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Your first dialysis treatment will last for about two hours.
The time will increase over your first three to four treatments to four hours
in length.
Dialysis treatments are scheduled either on Mondays, Wednesdays,
and Fridays or Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. On each day, people are
scheduled for treatments either in the morning, afternoon, or the evening
shift. If you need to change your schedule, please speak to the team lead
in your dialysis unit. We try to accommodate each patient's request, but
sometimes there is a waiting list for specific times. Please give as much
notice as possible if you need a change in your treatment schedule.
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The full-care unit (7B) and the Assisted Care Unit are located
on the 7th floor of Grand River Hospital. If you come in the emergency entrance
or the main entrance, go up the nearest elevators and then get off at the
7th floor. 7B is located down the "B" wing, the Assisted Care Unit
is located down the "C" wing, and the Renal Clinic is located down
the "A" wing.
The Guelph Satellite Unit is located at 73 Delhi Street in
Guelph.
This building is beside the Guelph General Hospital.
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- For the first two or three treatments, you may feel tired
or light-headed so arrange for someone to drive you home. You can drive yourself
once you become used to dialysis.
- No food or blankets are provided in our dialysis unit. If
you are diabetic you should bring your own light snack. You may wish to
bring a blanket to each dialysis treatment in case you find it cool in the
dialysis unit.
- Wear comfortable clothes that allow your access to be easily
reached.
- Bring something to help pass the time, like a book or a
battery operated radio with earphones. Televisions are available in the
Assisted Care Unit and the Guelph Satellite Unit. Cellular phones are not
allowed in any of the dialysis units.
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- Day patients on 7B should not arrive before 6:45 a.m. When
you arrive have a seat in the waiting area behind the elevators until you
are called into the unit via the intercom.
- Patients from the Assisted Care Unit (ACU) should report
directly to ACU. If you arrive too early you will be asked to go to the
waiting room.
- If unwell, go directly to the emergency department instead
of coming to the dialysis unit.
- Prior to each treatment, we will take your weight (without
shoes or coats), temperature, and blood pressure. A dialysis nurse will
then start your dialysis treatment.
- During dialysis treatment, routine checks will be done to
assess your condition. If you have any of the following symptoms before
or after your treatment, report them immediately to your nurse. These symptoms
may mean we are taking off too much fluid: nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances,
feeling light-headed, dizziness, headache, ringing in the ears, or muscle
cramping (which may be in the hands, legs, or belly).
- Your weight, temperature, and blood pressure will be taken
after your treatment.
- Visitors are welcome in both units. Note: there is no visiting
in either unit when treatments are being started or completed. In the 7B
unit we ask that the visits be limited to five to ten minutes, as there is limited
space in this busy unit.
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Parking is available for dialysis patients at a reduced cost.
Speak to your nurse or the unit secretary to obtain a slip that shows you
are a dialysis patient. Take this slip to the cashier's office to receive
a parking pass at the reduced rate.
If you are unable to drive yourself, there are several options:
- Have a family member or friend drive you.
- Take Project Lift. This service is available to people
living within Kitchener-Waterloo city limits. Anyone physically unable to
take a city bus is eligible for Project Lift. Ask the program social worker
or nurse to help you set up this service.
- Arrange for a volunteer driver. Many people who do not
live in the Kitchener-Waterloo area use volunteer drivers. Organizations
to consider include your church or service groups (e.g. Lions Club, Legion).
They often have teams of volunteer drivers.
Many patients use a combination of the above resources. You
are responsible for organizing your own transportation, but our social worker
can help you sort out any problems you may have around transportation or
travel costs.
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Some of the common problems that need attention:
- loss of thrill (the buzzing), redness, hardness, or swelling
in the fistula or graft
- continual bleeding, redness, or pain from the site of the
temporary catheter
- bleeding from the fistula or graft after pressure has been
applied for 30 minutes
- new shortness of breath or feeling light headed
- feeling unwell such as nausea or vomiting
- fever or chills
- If you are concerned and not sure what is wrong, call and
talk with a member of the renal team.
- If you have an urgent problem while you are at home, call
the dialysis unit from 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (Monday to Saturday). Do not
come to the unit. If it is after hours or on a Sunday, call the "Nephrologist
on call" at (519) 749-4300, ext. 5604, or go to the emergency department
at Grand River Hospital.
- If you go to the emergency department, call the dialysis
unit and let the team lead know. If necessary, an earlier dialysis treatment
will be arranged.
- Some patients wear a Medic Alert bracelet. There are forms
for Medic Alert bracelets in the waiting room. Part of the cost of the bracelet
can be paid for by the Kidney Foundation. If you would like more information
about a Medic Alert bracelet, talk to our social worker or contact the Kidney
Foundation.
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