These bags are heavy

[brenda seal]

Just having a whinge - but these bags are very heavy . The bucket the drains go into is even heavier . Someone should invent a bucket on wheels . I am getting older and weaker maybe but am really feeling worn out !

[drgirlfriend]

I don't know what size you need, but they do make buckets with wheels. Or maybe you could put the bucket on the wheeled platforms they make for big planters.

[lmunchkin]

Im hearing you Brenda!  I couldnt stand those big bags!

Thats a good ideal Drgirl!  I never thought to do that when J did PD.

lmunchkin

[amanda100wilson]

Can you not drain into sink, bath or toilet?

[brenda seal]

drgirlfriend - need at least a 10 litre bucket - I can't find one on wheels . The wheeled platform sounds like a good idea , I will investigate that option , thanks for the tip .
Amanda the line is not long enough to reach the bathroom .
I rang Fresenius today to tell them we are low on yellow bags and the girl on the phone was so horrible to me I burst into tears - what a sook I am becoming !

[MaryD]

Hang in there!
 

[amanda100wilson]

You canget extensions for the drain line and join them together so that they  will reach.

[brenda seal]

Amanda -really ? Where do I get them ? How come nobody told me that ? My arms are about ready to come out of the sockets ! The mind boggles about where I would like to extend the drain line to today - I am in a really BAD  mood . Getting old and cranky . Nobody told me either that I had to let Fresenius know if there is a prescription change , got told off majorly by the oh so ever efficient girl on the other end of the phone today - felt like a naughty school girl . If she only knew what I had to do before 8.30am !
There is soooo much to learn about this dialysis business , hopefully we will get the hang of it soon . One day we are told Laurie is on one litre fluid restriction and no bananas , now drink more and eat lots of bananas as potassium too low .
This has turned into a vent - sorry .

[Grumpy-1]

For the liberty cycler they have extension tubing sets.  I'll sent your the part number so you can ask your clinic to put it on your prescription order.  Grumpy

[drgirlfriend]

Don't let Fresenius dump on you. They're supposed to educate not be punitive. They're there to help you and you pay them to do so. Start complaining to supervisors or find another clinic. At least threaten to go to another clinic if they don't shape up. We have been lucky in that our dealings with them have been 95% good, but believe me - if they act crazy we can act crazier.

[amanda100wilson]

I was on Baxter cycler but I expect that Fresenius have the same thing. Ask them to order for you.

[Joe]

They certainly are! And I like drgirlfriend's idea of using the wheel cart thing for planters or you could possibly get one that the janitors use for trash cans. As for extending the drain line, there is an extension you can use that will give you a couple of more feet, hopefully that will help. Just watch that you don't have the line running flat then up and over the side of the tub. I think that would impact the ability of the system to drain you.

[amanda100wilson]

I used to run one into the toilet and so the tube had to go up and into the toilet.  Was the same height as the bath and never had a drain issue.  Rememer it is pumped and not just gravity drained so there should notbe an issue.

[Joe]

Good input Amanda, I was warned about have too abrupt a rise in my drain line. I just let it drop into one of the big blue storage tubs. I have it sitting right under the machine all during the cycle and haul it to the tub to drain in the morning.

[MaryD]

And mind the cats don't experiment with the drain line.

I hope Laurie is feeling better.

[drgirlfriend]

The Liberty cycler drain lines connect to each other - no special extension is needed. We run 2 lines to the sink in our new apartment since it's farther away than before. No problems so far!

[lmunchkin]

Like Amanda, we use to drain in the "laboratory" (wow, hadn't heard it called that in years).  When we did Cycler, the toilet is a pretty good distance from room so we just used three extension. Worked great!

For the liberty cycler they have extension tubing sets.  I'll sent your the part number so you can ask your clinic to put it on your prescription order.  Grumpy

Great idea Grumpy!!!

lmunchkin

[brenda seal]

Thanks everyone for the input and great tips. Grumpy , i will ask Miss efficient at Fresenius about the extension lines and research wheeled platforms . We had a disaster on Saturday - I put up the bags and got everything ready for Laurie to hook up and left him to it while I went to do the grocery shopping . When I got home there were towels on the carpet everywhere , Laurie said when he tried to connect the machine alarmed and told him wrong bags were detected . He went to the bathroom and when he got back the bags had drained all over the carpet . After cleaning up and calming Laurie down we started again and all went well so do not know what happened !
My son has now rigged up a big bucket with a lid , which he has put a hole and grommet in to feed the drain line through so hopefully no more wet carpet . Bloody heavy though until I can get wheels !
Miss Efficient at Fresenius organized a delivery of yellow bags which arrived today all 48 boxes along with the 36 green boxes we already had and boxes of caps and cassettes and primapore , tape and hand sanitizer makes for an interesting decor - 48 boxes what was she thinking ?
Mary - funny thing about the cats , Chloe our ancient 17 year old has been Laurie's shadow all her life - when we have visitors she sits in front of Laurie guarding him  and has always slept next to him , but since he started on dialysis she will not go near him - he is devastated !
Brenda

[MaryD]

Brenda - I would be devastated too if my cats ignored me.  Yuki and Ed send Laurie a purr.

Does Laurie feed the cats?

[brenda seal]

Mary - Yes usually Laurie does feed the cats . He cleans the litter box , feeds the dog , looks after two bird aviaries  , does all the shopping ( I hate shopping ) he pays all the bills . looks after the cars , takes care of the garbage and recycling . The last six months he has been too sick to do any of it . I can't wait until he is well enough to do the shopping and do the birds , i don't mind doing it all but I do hate shopping and going in the bird aviaries . The dog ( George ) can't wait either as Laurie spoils him and cooks his dinner every night - I just give it to him raw . Actually he is my youngest son's dog  - we were just looking after him until he got settled in Melbourne - that was four years ago !
Our other cat is Nigel - funny name for a girl ! She is 15 and is Chloe's daughter . Hope you are well .

[Grumpy-1]

I thought I replied to this, but don't see it posted.

the drain line is called "drain line"  (good name right?)  cat number is 026-20036.  they come 10 to a box and I use the same one for about 3-4 months.  Simply disconnect it from the cassette drain, drain the extension, coil it up and connect the ends together.

I see others have used 2 extensions without any problems.

Ask your nurse about putting this drain line on you order so you can get them at the next order.

Grumpy

[brenda seal]

Thanks Grumpy . I will ask nurse - I hope not to ask Miss Efficient of Fresenius as she makes me cry !

[lmunchkin]

Brenda, send Miss Efficient to me, Ill handle her for you.  Im recieving news about our insurance has really put me in a RIPE mood!  Miss Efficient will not want to mess with me when Im in this mood.  Yes, Im in a pissed off, so forgive me! 

lmunchkin