Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Plasma Exchange and Infusion Therapy

So yesterday I started a new therapy. Originally I was supposed to get a central line, but Dr. Albright preferred them just using my fistula.  At 1:30 everyday I go get plasma exchange. It's like dialysis in a way. They put in 2 needles into my fistula, like at dialysis and hook me up to a really intricate machine that takes out my plasma and they have bottles of man made plasma that they put into me. They did a really good job. I had Jen and Louann on Tuesday and Jen & Jill today. On Tues, I got really cold (which apparently happens) and I had at least 10 blankets on me. But today, they had a blood warmer and they also give me calcium which makes me feel like Ive peed. Today, they were giving me another calcium injection into the machine and I started feeling really sick. They said it's because they are taking off fluid as well and I had had dialysis today so it was kind of a double dose of taking off fluid. It came and went pretty quickly, but it's still not fun. After I'm done with that I go down the hall to the Eisenberg building to get IV IG which is nutrients and that takes about 2 1/2 hours sometimes a little less. The first day, Tuesday, they basically were confused and not knowing how to deal with the fistula because they had never done it before. I would say something to the nurse and she would say that she would get the right person and then that didn't happen. When a person came to take the needles out, she didn't listen to me one bit. I talked to Kim at dialysis about it today and she talked to Theresa Elwood (the nurse supervisor) and they talked to the charge nurse at Eisenberg and they said it would be better today. It was better today. I called Christina and she said she would come and Non called and said she would come by as well. Both of them were there for me today and another nurse supervisor (Jane) came and talked to me about it. I had Mali as a nurse and she did a very good job of listening to me and pulling my needles. I'm just frustrated with all this because I'm letting my guard down and I don't like that. I don't like needing people or breaking down and letting people in. I'm worn down. Period. I just want this to work and just have to have to take pills and live life.

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