Procedures Done!

The hemodialysis temporary catheter got placed and Woody's veins got mapped...but let's just say not in the most efficient way...it took may hours more than it seemed like it should have. We got to the clinic a few minutes early and got inside to find no one in the waiting room nor anyone at the check-in desk. We waited and finally someone came. Then they had trouble finding his orders in their computer. First clue that not everything would go smoothly! When we finally got called back (didn't keep track...but it was an hour or more in the waiting room). They showed him to his little cubicle and the first thing they asked him was just what they were going to be doing to him today. He didn't really know since I had dealt with getting all this set up. And, a patient is asked what they are having done to make sure that they understand. But...this time the nurses really needed us to tell them as they weren't sure! Luckily I did know what was supposed to be done. Then someone else came in just sure that they were supposed to remove a catheter and replace one. I explained that the only other catheter he had was his PD catheter and that had to stay till he could get started on hemodialys. They were probably convinced when they looked...and there was no catheter for them to remove! I did explain that he had had a temporary catheter a year ago, but that had been removed long ago. All this was going on and time was ticking away and not much was happening! Finally the doctor came in, but his first statement went against the grain for me...he asked Woody if he was stopping PD because he was tired of doing it. We explained that he was stopping because it wasn't doing what it was supposed to be doing. The doctor and a tech did an ultrasound of the veins in his neck to decide which side to do it on. It had been indicated to us that they probably wouldn't be able to do it on the same side as the last time. But it was placed on the same side. They left Woody sitting in his wheelchair after the procedure while he awaited vein mapping. Finally the tech rolled the ultrasound machine in, but the doctor told him that he wasn't doing Woody's first. Woody looked at me after they rolled the machine out and said that is the second time that he was bypassed. Come to find out efen though he got their first, the doctor chose to do the other gentleman's dialysis catheter before he did Woody's. This is the gentleman who got back into the area to get ready for his procedures about 30 minutes after Woody and I got there. I am wondering if part of the confusion came from the fact that both patients last names started with "D?" I realized that when the nurse said goodbye to the other Mr. D and Woody was still waiting for vein mapping. They did have Woody's birthdate and bracelet correct...but I'm thinking that in their minds that they may have gotten the two Mr. D's confused since they were having exactly the same procedure. We were both wishing that the surgery would not take place here to put in the permanent connection. But...alas...last thing the doctor said was that the vascular surgeons would be getting in touch with us to set upna surgery date. He is not eligible for a fistula. He will have to have a graft...they will connect two veins with a little plastic tube. I will say that the doctor did mention at the end that Woody had had a long day...I will say that the main positives of today's experience were the nurses and the techs...very pleasant. We left at 6:30am and got back at 2pm. I got Woody his "breakfast" once we got home and then started making phone calls to Fresenius to let them know that the procedures had been done so plans could start for hemodialysis. We pretty much got told that we needed to decide if we were going to do home hemodialysis...wanted a decision by Friday. I have realized that the main reason that home dialysis is being encouraged is that the center is maxed out with in-center patients. It's looking like new in-center patients will have to go to Winchester...not "all that far," but still not very convenient. Most of the time he is in dialysis, I would be on the road coming and going. We are spoiled by the fact thst most everything in Tullahoma is just ten minutes away! Plus the Tullahoma center is the one we are familiar with. Upon hearing this Woody preferred doing it at home...so guess lots of training is ahead of us...more than for PD...at least three weeks and possibly more. My next call was to the person that I talked to yesterday who wanted to get Woody better dialyzed with PD while we wait...so she upped the exchanges and also the length of the last dwell time. I started him before 7...hoping that it won't go too far into the morning. But she has added a couple of hours to his already long time! Her comment is that is probably only for a week and she is really trying to keep him out of the hospital! We don't want the hospital so we are giving it a try. I am hoping that he will be able to sleep tonight after his long day! He has already dozed some. He said that his neck does hurt some, but not enough for Tylenol. He can be stubborn not giving into pain meds. Oh, well...Be safe! Be well! Be cautious!