PD users - how much does the belly expand during a dwell?

[Sara]

Hopefully that's not too personal of a question.     Just curious because Joe already has a belly, so I'm wondering if we would have to buy all new clothes?

[MyssAnne]

Depends upon how much he can hold and handle. If he does the cycler, he can set it up so that the first and last fills are NOT as big as the middle two, which would be in bed.  For instance, mine is set up so that when I hook up at lunch time for the pause exchange, I only do about 730 ml. I do 1050mls for the next two, which is at night (I need to get up to 2000), and the last one is only 550.  What that does is give you some flexibility so that you can still do things. As for the belly, yes. I have a belly. A pregnant belly, and wear elastic/tie waist pants only.  Not fun, but I do have mobility. Do NOT try to do the maximum right away. Give yourself time to work up to it.

[MyssAnne]

Depending upon which dialysate is used, and how long it stays in, the toxins being pulled out can affect the belly expansion as well. When I use the highest number (red), I can only use it for the minimum, 3 hours, I am just busting at the seams, so to speak.

[goofynina]

Each and every one of my dwells is 3000ml, since i am a BBW i dont notice that much of a difference, the only thing is the discomfort of being so full. 

[MyssAnne]

I tell people to imagine overeating at Thanksgiving. I then say, that's what it's like for us on pd. Thanksgiving EVERY day!!

[Sara]

Do y'all find that it makes you eat less during a dwell?

[Chicken Little]

I gave away all my clothes and pretty much only wear yoga pants or loose drawstring pants now.  That I can handle.  What I can't handle are the stretch marks.    

Just before I'm about to drain, the circumference of my lower belly is about 4" larger than when I have no fluid in.  Even when I have no fluid in, that area is 2" bigger than it was before PD.    

My fills are 2000 ml of 1.5% and the max I can go is 4 hours before I look and feel like I'm gonna burst.  

I don't eat much once I do my evening fill.  There just isn't room and I gives me super bad indigestion.

[KICKSTART]

Yes you swell, i have gone up two dress sizes , i do wear my jeans but only when i go out , at home i wear track suit bottoms for comfort.Eating is a problem , you do get somewhat used to the full feeling , but i dont think you eat as much as you used to , some may be due to the fact you are less active and so not as hungry as well! I have always been really slim , so i hate my PD tummy..

[MyssAnne]

Oh yeah. You just can't eat. There is no room. And as Chicken says, you get indigestion. And that hurts.

[MiSSis]

I'm empty during the day so I can pretty much wear the same clothes as before.  But at night, when I have fluid in, it's entirely different.  My fills are 2000ml and are done starting late afternoon or early evening.  I try to get my fluid in before dinner if I can because if I eat and then try to fill, I'm so miserable.  It's much easier for me to fill first then I don't eat as much and don't get so uncomfortable. At night I wear a T-shirt and boxer-like shorts which are a larger size than what I need during the day.  I do 6 exchanges at night and get good enough dialysis that I'm able to be empty during the day so luckily haven't needed to buy an entire new wardrobe.

[Krowbar]

My belly probably expands a couple of inches for day dwells as well. However I also lost some weight since I started dialysis so my clothes still fit.

[pdpatty]

I was not eased into the 2000cc. This was my first fill and has been ever since.  Needless to say ,I was totally scared to death when my belly dropped and the dialysis solution was resting on my pelvis on my left side. Yep,I am lopsided.  I never ever had stretch marks (even though I am what is considered obese)and was also scared when my lower belly started stinging and hurting. The scar from a hysterectomy has popped out. Weird looking thing.

I mostly can't eat. Food smells make me sick and I also get indigestion. I used to be able to eat anything and never get bothered by it but not any more. No more onions,peppers spicy foods.

On the upside,I have lost a few pounds

[carson]

Wow, I feel like I must be in an alternate universe! I eat ALL THE TIME! I don't eat large meals often but I pick away all day long.
My belly is a bit bigger but I find wearing low rise pants makes it easier to find some that fit comfortably. I still wear regular clothes and only at home will I wear frumpy things like sweats or pj pants.
I feel that just because I'm on PD I don't have to go the way of the polyester stretchy pants AND I dwell with 2500 ml (I'm only 5'2" and 96 pounds). I drain out about 3000 ml.
Your body will adjust to your new fluids. Your ribs will spread a bit to give you more room. I find that this makes my bras hard to fit!!!

[rimbo74]

I do 4 dwells at 2500ml a night.  I have noticed where during the day, i have more of a hang now from my stomach being stretched.  Hope that goes away after I get a transplant.

[Ken Shelmerdine]

I had a large belly before PD and I was worried about it getting bigger but fortunately it stayed round about the same size. The first of the 2 ltr fills from the cycler does make me feel uncomfortable but it's not too bad when lying down. It's when I come to do manual fills and drains which I tend to do at week ends that I have to come down to 1500 mls 2ltrs is just so uncomfortable.   

[Bette]

Since I've started pd I have gone up a whole pants size.  My belly is only a bit bigger, but the catheter makes anything fitted (without elastic) very uncomfortable.   Also,  I am really careful about any pulling on my pd catheter exit site because I know that that can cause bleeding pain and infection.  I mostly wear long tops and sweats.  I am a size 14, so a lot of my belly is good old fashion fat , the pd didn't really effect it too mush