“ I Don’t Know About This?”( A Patient’s Initial Dialysis Treatment)….Pt.35 Can I Go Now?

Yeah, you heard it right. You’re probably wondering why AW made such an outburst when apparently her treatment is over. Well, when removing a dialysis needle from any patient’s arm access, on occasions it tends to sting a bit. What happens is that just right when a staff member is about to remove a needle , the bevel which is at the end of the needle, the sharp has a tendency to kinda slice a patient’s arm. It stings like only one could imagine. I know this with my experience of having blood drawn. Primarily from my experience with other Renal Patients. For this reason , we at the Kidney Trails Clinic have a policy that’s followed by a technique that explains the less painful way to remove a needle. 

“ Oh my Dwelyn, that kinda stung a bit. You got me sweating all over my body !”….As AW is holding her site for about a few minutes, I replied to her, “ I’m sorry AW, my deepest apologies.”……AW replies,” It’s okay man. I guess I’m also concerned about Cadence. I hope she’s okay. I think after I’m done bleeding, I may get me something to eat. I’ll have my son take me to go see her. You did say she’s more than likely going to the hospital downtown?”…. I replied,” I believe so. AW, that’s very thoughtful of you to go see her.” “ She would really appreciate that.”

After the fifteen minutes went by and AW’s arterial site( bottom site) was ready. It stopped bleeding, and I replaced the gauze that had a little blood on it with a new gauze and topped it off with a band-aid. AW says ,” Hmm this looks okay. Will I be okay to go?”…….I chuckled and said,” Let me remove the other needle which is your venous site ( top site) , and I’ll give it time to form a clot and stop bleeding. Sometimes our patient’s may experience a little prolonged bleeding from the arterial site. You will learn over a period of time how your arm seems to have a mind of its own, LOL.” AW, says to me, “ Why does the bottom site bleed more or a lot for some people?”…. I reply,” Well due to your vessel wall of your access site in your arm becoming thin over a period of time could be the case. More likely if you had an aneurysm. Also, blood flow through your fistula is under an extremely high pressure. That’s because of your artery and veined joined together by the surgery performed by your vascular surgeon.” ……. “ Huh?”… Vas who?” Lol. Well your vascular surgeon is the individual who surgically established your fistula. Remember earlier this morning we talked about that?”…….” Oh yeah , that’s right Dwelyn. My mind is all over the place.” I replied to AW,” Not a problem. But to make it a little more simple for you. Being that your artery and vein are put together. It kinda makes your blood flow stronger and forceful for us to use it for dialysis.” ……AW replies, “ Okay I kinda understand you a little. I’m just glad this first day is over. Now, do I come back tomorrow?”….” No AW, we are going to give you the day off. Come back Wednesday, and Friday this week and the following weeks as well. “…….After AW was all taped up , and ready to go home. Or as I should say, away from here. I took a look around the clinic. Everyone was adjusting back to normal after the incident with Cadence. It just makes you wonder what goes through a patient’s mind. What they observe and how they perceive and if they’re able to receive a traumatic site. 

“ Alright Dwelyn, I’m ready to leave. I packed up my bags and my folded my blanket. Oh, wait I almost forgot my iPad. Where do we go now? “ ( as she sighs)…. “AW let’s go to the scale and get your post weight. Do you remember how this works?”……AW replies,” Let me see if I can remember. Each time I come here I have to get my weight before and after dialysis. Then I noticed that we weigh in kilograms and not pounds, correct?”…….I replied , “ That’s right!”…….AW approaches the scale and her weight is 74.2. When she came in today , her weight was 76.5…….” So Dwelyn, I think when I came in today , my weight was more. You made me lose weight. I can dig this man. I feel like a teenage girl, Lol.”…” Well AW, I’m glad that you had a good day. You were able to meet a lot of people within our clinic. Being that we are one of the most prideful clinics in our area. We have a lot of visitors of high standards that come through here. Who knows who you will meet on Wednesday.”……AW replies as we continue to walk out the door of the treatment floor into the lobby….” Dwelyn I must admit , I was scared , nervous and terrified about coming here. Along with the staff and the other patients, and you of course, it’s been quite welcoming. Thank you.”…….” Anytime AW.”…. “ Wait one second, I have something for you . Here’s the secret mystery drawing envelope that was handed out earlier. You remember when either Dicyn or Denym or Nicole were talking to you, you received an envelope followed by an envelope shower so to speak, Lol.”……” Ooo yeah. I must’ve forgotten it. I hope it’s something good.”…. Just as AW is headed towards the front door to exit, she sees a little girl with her mother in the lobby sitting off to the right. The little girl is full of tears in her eyes as her mother is holding her gently. Being the person that AW is, she proceeds to walk over to her and ask…” Hello there princess, what is your name? And why are you crying? “……The little girl raises her head slowly out from her mother’s arms and says…” My name is Mag. I’m sad because I saw my friend Cadence on that big bed with wheels going out the door with all those men with radios and big bags. I hope she’s going to be okay. Cadence would always come to see us next door . She would read to us and tell us stories and teach us to knit.”…. AW replies,” Awww sweetie I’m so very sorry. I’m sure she will be okay. You said she would come see you and who? Where is next door?”…….Mag’s mother replies .” Ms.AW, my daughter Mag is a pediatric dialysis patient and Cadence would come next door here. Next door is also a Pediatric Dialysis Clinic.