On HD and not sure about showers

[l_allen2]

Hi my husband has recently come out of hospital and now has to have dialysis three times a week. He has his dialysis tubes on his chest near his shoulder but we have both been worried about how he is supposed to shower when he needs to keep it dry. Any advice please?

[Philipjm]

Hi,

Shower bottom of body then a strip wash, I did this for 4 weeks after having my pd catheter inserted, just have to be very careful and have the shower turned down as low as possible- just something you have to get used to.

Philip

[Soneram in reply to Philipjm]

I leave plaster dressing on until I come out of shower then change dressing only thing I was told was no baths but in hand book says you can swim when I inquired they give me water proof plasters to put over dressing over the tube

[Nicolala]

Hi

Your husband should be able to shower, not bath though. The water should just run down and not into the tubes. As long as he doesn't immerse the tubes and exit site, there's little risk of infection. Do you have fresh dressings to put on it? Shower with the dressing on, pat it dry then change it for a dry one. If you speak to a nurse on the dialysis unit, she will be able to give you some dressings and maybe some gloves. Good luck x

[poppydolly]

I have a neckline in (hopefully temporary ) as my fistula has failed. I have been told that I cannot shower o r wash my hair. I hate it, feel so grotty a

[danielleoneill32 in reply to poppydolly]

I had the same chest line I used to have baths and then lean over the bath to wash my hair if that helps x

[sylla123]

Hi Allen .. My husband had the same while he was waiting for his fistula to be ready to use .. He did shower ,but carefully just using the shower head by hand plus a flannel and washed his hair in the sink with my help ..

Do be careful though as my husband got an infection which went straight into his blood and to his spine "Spondylodiscitus " through that line and it has turned our life upside down ,, plus he was wrong diagnosed to begin with which delayed his treatment and he now has a deformed spine and in constant pain .. it started with a pain in his neck , and then he couldn't move .. so the slightest pain, alert the doctors immediately as quick antibiotics can help and cure without this damage .. I wish some one had warned us of possible hiccups .

[welcome]

Hi,

The dialysis unit nurses should be putting water proof dressing and they cover it so nicely so no water can seep through.

[orchid1]

Hi

You can get waterproof dressings on prescription from your doctor. Take the normal dressing off and put on a waterproof dressing instead.

[danielleoneill32]

Do you have a bath? I used to sit in the bath so the line is kept clean and was wash x

[poppydolly]

Thanks for your responses my GP kindly gave me some 'waterproof' dressings but I feel that it should be the renal team providing them but they are proving reluctant. I have however bought some online. I will ask about having some on prescription.

I am very careful not to get it wet because they do tend to peel off because of the humidity and I only have a shower on the morning of dialysis. I am on the early morning shift and the exit area is cleaned and redressed when I get there.

[Soneram in reply to poppydolly]

I have swabs normasol solution plus dressings but not water proof ones I'll request them when needed as I'm on of dialysis over night I shower and change dressing every other day

[Soneram]

When I had mine in my neck it was always covered with a see through plaster nurse would keep an eye on it or I would do it my self what plaster has he over the site I'm now on home of dialysis over night much better look into it best of luck