If you have a weak stomach, turn away now. You have been warned!
Sometimes I marvel at the interesting problems I have. Here we go... A normal person who has a stomach bug will get up to go to the bathroom when necessary. These things usually hit in the night. Well, I am attached to a machine each night. The cord that connects me and my cycler is about 10 feet long. The distance between my cycler and the toilet is about 25 feet*. So when you think of the logistics, you will notice a problem. I won't say any more, but little things like this make dialysis a huge pain in the butt! (Pun intended)
*Of course I am able to pause the cycler and disconnect myself. It must be a sterile exchange. (Mask on, ceiling fan off, pets out of the room, hands sanitized, etc.) So, it is possible to go potty, it just takes a little extra effort - and time.
Oh, and I have asked about extra long cords for the cycler, but my dialysis nurse said I didn't qualify for it. What!?!?
So how exactly do you "qualify" for extended cords? That's silly. You need them, that is plenty of justification in my book.
ReplyDeleteThank you Dana! I want you to be in charge from now on. :)
ReplyDeleteTo "qualify," I would have to be a frequent night pee'er (is that a word?). In other words, if I frequently get up at night to go potty, then I would qualify.
My cycler has a memory card that I have to bring to the clinic each month. All my dialysis data is on the card, like what solution I use each night, my weight, blood pressure, etc. It also shows if I unhook and interrupt the cycler at night. So, since I don't get up and unhook to use the restroom every night, I am not considered a frequent night pee'er (and that is a word now since I used it twice.)
TMI. I know.