I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Home Dialysis => Topic started by: willcon on August 11, 2008, 05:31:53 AM
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As I stated in my intro, I will be starting PD soon. I will be using the cycler at home, I was just wondering, if your first exchange was via the cycler or did you have to do manual exchanges first before using the cycler. When I had my initial visit with the PD nurses I did not ask this question and she did not mention it.
Just wondering.
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At my unit we usually did manual exchanges for about a month or until a cycler was available. I only recently went on the cycler after nearly 5 years. It sure does free up your time after doing 6 exchanges a day!
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I had to fight like hell to go straight on the cycler. The usual procedure is to learn manual first. Fortunately, I took to the cycler like a duck to water. After about a month of a bit of pinching and drain pain, things ran beautifully.
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At my clinic I had to learn to do manual first, so if I had to I could do it, PD Nurse said it was a backup in case I lost power at home or the machine failed.
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I also started with manuals before going on the cycler. I have a supply of manual set ups in case of power loss, machine malfunction or just wanting to go overnight without the machine.
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During my 1 week PD training, I was trained on manual (CAPD). The last day, we practiced on cycler (CCPD). That following Friday night, I started the cycler with 4 exchanges. I was only able to tolerate it for 3 days. I have been doing CAPD since then. Some people have a better tolerance than others. I chose CAPD because this works best for me since I'm only doing 2 exchanges per day (fill in the morning and before bedtime).
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Thanks, i guess it makes sense to start out on a manual routine for the reasons ya ll have mentioned. I just did not think about it, I just thought I would start on the cycler after I went through the training. I know I will find out more once I actually start the training but it's nice to have a place where you can ask such questions and get answers from folks that have already have experience with the process.
Again thanks for the responses.
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Hows it going with training?
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I did both the cycler and manual in one weeks training. Why they think you have to learn just manual first and only be introduced to cycler training after several weeks beats me.
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I was on hemo while I did my training so they did have me do manuals but as soon as I got my machine I started on it right away.
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Willcon How are you doing on PD. Good I hope. Please bring us up to date. :cuddle;