PD catheters - 3 strikes and they're out!

[jeannea]

Glad to hear you're doing ok. Hang in there.

[WishIKnew]

So gald this hiatus from D seems to be working for you!  So glad you got this option.  i went straight  from PD to hemo.  Never knew there were other options...

You keep on keeping on!

 

[MaryD]

The  only thing I'll miss when I'm back on PD is the ability to leap out of bed and fly off to the farmers market before it gets crowded.  With CAPD I need to do an exchange before I leave home.  There's no way I'll use a machine for PD - I'm allergic to machines.

[brenda seal]

Mary , So glad you are doing Ok without dialysis . I hope you are taking things easy though and not putting too much strain on your body. Did you manage to get some help with the housework ? We hate Laurie's machine - we have named her " Big Bertha " and she gets sworn at frequently !

[MaryD]

Brenda - Today is our first sunny day for yonks.  I am planning on gardening which will involve manhandling bags of cow manure from one side of the yard to the other.  Tomorrow I am planning on not putting too much strain on my body.

The housework help is quite strange.  They concentrate on the floors and a lick and a promise in the bathroom.  I am going to try and convince them to leave the floors (I have no trouble with floors) and do the front of my kitchen cabinets instead.  I cant hold a cloth and rub at the same time - (major peripheral neuropathy from chemo three years ago)  The side of the cabinet where I do my exchanges is splashed with betadene and I cant get most of it off.

I love my machines when they are working properly.  I have only two that matter - the car and the computer.  They don't let me down (touch wood).  I couldn't cope with a machine that sounds alarms at me and then expects me to sort it out.

Best wishes to you and Laurie.  Several purrs are coming Laurie's way

[brenda seal]

Is your home help from the council ? I used to clean houses for a living and they are there to do what you want them to do . Are you designated so many hours a week/fortnight ? Explain - nicely , that you can usually manage the floors yourself and could they please use the time doing this and this . Tell them a lick and a promise is not good enough especially in the bathroom - a proper scrub please as you are on dialysis and susceptible to infection .
Interestingly enough I have been researching peripheral neuropathy to see if that could be an explanation for Laurie's collapse last week . The doctor would not see him until this coming Monday ,but did send the PD nurse out to see him yesterday , she took some bloods and had a chat with him . He had an appointment with the podiatrist on Wednesday , my son in law took him in the wheelchair and they say he has a major infection in his foot . The doctor there wanted to put a PIC line in and start antibiotics that way but Laurie was far from keen so is on very strong oral ab's .Will see what the doc says on Monday - maybe it was not kidney related .

[MaryD]

Brenda - Home help is from the council.  I'm about to have my third visit tomorrow - 1.5 hours per fortnight.  I was going to ask for a change in their routine and I always ask nicely (the way I would like to be asked)  They have been lovely people who've come but I haven't acquired my 'own' cleaner yet.

My peripheral neuropathy is really a bit more than peripheral.  My oncologist sent me to a neurologist.  Apparently the long nerves have been affected. Along with very little sensation in my fingers and toes, I have legs that from time to time don't do what I expect them to do.  My left foot will suddenly start dragging and I have to recalibrate my steps every 50 metres or so.  My right leg suddenly veers off to the right and because I don't notice and my body weight is still going forward I stagger around like a drunk.  The police stopped me down at the local shopping centre at one stage because they thought I was inebriated.  I can have a period of a week or so where I walk normally, and then three weeks of trying to look sober.  I have adapted over the last three years - I prefer to walk on a level surface with lines on it, I have a walking stick in the car, and I walk in such a way that I can keep an eye on my feet.  I cannot walk and hold a conversation at the same time.  It is worse when I'm tired.  I'm the only person I know who can trip over the wheels of her shopping trolley at the supermarket.

Laurie's major infection could be because he didn't feel the start of the infection.  Twice I have noticed in the shower that I have a bruised toe and I have no idea how it happened.  I hope something can be sorted for him on Monday.

No purrs today - the cats are too busy sitting in the sun.

PS   My hands and arms are affected the same way.  I have to hold a cup with two hands.  After spilling a full cup of coffee down the front of me while eating out, I have learned to hold a cup with two hands elegantly.  At least I tell myself it's elegant.  I also misjudge distances when I'm picking things up or putting them down.  It makes for an exciting life!

[brenda seal]

Mary , Well you and Laurie make a right pair ! He has problems with judging distances , pouring drinks etc and is always walking into doors and walls , this is because he only has one eye or so we think . What kind of tests do they do to determine whether you have damaged nerves ?
One and a half hours is not much for home help is it ? It takes me that long just to thorough the bathroom - mind you I am built for comfort not speed ! They should be able to clean the bathroom properly and the front of your kitchen cabinets in that time though . When I was cleaning I preferred to charge by the job rather than the hour . I figured if someone is paying you to clean their house then they deserve a thorough job - you can do a lick and a promise yourself . It was less pressure for me not to charge by the hour and meant I could be satisfied I had done a good job .
The cats are reconnected to Laurie - they are with him 24/7 . Maybe it's because he is always near the heater and they love the heater !
Hope you are remaining to feel OK .

[MaryD]

Brenda  -  Nerve damage tests consisted of having a giant tuning fork placed at various places on my arms and legs.  And also a little poke with a mini cattle-prod to see what reaction my arms and legs made.  Done by a technician.  It took about twenty minutes.  Also a "Can you feel this" with a little sharp object.  I was waiting for him to start, but he was jabbing away and I didn't know.  Not too traumatic.

Glad to hear about the cats!!

[MaryD]

Twelve days till I get my catheter back.

My phosphates are too high, and my urea level is closing in on disastrous.  I'm removing all high protein stuff from my diet.  I had included a little since my previous numbers were holding at 'good'.

I still feel reasonably OK - I should make it without emergency haemo.  Fingers crossed!

[Joe]

Mary, good luck for your last 11 days! Just don't do anything really silly!

[MaryD]

Apparently things are not as good as I thought.  I was asked to go down to renal clinic yesterday as my favourite renal registrar was concerned about my low bi-carb blood results, and my weight loss.  He decided that I needed to take bi-carb capsules as I can never remember to take bi-carb from my kitchen supplies.  Also he says I seem to have extra fluid around my lungs although the rest of me looks fairly OK.  He now expects me to retain more fluid because of the bi-carb and has upped my dose of Frusemide.

I was sent home with instructions on what to do if I should have shortness of breath or chest pains etc etc.  He is fairly confident that I'll make it though with haemo.  Much finger crossing required!

[brenda seal]

All fingers and toes crossed for you at our house Mary ! Please heed the instructions .

[MaryD]

Just got home from getting my brand new catheter.  I'm feeling pretty good, but I am carrying about 6 litres of excess fluid.

[Joe]

Very good Mary! Hope you pull that fluid off quickly.

[brenda seal]

Fantastic news - you made it without emergency heamo ! How long before the new catheter can be used ? Hope the fluid comes off quickly .

[MaryD]

It would be best for the catheter to settle in, which it should by August 5th.  In an emergency apparently I can do small dialysis exchanges rather than haemo.  I'm off to the renal clinic Friday for the dressing to be checked.  I sprang a leak so I'm on vancomycin and another antibiotic as a precaution.  Looks good so far and no discomfort.

I've already dropped 1 kg in 24 hours with minor fluid restrictions and double/double dose of frusemide.  Feeling really positive.

[MaryD]

I made it!  Started PD again last night.  I'm carrying a bit of fluid, but most other levels are not too bad.  Now I can start eating real food again.

Colour me RELIEVED!

[brenda seal]

Well done !

[MaryD]

Well three months after peritonitis and starting PD again, my PET/Adequacy results are back - rather disappointing.  I've gone from a low transporter to a high transporter.  My numbers are generally good, and there are no changes in my bags.  No major changes immediately down the track.  But disappointing for someone who was hoping PD would last her for ten years.  (I will always shoot for the stars)

[brenda seal]

Mary , Hopefully this is a temporary glitch . Maybe after no dialysis for a while when you had the new catheter put in and waited for it to heal put things askew and it is taking a while to catch up . Here's hoping your next test is better and PD will suffice for a LONG time . Continue to shoot for the stars .