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Dialysis & The Human Tissue Authority

As expected the week just gone was an interesting one!  It started with my dialysis training at Treliske on Tuesday.  As I'm sure you can imagine, I was apprehensive about being dialysed for the first time!

When I arrived at the hospital, the dialysis nurse put me at ease straight away.  She slowly went through the procedure for setting up the dialysis equipment then "plugged me in" so I would experience how it feels.

It was a funny sensation, as you felt your insides filling up.  The very first bit of solution is cold but then the rest has been warmed by the machine.  Once the fluid is inside it is left there for a period of time, where, via osmosis and diffusion , impurities and toxins are taken out of your system.  Then the fluid is removed before the process is repeated.  Now that is the bit which I wasn't so keen on.  When almost all of the fluid is removed you can sometimes feel a little pinch inside.  The best way I can describe it is like when you drink the last bit in a glass with a straw or if you put a hoover on your skin!!  Not painful, just a bit uncomfortable!!

On Wednesday Mum and I went up to Derriford where we met with the surgeon and we were quizzed by a Chaplin on behalf of the Human Tissue Authority.  The surgeon and the live donor nurse went through all of the risks of the operations mostly for mum as she only has risks in having the operation as she is not ill (the reward being seeing her lovely daughter better of course!!).  They also went through in detail what would happen on the actual day of the operations and in the following days and weeks. 

Next mum and I were interviewed together and individually by the Chaplin.  His job is to write a report to the Human Tissue Authority advising whether he feels there has been any pressure applied onto mum or money involved in the process and that we both know what we are letting ourselves in for!  I have to say I was surprised at the detail he went into.  He really wanted to know that we were both aware of the risks we were facing as a result of the operation.  At the end he said that he was happy and that he didn't think there would be any problem getting the go ahead!

On Thursday the dialysis nurse came out to my home so I could have some more dialysis training.  I set up the equipment in my bedroom myself whilst the nurse observed.  When both of us was happy we left the machine set up ready for that evening where I would be plugged in for the night for the first time.

My first night of dialysis resulted in very little sleep, but I think that is to be expected, since then, I have still not had a full nights sleep but it is getting better!  In the end exhaustion will set in and you won't see me for days!!

Finally I had my last blood results pre-dialysis yesterday and my creatinine level hit 999!!  I have to say I am disappointed not to have hit 1,000!! 

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