PD Cath

[Goofy]

Has anyone got their PD cath "installed" and then not use it for a while?  Can that be done?







EDITED:Moved to PD area- kitkatz,Moderator

[paul.karen]

You could do that.

They are usualy ready to use within a week or so.
When you have it done look where your pants usualy are and get it a inch or two above that point.  My doc just put it where he watned and i wish i would have marked on myself the whereabouts of where i would have liked it.

it is ok but could be a bit higher IMO.

[KICKSTART]

I believe it is possible , but whats the point ?  Why have something installed if you dont need too ? There is always a risk of infection , so no point in having it done unless you are preparing to use it .   

[lou]

I had mine put in 5 weeks ago and only started using it last week. I had to have it 'flushed through' once a week at the hospital to keep it clean x x

[Lillupie]

yes when i first started I got the PD cathater put in Augest 2007 and didnt get to use it until October of 2007. THen this past January I went to hemo because i had a hernia repair, so while i was getting healed from that I spent 4 months on hemo, and not using it. Yes they did have me come in the PD clinic once a week to get it flushed out.. (I only need to be on hemo for 6 weeks to heal from the surgery, but i stayed on hemo for a break from doing PD every single day)

Lisa

[Slywalker]

Same as the other responses - put in PD catheter and my abdomen had to heal for a couple  or three weeks before use.  Also, it was left in for a little while after transplant although I can't quite remember how long.  (Oh, that memory thing - it is just a memory thing, nothing more, nothing less.)

Good luck.

[Jie]

I understand what you meant, Goofy. Just like Lou said, the downside is the need for weekly flushing and daily cleaning of exit site. Of course, you need to handle it daily too. So it is better off for you to keep it buried until you need to use it.

[peleroja]

At our last renal support meeting, a man said he had the PD surgery, but probably won't use it for at least a year, so the surgeon "buried" it under his skin.  I had never heard of that before.

[Goofy]

I already have the cath but its buried under the skin.  I had it for two years.  When I first got it, the doc said I was close to the point of dialysis and he want to make sure I got an access just in case I suddenly got sick.

He did not want me to be in a position to have to do the emergency access that I think goes into your neck.

The reason I asked the question of not using the cath once its exposed is because after listening to everyones horror stories of how they suddenly got sick, I was thinking of getting it exposed but not use it until I feel I'm ready to start dialysis.