PD catheter surgery

[weezy]

My dad just got his PD catheter put in yesterday afternoon and to be honest it turned out to be much more painful than he anticipated.  He is still in a little bit of pain but he's very sore and he's having trouble walking.  he has yet to have a  bowel movement (sorry tmi) but i was wondering how normal all of this is, especially the walking part.   Weezy

[mariannas]

It took me almost a week before I could walk comfortably.  Before, that I was sort of hunched over since that seemed to minimize the pain to some degree.  Is it a sharp pain or a dull pain?  I only felt this dull, throbbing pain, but nothing too sharp, 

[peleroja]

I didn't have any "pain," more like an "annoyance," but then I had a presternal catheter put in.  Although they gave me drugs I never filled the prescription.  However, I was unable to drive for a week, due to pulling in the upper part of my body.

[weezy]

we've been giving him the percocept the dr ordered but it's making him nauseous so we're going to switch over to tylenol.  i guess i'm just amazed no one clued us in as to how painful this was going to be.   i think my dad assumed it'd be as easy as getting the chest catheter but it hasn't been the case.  but it's good to know that others have had the same issues - not being able to walk all that well etc.  i just hope the pd itself isn't this traumatic.  weezy

[CatEars]

That sounds about right.  I could barely walk after they put mine in.  They kind of don't want you to do much walking at first anyway.  Try a stool softener so he can have a bowel movement, not pooping can be painful to.

[KICKSTART]

It takes 6 to 8 weeks for your body to heal after having  a catheter put in , i mean think about it , it has been placed deep in your insides , so to speak. For the first 2 weeks it will be quite painfull to do anything , so its best to just rest and let things heal up inside. Im not sure how old your dad is ? but the fitter you are , the worse the pain ( i know its hard to believe!) I was extremely fit ( a horse riding instructor) and because my stomach  muscles were strong i was in agony , i walked round like an old lady !
You must get a laxative sorted out , constipation is common and wont go away !
You will also find your dad gets constipated while on PD so you might as well get some laxatives in stock!
While all the training to learn PD will seem daunting , once you are actually used to doing it , you find you could do it with your eyes shut! It becomes as easy as making a cup of tea after a while. Just be vigilant with hygene , to avoid infections and peritonitis ..Hope that helps ? 

[Joe Paul]

I guess it depends on the person. For me, I was up and around hours after the surgery. Its been a week since the surgery, how is you dad doing?

[okarol]

we've been giving him the percocept the dr ordered but it's making him nauseous so we're going to switch over to tylenol.  i guess i'm just amazed no one clued us in as to how painful this was going to be.   i think my dad assumed it'd be as easy as getting the chest catheter but it hasn't been the case.  but it's good to know that others have had the same issues - not being able to walk all that well etc.  i just hope the pd itself isn't this traumatic.  weezy

How's your dad doing weezy?

[peleroja]

I had the same reaction to Percot when they prescribed it for my arthritis.  Try cutting the pill in half.

[djgaryb11]

I had my PD Catheter surgery on Friday ...and for about 2 days I was pretty uncomfortable and just about able to walk.  Getting in and out of bed was really the most painful/uncomfortable.  I was on Percocet for the first 3 days.  By Monday I was no longer taking the percocet and was even able to drive.  Also by Monday night I finally had my first bowel movement, and had to take laxatives .  By Monday evening it was down to just a little discomfort when I get up or down, kinda like a tugging ....but not really painful.  I go into the Dialysis Clinic on Wed to get the catheter flushed and a new dressing placed on it.  I will be starting my PD training next week.  That's been my experience so far.....Gary