Bleeding Out

Okay, I’m exaggerating but there was a lot of blood. About three hours into the dialysis session, I noticed that there was a growing bloodstain on the waterproof napkin they were using to line the dialysis side tables. I looked at my arm and the lower needle (arterial) was leaking blood. I pushed the call button, much like in an airplane but not quite, and the tech came over to help. She said that leaks happen occasionally and it was nothing to worry about. She proceeded to get some alcohol swabs and wiped away all the blood running down my arm. She then replaced the medical tape holding the needle down, and promised me that she would finish cleaning up when the session was over.

I wasn’t too bad. The bleeding had stopped when she changed the tape, and post-dialysis clean up was pretty easy. Still, it was weird watching your own blood leak out of a rubber tubing and not being able to stop it. I really don’t like this fistula but since the chest catheter is coming out Tuesday, I’m stuck with no other options going forward.

Sorry, I didn’t get any pics.