When I started home hemodialysis in May 2006, the plan was always to get a tech to do it for a few months and then gradually learn to do it myself.
Somehow that never materialized. I got into that comfort zone where things were going pretty well and I did not want to rock the boat.
Slowly, however, inspired by the many stories on the home dialysis forums, I started cannulating myself (putting in the needles). That took a great leap of faith. After all, sticking two huge needles into your arms is not a fun thing!
Now, I do that every single day and I've gained a great amount of confidence.
From the last week or so, I've started learning the other stuff too. Like priming, washing after dialysis and the other stuff that goes with a treatment.
Well, I'm not there yet. But I'm improving every single day.
I really look forward to the day when I'm able to do a complete treatment myself.
Its not going to be 100% of the treatment because there are a few things which I know are not going to be possible like putting the plasters over the needles, actually connecting the lines to the tubes and removing the needles after treatment because only one of my hands is going to be free. There are people who do these too on their own but they probably have a fistula in their lower arm. Mine is in the upper arm and this restricts some of the things I can do.
But I'm glad I've started learning the ropes and hope I graduate soon with flying colors!
Somehow that never materialized. I got into that comfort zone where things were going pretty well and I did not want to rock the boat.
Slowly, however, inspired by the many stories on the home dialysis forums, I started cannulating myself (putting in the needles). That took a great leap of faith. After all, sticking two huge needles into your arms is not a fun thing!
Now, I do that every single day and I've gained a great amount of confidence.
From the last week or so, I've started learning the other stuff too. Like priming, washing after dialysis and the other stuff that goes with a treatment.
Well, I'm not there yet. But I'm improving every single day.
I really look forward to the day when I'm able to do a complete treatment myself.
Its not going to be 100% of the treatment because there are a few things which I know are not going to be possible like putting the plasters over the needles, actually connecting the lines to the tubes and removing the needles after treatment because only one of my hands is going to be free. There are people who do these too on their own but they probably have a fistula in their lower arm. Mine is in the upper arm and this restricts some of the things I can do.
But I'm glad I've started learning the ropes and hope I graduate soon with flying colors!
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