I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Home Dialysis => Topic started by: tbarrett2533 on October 10, 2011, 07:35:46 PM
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FINALLY I figured out how to post pics
So this is my at home set up!!!!!
One is my homemade cooler that keeps my bags warm :2thumbsup;
another is my supply drawer
my supply table
me doing an exchange
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How neat for you to share. We're on home hemo, so it's nice to see some of the differences... thanks for sharing :cuddle;
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oh man ! that brings back memories, especially all those boxes containing dialysis fluid from baxter.
just wondering, you don't nuke your bags to heat it up ? That's what i used to do, i had a microwave upstairs and one in the basement depending on where i would do my exchanges.
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oh man ! that brings back memories, especially all those boxes containing dialysis fluid from baxter.
just wondering, you don't nuke your bags to heat it up ? That's what i used to do, i had a microwave upstairs and one in the basement depending on where i would do my exchanges.
nope, the only time I nuke is when i am on the road ;D
I gotta tell ya what a time saver that cooler is too..... it holds a two day supply!!! its nice so there is no lugging bags in all the time!!!
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Wow, It looks like you used alot of 1.5%
I used to order more 2.5% than anything.
I think I only ordered 5 cases of red total in 6.5yrs
I ended up with 2 expired and one I didn't use.
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Wow, It looks like you used alot of 1.5%
I used to order more 2.5% than anything.
I think I only ordered 5 cases of red total in 6.5yrs
I ended up with 2 expired and one I didn't use.
that was my first order and when I first started out....now I use 3 greens and 1 yellow and they automatically sent me 6 boxes of reds that I still have..... I have used a total of 3 reds and I am NEVER using them again....each time I used a red the next day my drains and fills were so painful I thought that I was going to die!!!!
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oh man ! that brings back memories, especially all those boxes containing dialysis fluid from baxter.
just wondering, you don't nuke your bags to heat it up ? That's what i used to do, i had a microwave upstairs and one in the basement depending on where i would do my exchanges.
nope, the only time I nuke is when i am on the road ;D
I gotta tell ya what a time saver that cooler is too..... it holds a two day supply!!! its nice so there is no lugging bags in all the time!!!
what are you using to heat up the bags in the cooler ? is it an electric blanket ?
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oh man ! that brings back memories, especially all those boxes containing dialysis fluid from baxter.
just wondering, you don't nuke your bags to heat it up ? That's what i used to do, i had a microwave upstairs and one in the basement depending on where i would do my exchanges.
nope, the only time I nuke is when i am on the road ;D
I gotta tell ya what a time saver that cooler is too..... it holds a two day supply!!! its nice so there is no lugging bags in all the time!!!
what are you using to heat up the bags in the cooler ? is it an electric blanket ?
its a heating pad that stays on all the time, i keep it on medium and it keeps my bags just the perfect temp :2thumbsup;
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I LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(I meant the pic of the semi BTW) :clap;
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That's a nicely made wooden box HenryP. [like]
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This wooden box I made sits next to me on top of the refrigerator in the cab and holds all my sundry supplies - caps, handwash, paper towels etc.
I have worked alongside other trucks for months and they have had no idea I am on dialysis, (unless I have told them).
Some of them have thought that I was antisocial because we sometimes have to wait and most get out of their cabs and talk to each other while waiting. Instead I usually take the opportunity to do another exchange. :rofl;
CAPD rocks. ;D
You can do just about anything on PD now cant you!!
you know what would be amazing of you??? a nice little journal of experiene of your PD and your work/driving!! there are so many people who are unsure of PD as there treatment option as they they think that it may hinder them, I think that you are a PERFECT example of just the opposite of that!!! I would LOVE to read and hear more about your PD story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
please consinder this even if its just for my nosy ass ;D
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You can do just about anything on PD now cant you!!
you know what would be amazing of you??? a nice little journal of experiene of your PD and your work/driving!! there are so many people who are unsure of PD as there treatment option as they they think that it may hinder them, I think that you are a PERFECT example of just the opposite of that!!! I would LOVE to read and hear more about your PD story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
please consinder this even if its just for my nosy ass ;D
Tbarrett, I’m happy to do that, but it’s by no means straightforward and may not be what you were expecting. I need to preface my story thus: It’s important that people understand that I am simply explaining my approach and in no way would I recommend that others follow my example. Service providers don’t like my approach and I imagine that it would cause problems for those of you who are seeking a transplant. (That would, I imagine, be the majority.) It also involves greater risk. That is a price I am prepared to pay.
I am not a compliant renal patient. I decided when diagnosed, that my future lay in living each day to the maximum, unfettered as much as possible by protocols and restrictions. To that end, I made the decision not to seek a transplant. No waiting, anxiety, being on call, depression, etc. etc. – all the things that seem to be a common thread among so many members of this forum. Being on CAPD, I am free to go, with few exceptions, wherever I wish, for as long as I wish and most importantly, I am answerable to no-one. Though I will almost certainly live a shorter life, it has been and will, I hope, continue to be productive and fulfilling.
I have never taken the slightest notice of those who tell me that I shouldn’t do certain things or that I am taking unacceptable risks. That is my call, not anybody else’s and I take total responsibility for my actions. At sixty years of age, I'm way past taking notice of anyone elses opinions if they don't fit my agenda.
I manage my own dialysis routine and until last week, had not seen my Neph for a review for 15 months. My results were good and we had nothing else to discuss. It really is a very simple process, - monitor your blood results and diet, make the changes as necessary and get on with living.
Although I am on dialysis, these decisions have given me an enormous amount of freedom and the three years I have spent on dialysis have been enjoyable and productive. The freedom, is what it’s all about for me.
Now for the basics: Doing CAPD and fitting it into your daily routine is simple. It just takes a little organisation and uncompromising adherence to doing your required exchanges and avoiding infection. It’s up to the individual as to how successful that will be.
I do five exchanges per day, all 1.5% solution. While I find this easy enough to do while I’m at home, it mostly means that I have to stop doing something and go do an exchange. Wastes half an hour each time. Doing it at work, with the sort of things that I do, is far easier. I do exchanges in my car, truck, on graders, loaders and excavators. With all of these, I take 3 bags with me for during the day and do my exchanges while driving/operating.
I hang a bag up in the cab of my machine and when ready, I can hook up in less than 5 seconds. I have developed a method where I hold the rotary dial with one hand and simultaneously screw/unscrew the cap and connector with the other. Very fast. Reduces the chance of inadvertent contamination. Fairly easy for me because I have large, strong hands.
Attitude plays a huge part in my handling of dialysis. I will dialyse anywhere I deem suitable, unaffected by what others may think. I flatly refuse to think of myself as having a disability. I just have kidneys that don’t work, but dialysis takes care of that. Have never played the ESRD card. That would seem like giving in, to me. My friends are forbidden to make allowances for me, - there is no need. People behave normally around me. That is how it should be.
I have had two bouts of peritonitis, the first when I had my PD catheter inserted, - instead of the wound healing and the mild soreness going away, it became more painful each day until they finally did a test and found I had a massive dose of peritonitis. The pain was so excruciating that a maximum dose of morphine had no effect. Spent a week in hospital and fortunately, my peritoneum worked well.
The second, which was three months ago, was not as you might assume because of doing exchanges at work, but occurred while I was at home on an extended break in a nice clean sterile environment. Plus I also got an exit site infection! Weird.
Because I took action as soon as I thought I saw some cloudiness, it was a minor event and did not affect my peritoneum, I am still able to do PD.
So, there you have it. ;D
Henry,
I want to say thank you for telling me (and everyone else your story), I was on the fence about proceeding with a transplant and you stated just a few of the same reasons I felt, it took me over a year to choose to go through with transplant as my treatment option!!!! I am not one to be TOLD what to do!! that is not for me at all!! :Kit n Stik; PD fits my life style, I love the flexibility it offers me!!!! I think you are lucky not to feel "sick" since being diagnosed with kidney failure I swear I have every single one of the side effects!! I hate it, but I must admit since switching from in-center hemo- to PD some have left thank god for that!!!
thank you for sharing, it was very nicely wrote!! :2thumbsup;
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Hi Henry
Thanks for sharing ur story. I get what you say about being free and doing it ur way. A question for u. Wouldn't you have more freedom if you were on the cycled while u sleep?
It may provide u more freedom during the waking hours- fewer exchanges....
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Can I say that I agree 100% here!!! (With what Henry said about how CAPD not intruding on his life) some people on PD feel hindered by CAPD that is why I wanted Henry here to do his post in the first place ;D (thank you again for that) I always felt sort of "ganged" up on for not feeling that way about CAPD..... I feel just the opposite about it, I feel like you do Henry, I feel such an AZAMING freedom and I almost feel normal (in fact And I know I sound like a broken record, but if you get a minute go read my orther thread 'a step by step PD experience' and you will read my every waking transisiton from Hemo to PD) I digress sorry ;D but there was this one guy on here geez I can't remeber his name young guy he said he was worn out from CAPD and was hoping to go to APD and that was gong to hopfully fix everthing......... I don't feel that way at all..... I love PD and I love how free it makes me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :2thumbsup; If I have to have kidney failure, i will have CAPD as my treatment option, (for as long as my body will allow me) no cycler for me either! :2thumbsup;
oh yea, I take PD everywhere, antique shopping (thats our thing :angel;) casino gamgling, my moms, his moms, his grandmoms, flea markets/show that we are in (thats another thing) so there is no rushing home so I can hook up to a machine to stay hooked up to for 9 plus hours.................................... just saying
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I feel sooooo trapped with CAPD. I do 5 exchanges a day every 3 hours. It seem I just get done with one and it's time for the next one. I would feel awkward steering my pole with the drain bag following behind like a puppy on a leash up and down the aisles of Wal-Mart or Kohl's (How is that for a picture in your mind's eye) (One hand on the pole and the other on your cart!)
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JLM
I'm with you on this and feel that CAPD is such an enormous intrusion on my life. I love the fact that I can hook up to the machine while im sleeping. Then wake up disconnect and be done with it for the rest of the day. It would drive me nuts if I had to stop my day five times and do manual exchanges.
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Henry,
Once again I thank you for taking the time to write such a wonderfully written humbling thought provoking story!! I appreciate the time you took to write it! I agree whole heartily with how you feel about CAPD and how it does not interfer with your life. I do 4 manual exchanges a day a total exchange for me from start to finish last 15-22 minutes which is less 2 hours a day....... I use this time to read, get on the computer, text, makes lists, watch TV, talk on the phone, just be quiet, heck I even do the dishes, get ready for the day, do my hair, makeup, cook, clean all while doing an exchanges.
I do not absorb, I can go up to 24 hours (I DO NOT MAKE a habit out of doing this, but with my lifestyle and the things that I like to do, it has happend) (and have gone even longer) in between exchanges and still not absorbed, but I do not watch the clock, I do not do my exchanges every 4 hours, I do them when I want to, as long as I do 4 in a day, it does not matter to me....If I am not home I don't worry about it! ;D
I do 3 greens and 1 yellow a day!
I see my neph monthly
I see my nurse monthly
I eat whatever I want now that I am no PD, when I was on Hemo I ain't nothing!! I followed the renal diet like, like a saint :angel; The only thing that I avoid is dairy all together!
I do not take any binders and I never have
I have been on dialysis for just over a year Hemo for 8 months PD for 5
I just got on the transplant list last month
I drink whatever I want now!!
I would like to end with like with any illness, sickness, or any event, people handle things differently than others some people can tolerate APD, some prefer Hemo (God only knows :urcrazy;) some like home Hemo, some may choose no treatment, but I say you find what works best for you, because its your body and its your health!!!
my body my health and I am sticking with CAPD as long as MY BODY with let ME do it!! :2thumbsup;
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Climbing on the bandwagon, here is my setup at shutterfly: Site URL: http://joehansonspictures.shutterfly.com/
Enjoy!
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Climbing on the bandwagon, here is my setup at shutterfly: Site URL: http://joehansonspictures.shutterfly.com/
Enjoy!
I for some reason could not leave comments on the pics, but Joe, I love your set-up and really LOVE the BLUE clamp in the pic!!!!!
I like how nice, neat and very organized you have things!!!
GREAT!!!!!!! :2thumbsup;
P.S. I use one RED clamp and one BLUE clamp!!! (just for fun :rofl;)
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I vary them also, cuz I can :clap;