[QUOTE=SKaiSeow;12910]I am on HD for 16 months. I am convinced that buttonhole method is better. My clinic only practice step ladder needling.
I collected all info from various websites and got started buttonhole method in December 2005. I purchased my own blunt needles, but was not permited to use them and said no protocall?
I am still using sharps as I have no choice.
Can some one tell me what can happen if I continue to use sharp for my buttonholes on a long term. So far I do not have signs of any trouble.
I believe buttonhole needling was invented 30years ago in Poland, I wonder when was special buttonhole needle invented?
Skai[/QUOTE]
Thank you all for the great responses I am getting I do appreciate you kind people.
I am a Singaporean and not living in USA. My home is in sunny Singapore, and hope you have heard of our tiny Island Republic.
We are like a little United Nation with many nationalities living here from all over the world. We have great restaurants serving food from every corner of the world. Over 4 million people living on this Island. Please read more about Singapore in the www.
I started HD in Nov 2004. Yesterday was my 222 nd. dialysis treatment at the NKF Singapore. I started to educate myself by reading the various websites mostly from the USA. I learn a lot from it and thank you
.
When I started HD, I suffered may problem of carnulation, stenosis, infiltrations and so on. At one stage I had fobia going for HD not knowing what to expect. It is like betting in the casino.
I stumbled on the constant site buttonhole technique and ask my center about it. I was told no center in Singapore is doing this and they are looking into this. Not convinced, I visited a few other centers to confirmed this fact.
I am on 3xweekly in center HD. After reading the instructions and watching vedio clips on the web, I started buttonhole with a friendly/helpful nurse. What I did was considered unofficial.
When the center evtually found out about 3 weeks later, nurse in-charged and Doctor i/c. they tried to stop me and insisted I should go back to conventional step ladder system.
I protested violently and after signing an indemnity letter I beg them to let me continue.
As they do not carry blunt needles, I got them supplied by the local agents, Nypro Buttonhole needles.
As I was the first patient asking for them, they delivered 100 needles to me no charge.
I brought some down on my next visit and requested them to be used on me instead of sharps. The nurse said she needed to get approval/clearance from higher authorities.
A week later the charge nurse said that my request was not approved.
My intention was to commence self needling with the buttonhole blunt needles as it would be safer for me to start learn self sticking. I have not started self-needling yet but hope to start as soon as I can get clearance to use the blunt needles.
There is still no dates from my center as to when the NKF Singapore will introduce “constant site” needling, I begin to worry, will the sharp needles cause damaged to my AV fistula? I then posted the thread on this forum.
I hope you will share more of your experiences
Skai.