Hello all!

[OldYoda]

Greetings,

My name is Richard, 63 years old and a CAPD user for 11 years. Also dealing with severe ischemic heart disease and peripheral vascular disease. Oh yeah, forgot my mesenteric angina and diverticulitis. All things considered, it hasn't been an easy 15 years.

But really can't complain too much - I have a great support system in my wife and 2 adult children and after 11 years on CAPD I pretty much had it down pat. Unfortunately, my clearance and dialysis adequacy has slowly declined over the last year to the point that manual exchanges just weren't getting the job done and as of last week I've switched to the Liberty machine with 3 paused exchanges during the day and 4 at night on the machine. My PD Case Nurse and Nephrologist ( both of whom are great) tell me this should make a world of difference. So far, after the first week all I can say is we'll see - I've learned in the last 15 years never take anything for granted with you health.

I really dislike the Liberty cycler - I thought I had said good bye to drain pain and air pockets and shoulder pain years ago- Guess what, not so much. And the damn thing is noisy. Sounds like a 747 taking off next to my bed in the night when it is draining and priming itself. My Nurse says I'll get used to it - but gosh, they can make nuclear generators that don't make this much noise. So bottom line, I've got more pain, less sleep and feel enormously bloated all the time since they also increased my fill volume to 2300 cc's. I'm going to talk to my neph about that at Clinic this month.

End of the day, I think I posted here because I thought I had the psychology of PD mastered after 11 years and it turns out that this has really thrown me for a loop. I hope that reading about some other peoples experience and problems will make mine seem less severe. Good luck to us all.

[MooseMom]

I'm really glad you joined because we have a lot of members who are PD pros and surely can either give you advice or can sympathize with you.  It must be really hard to feel like you've got it all down pat only to one day have to kind of start again at the beginning. 

Please feel free to read the discussions with others on PD.  Maybe use the search function and search "Liberty cycler".  I KNOW I've seen threads about the cycler.

[MaryD]

 

I'm doing CAPD, but only since December.  I'm sure there will be lots of useful information here.

I had to do my exchanges in hospital for a few days this week, and the slight change in routine really threw me.  I wondered if I was loosing my marbles.

[conchman]

Use the "Force Yoda".  Welcome, lot's of wondeful people here.  Keep it a day at a time...all we can do.

 

[willowtreewren]

Richard, you have a plateful, indeed.

I'm so sorry that this has thrown you for a loop. 

Do read through the PD section for ideas because this site is full of good information.

Aleta

[Poppylicious]

  Richard!

[looneytunes]

Hi Richard and 

[lmunchkin]

Welcome Richard!  Sorry you are haveing these troubles.  PD worked pretty good for husband, but eventually had to give it up due to infections.  You have come to the right place for suppot and answers!

God Bless,
lmunchkin