It's your first day on the chair. What to expect? You wash your arm, get weigh, and then they ask how much water weight to take out. Doctor has already determined your dry weight (your normal weight). The goal is to extract water weight that will affect your heart and lungs causing short of breath or drowning sensation. If they take too much water weight then you are either get light headed and passed out or get CRAMPS in your legs. I'm getting ahead of myself but the TRICK here is:
1.) When you feel your legs are cold, tingly, or numb 15-30 minutes before you are done then ask for a "MINIMUM". The attending technician will cut water suction and only concentrate on blood filtering.
They are ready to put the needle in your arm. They call this your access. You should remember your surgeon telling you to take good care of your access site and if you feel uncomfortable towards a technician or nurse sticking your access that you can ask for a more experienced tech. Tip:
2.) Don't feel embarrassed if you don't trust your technician. They will understand.
On my second day, I actually got an INFILTRATION. Infiltration means the technician either puncture through your vein or they scarred inside the vein wall causing your arm to swell making your access unable to pump blood. It's extremely painful. Worst part they reschedule you the next day and have you watch your fluid intake that also might cause you to have short of breath. This happens because your vein is new and fragile. To make it stronger you have to pump your arms, don't sleep on your arm, and eat less salty food to stop the swelling. Now they successfully insert the needle. Tip:
3.) Don't be afraid to ask for LIDOCAINE. Lidocaine is a numbing injection to help with the needles. Unfortunately In time you might develop a sensitivity to this and get itchy skin. It's ugly and irritating. My skin became thinner, so I ask for hydrogen peroxide to sanitized my skin.
I actually stopped lidocaine after 3 months because I got used to the pain. Unfortunately lidocaine causes scar tissue or keloid forming on access sites that makes it harder for the tech to find your vein. Your skin will get weaker or thinner that causes bleeding after your finished and you don't want that mess in your car. Just take a deep breath and concentrate on your itchy skin, that helps me most of the time. Some patient don't care about the scars and will ask for lidocaine. I don't think you will die from it. Now, let the pumping begin.
4.) Ask for profile ELEVEN. Profile 11 takes out more water weight in the begging and less water weight at the end, like a stair effect. This will help you cramp less. Remember tip number one.
Here it gets easier. You just relax, sit back, or sleep if you want. Let the machine do its job. If you get too comfortable your blood pressure will drop and they might lower your head a bit more. I tend to stay awake, watch my iPad, do leg excersices to raise my blood pressure. You made it to the end without cramping...
5.) Ask for a band aid and straps. If your lazy like me, straps are more convenient. I don't like to hold my arm for 10 - 15 minutes to stop the bleeding.
It's up to you, it will help prevent keloids or scar tissue forming. Bandaid are just extra precaution. Unfortunately I'm sensitive to the glue of bandaid tape so I ask for silk tape.
I hope these TIPS help you get through your dialysis days and live a comfortable life . More tips will be posted in the future but for now, just take it easy and watch your salt intake. Thanks.