My Double Lung Transplant

Monday, August 30, 2010

Does this make you happy?

Below is the list of shit I will need in order to do these injections. Injections which are allegedly made to make my life easier. I will copy and paste the 2 attachments I got. Lemme know what you think.


ORDERING SUPPLIES

As soon as possible after your first visit, phone Medicalmart at 905 624 2011. You will need to set up an account. These items will be delivered to your house. If you spend $100 delivery is free.
You can also order similar supplies via websites or drug stores. Prices may vary.

The cost will be approximately $1.75 per injection. If you have private health insurance you need to know that some subjects have been successful in having the cost of their supplies reimbursed. It depends on the individual’s policy.

SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR INFUSIONS

• Cat # 113 MM 05507 box 200 alcohol pads. Or you can buy cotton balls and rubbing alcohol at any drug store.
• Cat # 308309661 box of 40, 20cc luer lock syringes (optional)
• Cat #308309604 box 100, 10cc syringes
• Cat # 280SVS 25 BL surflo winged infusion kits (25 gauge) 12 inch tubing
• Cat # 308 305195 box of 100 18G x 1” needles

Walmart will supply sharps containers free of charge. Pharma Plus and Shoppers Drug Mart may also (depending on the store’s individual policies)

Hand washing and clean technique will be essential. You may prefer to use PURELL hand sanitizer rather than do prolonged hand washing.


Insulated lunch bag to travel with
vivoglobin.


And:


SUBCUTANEOUS VIVOGLOBIN TRAINING PROGRAM


WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.


Address:

650 Sammon Ave
K Wing, Suite 404,
Toronto, M4C 5M5
416-465-7999


Schedule

You will start the week after your last intravenous infusion of gamma globulin. Ideally this first day of training will be a full day. Three infusions will be given subcutaneously (under the skin) on this day. The first will be given by the RN, (myself), the second will be given by both the RN and you, and the third will be given by yourself.

If you feel comfortable and confident with your ability to self-administer your injections, the visit schedule will be as follows:

1 month
3 months
6 months
1 year.

At each of these visits you will be given a requisition for blood work and a prescription to pick up Vivoglobin for your home infusions. This will be picked up either from St Michaels Hospital or the hospital closest to where you live after your second visit. Details of the pick up will be discussed further at your visit.

At each visit you will bring the vivoglobin for that day’s injection and your infusion log book which you will be given on your first visit.

At all times you will have a 24 hour contact number and as many visits as needed to be able to do the procedure safely yourself.

Costs and Ordering Instructions.

You will be given enough supplies for ONE MONTH.

Supplies can be ordered from Medical Mart. Details on how to order will be given at your first visit. The cost will be approximately $50 per month.



FIRST VISIT

Many people feel better if they bring along a spouse/friend to the training visit. There will be a lot to learn and four ears are better than 2!

As you will be taking a lot of things home, please bring a bag to carry these things home. (About the size of a carry on bag) If the weather is hot, please bring some gel packs.

You will be given a consent form to fill out. This is like a letter of information or a contract. We would like you to try the subcutaneous infusions for a t least 6 months. It takes about this long to become completely comfortable with the process.

You will be given a lot of teaching and an information binder to take home. You will have to fill out an infusion log each time you give yourself an injection. It is easy and you will be shown how to do it.


Are we having fun yet??

WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO?!?! *sigh*

I am just so fucking frustrated. This was supposed to make my life easier, not make it more insane. The injections were supposed to obliterate the need for montly IVs and time away from work but instead it obliterates nothing and takes me away from work!!!! *bashes head against wall*

I would like to fall into a well. I would like to fall into a well and drown and make this all go away. But now i feel like i have once again fucked up royally.

And it's a 6 month commitment nonetheless!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 comments:

Bitter_Angel said...

Hey, I trained as a nurse at one point and though this whole task seems daunting, its actully pretty easy once you get used to it.

If I am honest, with the time you have spent in hospital, you will probably know most of it already.

It will be taking the drugs out the container and into a needle/syringe. And then cleaning skin injecting.

I am not sure how often you have to go now for treatment, but I would guess, once you get your self comfortable with it, the whole procedure would probably take you less than 5 minutes from start to finish.
Good luck with ot

Chandler said...

I agree with the Bitter-Angel, once you get into a routine, it may not be so time consuming or bad. Beats hanging out at the hospital for hours at a time...right? Sorry it wasn't what you were expecting Bree.