Pureflow Chloramines Test

[PrimeTimer]

Little lesson I learned. Probably one that many Pureflow users have learned over time. I'm not saying I've had a lot of problems with the Pureflow machine in fact, this was really the only incident I've had in the 10 months we've been using it. Not a bad record, not bad at all. I like using the Pureflow. The other morning however (and I admit, I am not a morning person), I went to test for chloramines but the fluid only came out in dribbles. So, I hit the "Green/Go" key again to retry the test but still, the fluid only came out in small drips. My first thought was maybe the SAK had a kinked line so I carefully rocked it inside the tub and checked for any kinked lines, saw none. Of course, at that hour my eyes feel partly glued shut and my bones are creaking and making strange popping sounds. Anyways, from what I could see through sleepy eyes, there were no kinked lines. Now, I think according to the Pureflow manual (yes, I vaguely read it over that morning or thought I did) you can retry the chloramines test twice but don't do that. If it doesn't work after retrying it ONCE, then call NxStage Support. Apparently they have a work-around procedure you can try. Wish I would've done that. Until I've had my morning coffee tho, I am only in a robotic mode and that means "get up, walk over to the Pureflow machine and test for chloramines and then...go back to bed until it is really time to wake up and have coffee.." We always make a batch just before bed at night so that I can test for chloramines early in the morning so that if it fails, we still have time to make another batch and do treatment that evening. That is, unless I want to hang bags.

When I retried the test for the second time and STILL did not get enough fluid to dispense, I could not retry it a third time. It goes into irreversible drain mode. I went into an almost irreversible break down. Wasn't pretty. And then things REALLY went south...I quickly discovered that drain mode wasn't working either. Just drained in little dribbles and when you need to drain an entire 60 liter SAK, that can take forever. A lifetime. Infinity. Too friggin long. So, I tried other methods I've read about on this site, all good ideas. Ended up doing the "manual bail out" thing, meaning bailing fluid out of the SAK with a big cup and pouring it into a small trash can and then going back and forth with it to the sink to pour it out. My bones really started creaking then. And the "popping noises" were cuss words coming out of my mouth. I knew not to tear a gaping hole into the SAK because I did not want to end up bailing dialysate out of the Pureflow tub and risk (call me paranoid) dialysate leaking out of the tub. I only made a small hole in the SAK big enough to force the fluid into a large cup by pressing down on the SAK until it was light enough for me to just lift out of the tub (which I then promptly put inside a large plastic bin I had ready). Carted it off to the bathtub and poured it out. Then called NxStage. Talking with them is almost like therapy. They always seem to be able to make me feel better and offer their reassurance. I like that. Especially when I am frazzled. I am thinking of calling them once a week now. Do you think they'll charge me or our insurace company for that? Ah, anyways, they said if the SAK was draining even a little, chances are nothing was wrong with the Control Unit and that probably one of the lines or tubing inside the SAK itself was kinked. Same thought goes for the dribbles while testing for chloramines. Whew! Thank goodness! That must've been it because I was able to make a new batch and test for chloramines as usual. Everything worked like it should. Was a loooong day but I was just glad that we didn't need to have our Pureflow machine swapped out, etc, etc...and I didn't have to hang bags. Altho I could have if needed to but I'm too much of a wuss, especially after the day I had. 

When in doubt or even just a bit curious about anything, call NxStage Tech Support 1-866-697-8243

[obsidianom]

Little lesson I learned. Probably one that many Pureflow users have learned over time. I'm not saying I've had a lot of problems with the Pureflow machine in fact, this was really the only incident I've had in the 10 months we've been using it. Not a bad record, not bad at all. I like using the Pureflow. The other morning however (and I admit, I am not a morning person), I went to test for chloramines but the fluid only came out in dribbles. So, I hit the "Green/Go" key again to retry the test but still, the fluid only came out in small drips. My first thought was maybe the SAK had a kinked line so I carefully rocked it inside the tub and checked for any kinked lines, saw none. Of course, at that hour my eyes feel partly glued shut and my bones are creaking and making strange popping sounds. Anyways, from what I could see through sleepy eyes, there were no kinked lines. Now, I think according to the Pureflow manual (yes, I vaguely read it over that morning or thought I did) you can retry the chloramines test twice but don't do that. If it doesn't work after retrying it ONCE, then call NxStage Support. Apparently they have a work-around procedure you can try. Wish I would've done that. Until I've had my morning coffee tho, I am only in a robotic mode and that means "get up, walk over to the Pureflow machine and test for chloramines and then...go back to bed until it is really time to wake up and have coffee.." We always make a batch just before bed at night so that I can test for chloramines early in the morning so that if it fails, we still have time to make another batch and do treatment that evening. That is, unless I want to hang bags.

When I retried the test for the second time and STILL did not get enough fluid to dispense, I could not retry it a third time. It goes into irreversible drain mode. I went into an almost irreversible break down. Wasn't pretty. And then things REALLY went south...I quickly discovered that drain mode wasn't working either. Just drained in little dribbles and when you need to drain an entire 60 liter SAK, that can take forever. A lifetime. Infinity. Too friggin long. So, I tried other methods I've read about on this site, all good ideas. Ended up doing the "manual bail out" thing, meaning bailing fluid out of the SAK with a big cup and pouring it into a small trash can and then going back and forth with it to the sink to pour it out. My bones really started creaking then. And the "popping noises" were cuss words coming out of my mouth. I knew not to tear a gaping hole into the SAK because I did not want to end up bailing dialysate out of the Pureflow tub and risk (call me paranoid) dialysate leaking out of the tub. I only made a small hole in the SAK big enough to force the fluid into a large cup by pressing down on the SAK until it was light enough for me to just lift out of the tub (which I then promptly put inside a large plastic bin I had ready). Carted it off to the bathtub and poured it out. Then called NxStage. Talking with them is almost like therapy. They always seem to be able to make me feel better and offer their reassurance. I like that. Especially when I am frazzled. I am thinking of calling them once a week now. Do you think they'll charge me or our insurace company for that? Ah, anyways, they said if the SAK was draining even a little, chances are nothing was wrong with the Control Unit and that probably one of the lines or tubing inside the SAK itself was kinked. Same thought goes for the dribbles while testing for chloramines. Whew! Thank goodness! That must've been it because I was able to make a new batch and test for chloramines as usual. Everything worked like it should. Was a loooong day but I was just glad that we didn't need to have our Pureflow machine swapped out, etc, etc...and I didn't have to hang bags. Altho I could have if needed to but I'm too much of a wuss, especially after the day I had. 

When in doubt or even just a bit curious about anything, call NxStage Tech Support 1-866-697-8243

Before we went to bags full time, I used to do a treatment with bags about once a month just to stay in practice in case of an emergency or issue like you had. It made me feel more confident so I didnt fear any issues . I got more comfotable with the bags that way. Now after 6 weeks on them it seems easy.