Not draining

[BETTY55111]

I knew it was too good to be true. Now it will not fill. This is my second week on manual PD and I could not fill on the last two exchanges. This happened one day last week but it eventually started to fill. I am colling THE pd nurse tomorrow. i have this dull and sometimed sharp pain above my pelvic area. Has anyone ever had this problem?
Betty

[mcmkids]

Hi Betty,

You may need an abdominal x-ray to see what your catheter is doing. My husband has been on CAPD (with a cycler at night) since January. He has had his ups and downs with filling and draining as well. His catheter actually became kinked and coiled so badly that he needed to have a surgical procedure to fix it. (This was in February). Now, the only time he had trouble with draining is when he needs to have a BM. I know that with him, we were going crazy with changing positions, walking around and that kind of stuff before an abdominal x-ray confirmed that even if he stood on his head, the stupid catheter wasn't goin to fill or drain unless it was fixed.  I agree that you should call your dialysis center and notify them of the problem. I hope this all gets resolved for you really soon! 

[BETTY55111]

What type of surgical procedure? Will it be like when they put the catheter in? I have read some post where it was unkink ed?

[BETTY55111]

I talked to my PD nurse and she said to leave it alone until tomorrow and come in for her to try and flush it out and send me for x rays.

[Hanify]

Yes, it's the same procedure at when they put it in.  Mine kinked and they had to straighten it and pin it down.  That was a year ago though, and I haven't had a problem since.  Also, the op itself seemed less of an issue - because I'd done it before I guess.  What a pain though - you've got enough to think about without this eh?  We're all thinking of you.  You'll get there - try not to worry too much.

[peleroja]

Sometimes it's fibrin.  Usually it's in string form, but once I had a "chunk" that was about half an inch square.  They could actually see it and had to keep "cutting" it with a clamp to break it down.  Then they gave me a few bags with heparin in them.  Good luck to you.