What to Expect at Dialysis
These resources will help you learn about needle placement, and what you can do about needle fear and needle pain:
Three page article explains needle fear and has tips you can use before and during needle placement to reduce fear and pain. From Home Dialysis Central (MEI).
Four page patient newsletter section covers needle fear in depth, including how to feel better about needles. From Life Options (MEI).
Two page fact sheet features a section on coping with needle fear, including numbing creams, and ways to relax. From ESRD Network 12.
Illustrated, 27 page module offers a step-by-step list of what to expect and do when using an access at dialysis. From Life Options' Kidney School (MEI).
Twelve page newsletter on Fistula First features two pages on needle fear, with tips for recognizing it and reducing it. From the Southeastern Kidney Council.
Fifty six page book (pages 15-16), Diagnosis to Treatment Choice, describes access care steps before the needles are placed to protect you and your access. From the AAKP.
Please Note: Before printing any of these resources, we recommend that you check your printer settings to determine the correct page orientation for the document. Some tools may need to be printed in the 'Landscape' format to avoid cutting off any of the text.