So, here we are kids. The first blog of the new Hemo blogger for the wonderful Krissi. My official title: On dialysis/awaiting transplant blogger. Unofficial title? Kicker of a$$ and taker of names. (Dude, I feel SO. DIRTY. using the $$, but, Momma Krissi says so, so. . . ) ((For unedited versions, pop over to Dialyse This ))

This will totally be dialysis/awaiting transplant related, right?

Uh, sure, let's steer it in that direction, shall we?

Dialysis in Canada, at least where I am is pretty darned (dirty feeling again!) sweet. Everything is provided for us including pillows, warm or cold blankets, water, ice and several kinds of juice (sugar, sugar free and lo-cal). There are also snacks! In the form of salt-less soda crackers and tea cookies, if so inclined. The nurses are lovely women, always willing to listen to a story and to do their best to fix any problems you currently have with medications, treatment times or whatever. Patients have little to no reason to complain about having to show up.

There are always problems, machine's aren't ready when you get there, people insist on looking at your feet, pestering you about your current address, but for the most part, they are more than willing to hook you up, turn the lights off and leave you alone, coming only to harass you every hour or so for a blood pressure. Heck (...), some of them even go out of their way to ask you if you'd like anything from the fridge.

Sounds like the second happiest place on earth.

It does, doesn't it? The nurses seem to understand that dialysis is a drag. It's a time and energy suck, it disrupts your life and inconviniences you as well as your family and they do their best to make your stay a pleasant one. So, why do patients insist on being rude to these wonderful women? I get the people have bad days, I have them too, but I still make an effort to at least say please and thank you to them.

Story Time!

I'm one of the youngest in my unit, I've only ever seen one girl younger than me, so the nurses seem to realize that they can have more fun with me. As a result, I seem to have developed a reputation as a bit of a trouble maker and as someone who loves some good snark. As a result of this, I am privy to some of the nurses stories.

Ladies and gentlemen, some of you need to be ashamed for the way you treat your nurses. Let's remember that it's not their fault you notoriously don't show up for your appointments , so they now wait to start the machine until you do. It is also not their fault that the person before you showed up late and your machine is not ready. You don't need to yell at them, or curse them out. THIS WILL NOT GET THINGS DONE FASTER!!!!! And yes, I know some of the names you choose to call these fine people when you're personal schedule is not being stuck too.

Moral of the story?

The moral is . . . . um. . . . Canada seems to have a cushy dialysis system and be nice to your nurses because your life is TOTALLY IN THEIR HANDS? And I know that most of them can't program their VCR's or make a fax machine work properly?

Good moral.

Thanks, I thought so.