Hi All,
My 2nd temporary (notice i said temp) hemodialysis treatment. I was told on the last treatment session on Thursday, to be at the unit at 3:45 PM. Well I arrived on time, but when i entered the unit, my usual vitals were taken, the tech assigned to me, began to setup my time for treatment, and then informed me that my treatment would be cut by 15 minutes, because i was late. I wasn't late, i was told by the nurse in charge to be here by 3:45 PM. Well he then said in a very smart tone, you need to be here 15 minutes before your actual treatment time. I remark to him, i wasn't aware of this, had i known about this, i would have been fifteen minutes early. I was here for my first day way ahead of time, and of course, you guys were still behind schedule putting me on, on time. After that, he didn't say anymore. Later, he felt the need to explain to me why this rule is in place, saying something like there are four other people besides yourself that have catherers and we don't have but one nurse today, because i don't have the authority to do catherers, i can only do the vitals and setup the dialyzer for the patient. Now, i guess he really doesn't know much about me, because everything that he shared with me, was just wasted breath. Being previously on hemo for ten years, i should know by now, all these scenarios, about who can and can not do whatever in the unit. I just sat there, and let him have his moment in the sun. I must pat myself on the back,(i would have been quite a actor), right! because i just responded with oh yeah, is that right! Now, on with the nurse connecting me to the dialyzer. This time i was better prepared, i had my headphones, (in which i purchased some inexpensive ones at the 99 cent store). I also brought my nook, to read one of my books, and also a word search, just in case, i got bored reading. Although i had all this to keep me busy and entertained, i was still a little pissed off, with this schedule issue. As i was taking another glimpse around the room, i was noticing there were just like the tech said, i notice the four other patients, who were also sporting matching catherers, like myself (lol). So on with the treatment, i got through the entire treatment without any alarms going off, or any cramping or b/p plummeting, it appeared to be an awesome treatment day for me. The nurse came over after ten minutes of my dialyzer alarming that the treatment was over, the red light above just blinking away, (like a slot machine that just hit the jackpot). Finally she comes over and begans to disconnect me and do the usual bandaging of the dressing. My daughter arrived to drive me home, and we were on our way. We first stopped by the bank to make a withdrawal, then on to home. I arrived at home, and went inside and as i was walking up the stairs, my blouse began to feel a little wet, and then i looked down and my blouse was saturated with blood. That is when i had my daughter call the unit, and of course, no one answered right away, and then after the six ring, the tech that was assigned to me, answered, and told my daughter that he was the only one left there to close and the nurse had gone home, so he told us to call 911, but instead i applied pressure to my chest and also put a towel over the catherer as well. My husband panic, when he saw all that blood on my blouse, so he immediately ran out of the house with me, and i noticed he didn't have a shirt on, so he ask my daughter to get one for him, and we were on our way to ER in Vacaville. We arrived after fifteen minutes, and as soon as we got into the lobby of the ER, my daughter promptly yelled out, my mom is bleeding, and of course, this clerk or nurse, whatever he was, just told her to wheel me to the lobby, because he was busy taking care of this other patients registration business of such, (he appeared to me,to not be in any pain or discomfort, whatsoever), oh well, that clerk or nurse, was so nonchalant about my situtation. As i was sitting in the wheelchair, a lady notice that i was bleeding heavy, and she told me to go ahead of her, although she was also in a wheelchair as well. Well, the drama begins, my husband enters and notice that i am sitting in the lobby, of course, you can guess what was his reaction was, Why are you sitting here?,((in a very panic tone), just bleeding, did you inform him that you are bleeding. Yes i did, i replied. so of course, my husband then goes to the desk, and inquires as to why it is taking so long. He also remarks (with one of his many military stories), (lol) when i was in the military for 20 years, i was told that if you are not breathing or you are bleeding, those situations take presidence over any other ER case, and should get immediate attention. The clerk just ignored him. I had to attempt to get my husband to calm down. I gave him my puppy dog eyes, and said don't fret! everything is under control, he is helping to stop the bleeding, so please baby, go have a sit, OK. I know he was ferious, but he complied all the same. After the nurse did the usual take my usual hospital info, he told me to go to the fourth door and wait in front, and someone will be out shortly to get me. And yes, the nurse was there in about 2 minutes. They immediately took me in, when they saw my blouse saturated with blood. The nurse then attempted to open my blouse and indicate where the bleeding is coming from. She then said, we got to get this area cleaned, because this is the perfect breathing ground for bacteria to develop, and i know these catherers have to be protected from potential infection. She then began to clean the area with betadine and made sure that the bleeding had stopped. My blood was very thin from the heparin, so it was running like water. So she said we don't have this kind of dressing,so she put a dressing on, that has the ability to hold the catherer very firmly, more so than that inexpensive crap that they used at the unit. Now, as the nurse was bandaging my catherer, she said to me, your unit couldn't remedy this situation for you, and of course, i replied with, the tech was the only person left there to close the unit, so he couldn't help me. The nurse,shooked her head, and said, that is not a good thing, especially on the weekend, they should have a nurse there to close on the weekend, in case of an emergency, and of course, i agreed with her, but she said if you have any further bleeding, just come straight to ER. She told me to sit for a few minutes, to make sure the bleeding had truly subsided. As i was leaving, she was so nice, she gave me a bottle of perioxide (i hope i spelled that right),so that i can remove the blood from my blouse. My husband still fussing and ranting about all the unit and their unprofessionalism, said first thing Monday morning he is going to call my neph, Dr. Ahmad, and inform him of this, and also inquire about being reimbursed by Davita for this very unnecessary ER co-pay, because after all it wasn't my fault, the nurse just didn't secure my catherer, she was in such a hurry to go home, just rushing me out of the unit, their demeanor was so different from my first treatment on thursday, i guess having to work the start of the weekend, they want to have at least the rest of the first day of the weekend to enjoy, go figure! You still need to take your time, regardless, because a pt's health and well being is very importantly, if you are going to work in this kind of facility. Having a job like this, you have to have much compassion for the patient, it is just not a job, it is a mandatory requirement in my book. Well, this day was beginning on a sour note, with all this schedule shit (excuse my french), i guess you can tell i am still a little pissed about all this. it is a given, (why i feel the way i do at this moment), i am a cool and very pleasant soul most of the time. After saying my treatment went very well, and for the evening to end this way, i just will look forward to tommorrow being a more pleasant, enjoyable and relaxing day. I will just pray in church tommorrow, and pray that i can get through this temporary dialysis, without anymore drama or issues of such. So that is it for my very serious, and i mean serious blogging for today. Until next blog, i wish all my bloggers all the best and i hope no hemodialysis pts. has to endure what i had to today, ever. take care Glo
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