A rough few days

[monrein]

Well, after my neck line was put in all seemed OK for 2 days but last Friday I woke up to a fair bit of blood on me and on my sheets.  So off to the hospital right away, had the dressing changed and again all seemed well.  Then yesterday I had my first dialysis session and lo and behold the arterial was not working.  They switched the A and the V around but still my arterial line was running very strangely with negative pressure and the line jumping like mad and the machine beeping a lot.  All this at a pump speed of only 200.  We tried every position except standing on my head and the only thing that worked a bit was if I held my breath.  Not a great scenario.
Called the vascular access nurse, who is incredibly competent and nice into the bargain, and she arranged for me to go back to have radiology check it out.  Turns out the line they had inserted was too long and was not sitting in the correct position in the heart and was sucking up (nice technical term) against something or other.  Also the stitches were oddly done and were pulling my skin so badly it felt as f it would rip out.
I had been a bit concerned from the beginning because the radiologist who did it was an advanced student and I came very close to not signing the consent because I've had so many procedures in the past two months that I wanted real solid experience working on me.  Anyhow I got talked into it so I'm a little cross with myself.
So today back I went and had to have it replaced.  They say it's now fabulous but I'm reserving judgement until I take it for a test drive tomorrow on dialysis.
I'm oh so glad to be home right now.

[okarol]

  Thats awful. I hope they've resolved the problem! 

[rose1999]

Aw bless you, what a rotten time you've had.  Hope all goes smoothly tomorrow 

[willieandwinnie]

monrein. I'm so sorry you are going through all this crap. I don't let students mess with my hubby anymore. I have refused to sign those consent forms more times then I can count. I hope they got it working correctly and tomorrow goes as planned. Please keep us posted.  

[2_DallasCowboys]

Boy, you did have a rotten time.  I know how
upsetting a poorly inserted cath can be- my
hubby has had a few. 
I will keep you in my prayers, that this new one
will work out wonderful for ya.

Anne

[xtrememoosetrax]

Sorry to hear this, monrein. Hang in there, and I hope things get better soon. 

[LightLizard]

yes mo, keep us posted, hey? how was it performing for you today?
i had a problem with my belly tube when it was first put in. (i do home P/D, now, but i started with a neck catheter too) my belly tube somehow got my omentum wrapped around it and it wouldn't work at all. it was quite painful until i went back into the hospital to have it adjusted....

[willieandwinnie]

monrein, I was thinking (I know that is dangerous with me), but aren't they suppose to take an xray after they place the catheter to make sure it is in correctly. Hey they are screwing with your heart, what in the world is the matter with these people. That is my little tangent for the day. 

[monrein]

I thought the same thing W&W, that it should be clear on X-Ray and they did check the position before releasing me but if the line itself inside was a bit too long then it might have been curled a little and then shifted to come into contact with something inside.  I honestly don't know the answer but the radiolo. who did the second one said the first was too long.  They had my head and neck really stretched back in funny position the first time so that might also account for them misjudging how long it needed to be.  Who knows?
The second one FEELS much more comfortable right off the bat than the first.

[Sunny]

Sorry for the rough times. It would have been nice if they had it right the 1st time. Hopefully things will resolve for the better now.
Wishing you the best.

[Sluff]

Glad  u r home. Hopefully you get a little rest. 

[Ang]

don't  worry,  i  know  it  sucks  but hopefully  it  can  only get  better  from  here

[spacezombie]

Oh no! I'm so sorry, monrein. The last permacath I had placed a couple of years ago didn't work either. The surgeon who placed it was experienced, but kind of jerky. When they took the cath out you could tell it had a HUGE kink in it. I think he just didn't want to bother getting a new one and thought it would work anyway. I've also had to have a PD line replaced because it was in backwards!! GRRR! I hate when they allow people that don't know what they are doing put in our lines... as if it is are not important! GRR!

 



I hope that this new neck line is in there correctly and works great for you!

[MIbarra]

Hope the new catheter works better for you!

[kellyt]

    I'm sorry to hear you're having a rough time.  I sincerely hope they have corrected the problem and your future dialysis sessions go off without a hitch.

[kidney4traci]

Oh Mo, I am soory!  I had a rough time with my first one too, it was too long and I felt every pulse during dialysis and it hurt too, and after they put in a shorter one it was much better for me too.  I could tell right away and then didn't feel a thing during dialysis from then.  Praying yours is the same ans dialysis is easier next time.  Bless you!

[Razman]

I'm sorry to hear that things didn't turn out right.  I hope that it gets better real soon.

[del]

Hope dialysis goes well next time. 

[jbeany]

 

Hope it works better now!

[glitter]

my husband had a tough start too- hopefully yours will be perfectly functional and comfortable.   

[Mimi]

My goodness, what a shame Mo.  I hope the new one works a lot better.  I am thinking about the neck line if
my fistula can't be fixed.  I'm going for a fistulagram Friday to find out if my fistula can be fixed.  Personally I
don't think it can.  My veins are too small and I'm not letting them mess up my right arm.  Hope things continue to
improve.  You are in my prayers.

Love, Mimi

[CW]

That sucks monrein,
I am starting to feel like it is not a good idea to let people practice on me - no matter how nice they seem.
I hope the new one works better

[Psim]

That's awful! Hope your test drive went well and you're dialyzing just fine now.

[paddbear0000]

I hope things are better today monrein! 

[kellyt]

Oh Mo, I am soory!  I had a rough time with my first one too, it was too long and I felt every pulse during dialysis and it hurt too, and after they put in a shorter one it was much better for me too.  I could tell right away and then didn't feel a thing during dialysis from then.  Praying yours is the same ans dialysis is easier next time.  Bless you!

I'm guessing that once they stick you and the needles are in, they can't or won't change them out?  You have to go the entire session in pain and discomfort?  That's crazy!!!  I mean, in some cases, like monrein's, it seems obvious that there is a problem.  Did they ignor her or could they honestly not do anything once the needles are in?

I'm not looking forward to dialysis.