More Dialysis questions

• By fsgsblahs
• Posted July 30, 2008 at 7:19 am

River,

I am not on dialysis yet, but I have heard that there is a numbing cream that you put on your skin and you won't feel a thing. I am a severe needle phobe too, so that was one of my biggest concerns also.

I know several people on other sites who drive theirselves back and forth to the clinics, so I am sure it just depends on how you feel afterwards....have someone take you the first week to see. I also live pretty far from our clinic, but I am probably going to go with the 'home hemo' for that reason and to avoid being exposed to other people's blood. I was all for the clinic, until an online friend just got Hepaitis C from his clinic....yet another incurable disease.

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• By JulieGent
• Posted July 30, 2008 at 10:58 am

Hi
I just started hemodialysis last Friday.
As for your questions...
#1 I have a fistula but have not included it on my medic alert profile yet. I wear a bracelet on the other arm that reads "Renal Failure" so I would hope someone would notice the fistula given that information. Hope being the operative word. :)
#2 I will drive myself today. I didn't at first just because I wasn't sure of how I would feel but so far, other than stiff from sitting still for a long period of time, I have felt OK.
#3 I am no hero. I have an aversion to needles as well. I have had 2 treatments and, although it hurts to hook up and unhook, it has been OK. I am going to try the numbing cream tonight and will get back to you on the difference it makes, if any.
I understand what you are feeling and I think the fear is the worst. I felt the same way before last Friday when I started hemo. I have been on PD for a year and just went to the "other side". I will say that on Saturday I felt empowered because I had conquered the greatest fear I have felt in a long time. You could say that gave me the courage to go back on Monday.
We are all in this together and you will see that at the dialysis center as well. Everyone is so nice and compassionate to what we are going through- it's like we belong to a club or something. It helps to be among others who know exactly where you are.
I will be happy to talk to you further- my email is juliegentile_3@hotmail.com if you want to chat

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• By AmosB
• Posted July 30, 2008 at 1:46 pm

Hi!!!
A numbing cream, like EMLA is applied to the skin about an hour before the shot is given. It will numb the skin and reduce or eliminate any pain the shot might cause. You can ask for a prescription or see if the center will give you some. We used to put it on our daughter BEFORE we left for our infusion appointments. Dab it on and cover it up with a clear dressing (bandage) and it reduces the pain. She actually got to the point where she didn't like taking the dressing off (painful) so now she gets her shots without it.
Good luck!
A

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• By maaxiim
• Posted August 5, 2008 at 8:05 am

Hi there,

I've been doing Hemo for about 2 years now and have driven to/from almost every treatment. My advice is to have a small first aid kit on hand in the car, just in case, but I've never needed to use one (touch wood!).
As far as the medical bracelet, I don't wear one. I have not made a conscious decision not to, just never thought about it. Maybe I should think about that... :-)
About the needles; I completely understand where you're coming from, I used to pass out even just getting a single vial of blood drawn, but I have to admit, the needle sticks are not as bad as I expected. As mentioned before, you can always use the numbing cream if you find it too uncomfortable, but in my own experience, I've managed to go without using it so far. My best advice to someone starting on dialysis with a fistula is to take _very_ good care of your fistula arm; Exercise the arm as often as you can, using those hand held stress-ball exercise things; the dialysis unit usually has lots of them. Also, if you have had a tendency to wake up with a numb arm, from the way you sleep on it, you will have to try to adjust the way you lie when you sleep to not block off your circulation, as that can have a negative effect on the fistula.

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• By linda_w
• Posted August 16, 2008 at 3:34 am

Hi - I'm on dialysis for almost 2 yrs. I am also on chemotherapy for 9 years prophelatically. I was running around for about a yr., but drs said the foam in my urine was protein and I was only told to change my diet, which I did and lost about 70+ lbs. No one ever mentioned dialysis or informed me about stages of renal failure. The meds I was given was for high blood pressure. I was told my renal failure came from the original chemo (cisplatin) which slowly knocked out my kidneys.
When I quickly went into renal failure I saw the vascular surgeon and started dialysis within two week's time. Until the fistula matured, they did dialysis temporarily in the chest (another surgical procedure). Once the fistula matured (exercised with the rubber ball), they reversed the chest procedure and I started using dialysis in my arm. The fistula was done in my upper arm (not my wrist) so that it could be covered up when it grew bigger (cord-like). At first I did use the cream, but when I read the blurb I noticed minor reports re cancer in rats, and since I had cancer, I chose not to use the cream. Each dialysis treatment, when the needles go in, I work with the technician. He tells me when he's ready to go, I squeeze my eyes tightly for a very few seconds, then its over. Most of the time I don't feel a thing and then only a small pinch when he does a new spot. Nothing hurts when they remove the needles.
There is a lot more I need to work on, so the needle process is a smaller issue. What is very important for me is keeping my food correct (working with a dietician) so that protein, phosphorus, potassium, etc. is in order, monitoring my fluid and salt intake, and keeping my blood pressure normal.
I feel much better since I'm on dialysis so it's worth what I am going through. I don't know anybody else on chemo with the dialysis, so we weren't sure the dialysis wouldn't pull out the chemo. So far so good and my tumor markers are good. If you need any other info, let me know. I also google the national kidney foundation for lots of information, which I wish I had done when I was doing all that running around.
Bye for now! Linda

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• By linda_w
• Posted August 16, 2008 at 3:50 am

Hi again - Forgot, I just ordered a bracelet because I had passed out in the street and my husband insisted I get one. I also changed when I take my blood pressure meds so that my pressure doesn't go too low during dialysis. It's been working great!

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