion would be to make sure your guests respect those around them and not turn the clinic into their personal living room.

Thank you and good night.

[goofynina]

ODAT,  I hope you are able to sit wth your mom during her session, it helps to have someone there, the time goes by faster and it is just a little more comforting, check with your moms clinic and see what they say, i hope hope hope they say yes she can have visitors,    Good luck to you both 

[ODAT]

Stacy, I can totally understand your feelings and couldn't agree more. While some people may truly think they are being a good distraction, they really are annoying as all get out. They've watched Patch Adams too many times. When you are being administered this type of care, you are not feeling your best and really need people to be respectful of that.

I don't want to go to all my mom's treatments (and it doesn't sound like they'd want me too), just enough to see that she knows what to expect and what to ask about during her treatment. I lost my dad not too long ago and I never felt I asked enough questions or actually, got all the answers to the questions I asked. I'm surprised they let people use cell phones in centers. Not sure that they would where my mom is going. At this hospital you are supposed to turn off your cell phone as soon as you enter the building.

Here's to people being more conscientious of their surroundings!

[GuyIncognito]

When I first started Dialysis... it was in the clinic with a neck cath that never really worked right... My cousin would come and sit with me, and I can say with out him there I don't know how I would have made it thru.

[ODAT]

Hey Goofynina! I've told my mom about you and your well wishes. She smiled and said thank you. Glad to have you around - from what I've seen of you, you inspire and keep people in a good place in their minds and hearts. Epoman would/was/is proud of you and all his administrators! thanks for the support!

[ODAT]

Guyincognito - great name! Just that alone is the reason to be with my mom. I've done a lot of research to know what could go wrong and how it should go right. You all should be proud to know that it is on this site that I most often go. I was very disappointed in the video they gave us to watch about dialysis. I mean, you don't want to scare people, but could it be just a little more realistic? I've talked to my mom about what could happen if she drank too much water (cramping), and she looked surprised and said, 'that's what happened to Joyce!' (her sister). Just because so many people do dialysis doesn't make it any easier to accept and live with. It is a serious situation and having supportive people is so needed and appreciated. Hope you are doing well.

[goofynina]

Hey Goofynina! I've told my mom about you and your well wishes. She smiled and said thank you. Glad to have you around - from what I've seen of you, you inspire and keep people in a good place in their minds and hearts. Epoman would/was/is proud of you and all his administrators! thanks for the support!

Thank you ODAT, that means alot to me, more than you will ever know    Thank you for making my day/week/month,    This site is Epoman's dream and i plan on keeping it alive as long as i live 

[Redbomb]

at my center they allow visitors except during the time that you (or someone next to you) is going on or coming off the machines.  It was great yesterday because I got to meet Sluff!!!

 
As for the cell phone .. they would play hell getting mine away from me!  If I have to be stuck in that chair for 4 hours, you can freekin well bed that I'm going to spend some of the time talking with some of my friends!

[Jannie]

At my center my husband can stay with me anytime except when they put me on or take me off. He went with me every session for the first month, then I started feeling bad for him. He had to wake up early, like 4 am, go with me, sit there with nothing to do for three and a half hours. I felt so bad for him, I've been leaving him home in bed. It actually works better for me. Ladies, if you remember when you were in labor, I didn't want him around then. It's sort of the same. I'm the center of this medical drama, and I don't feel comfortable with hubby around. I like being alone. The time passes peacefully and uneventfully.

[aharris2]

Being allowed to stay is by no means a given. I don't know if it is regional or what. Our center (DaVita) in Tampa does not allow it although under very special circumstances an exception has been made. The hospital centers (DaVita and Fresenius) here do not allow it. In fact, a specialist who came to see Rolando while he was on dialysis yesterday wanted me to be a part of the discussion. The unit absolutely refused him. When in Miami the Fresenius unit reluctantly allows it. New Orleans and Tuscaloosa DaVitas did not.

They cite privacy issues and Medicare rules. Talking to them ahead of time may help for them to allow it. If not, assure your mother that you will be in the lobby for the whole session just in case she needs you.

[Rerun]

It is funny how Your family or friend MUST leave when you are being put on or off yet the guy sitting next to you has his friend.  WTF?  AND my family can stay while the guy next door is getting put on or off?  Why don't they want family or friends to see their Loved one suffering?  I think they should let them stay and maybe live donations would go up.

Even if you are not allowed to stay it helps to have them SEE that she has family that cares. 

I wouldn't hurt if you would take your two fingers and point at your eyes and them point at the staff.  "I'm watching you" type of thing before you leave.

[aharris2]

Even if you are not allowed to stay it helps to have them SEE that she has family that cares. 

I wouldn't hurt if you would take your two fingers and point at your eyes and them point at the staff.  "I'm watching you" type of thing before you leave.

I second this comment whole heartedly!!! Let them know that your family/friend has an ally and an advocate and that they are being watched!

None of this stuff - HIPPA, family and friends being kept out of the dialysis units is as it seems or is purported to. No, it is about keeping others from seeing what is going on and leaving it to those who are already embattled healthwise to have to fight the so-called health "care" system and "professionals".

[George Jung]

My uncle had expressed interest in coming to my center to see me and get an idea of what a day at dialysis is like for me (as good of an idea as one can get from a short, one day stay).  He is helping me get my story out to family and friends in hopes that someone will come forward and be a match for a transplant.  I asked today and was almost immediately rejected as it is "against policy to have any visitors", which came from the head bitch in charge (whatever her title is).  There was a tech involved who is/was trying to look out for me and got the social worker involved.  After about 15 min of a big uproar with what seemed to be a better part of the staff (none of whom like "The Bitch") scrambling my social worker and the bitch approached me.  They decided that they are going to allow my uncle to come in at 12:30 on next Tuesday.  They are going to put me in a chair where no one is to my right (the side of my access) and let him sit there.  They don't want him next to any other patients in case "something explodes" and blood goes everywhere?  I haven't seen an explosion in the entire time I have been coming to this hell on earth.  He also will have to sign a HIPPA statement (?) regarding confidentiality should he overhear another patients name.  I can't wait for this day to get here.  Not that I wish anything to go wrong for any other patients but I do somehow hope that the shit hits the fan and it is a most dramatic day.

I HATE this center and its policies, who are they for anyway, they don't do shit for me.  I will not look into moving as it is a big motivator for getting off of dialysis.

[paris]

Yes, it is a motivator, but it is also your life 3 days a week.   Renal community is small, so most nurses, etc. know all the centers and how they are run.  There are better centers around here, with pleasant techs and nurses.  The goal is a transplant but you need to be in as good a situation as possible until that time.  Just my    You know I care!

[Jannie]

When i started dialysis in August,I was given the choice of two centers, both the same distance from my house. One was brand new, clean, friendly staff. And they let family members sit next to you during treatment. The other was in a hospital basement, behind the janitor's closet. Unfortunately, my insurance company won't pay if I go to the first center. Because they are "new" they don't have a contract.

[Ang]

in  my center  your  allowed  to  have  visitors  after  the  patients  are  on,till  before  they  get  off.

[livecam]

Guests are ok as long as they aren't loud, disruptive, or compromise patient and staff safety.  My unit would allow guests during the whole run except for juvenile guests who had to stay in the waiting room until the patient was on before they would be allowed to come into the treatment area.  I'll be honest in saying that there were some visitors who were loud and whose mouths ran rabid for 3-4 hours at a stretch.  They weren't pleasant to have around but there was nothing that could be done.  I used a covered headset for listening to music so when that stuff started on went the headset and the play button was pushed.  It is nice to be able to have people come in.  It was fun having my daughter and her friends hang out every so often as was having my wife stop by with something good hot off the barbecue. 

[WBMW]

Maybe tomorrow I can hang out with my mom

[Jannie]

My center allows visitors, but I prefer to be alone. I just want to be put on the machine, then relax and sleep if I can, then get taken off quickly and hopefully painlessly, and go home. I drive myself. DH feels left out, but I don't like having him around. Just the way I am. Get it over with and leave.

[Sluff]

I visited with Redbomb on my way to Vegas last October while he was at the clinic, and they allowed me in, but made me leave the room when they needed to take someone off. I understand this, especially for children.