Fresenius V Baxter have question

[Kathleen]

My hubby is on pd, CAPD (since last September) his clinic is changing over to Baxter, we got our first shipment yesterday. My question is what is the the difference between the two? We have not taking the class for Baxter yet.

Thank You.





EDITED:  Moved post to proper thread "Home Dialysis" - Goofynina/Admin.

[KICKSTART]

Im not sure what the difference is , but i have been with Baxter since the begining of CAPD , (2yrs) and have no complaints at all. The only thing i once found was that after a hospital visit they wanted me to up the strenght of one of my bags for 1 exchange per day and by mistake i was given Dianeal instead of Physioneal (do Fresenius make this? ) and it felt like acid going in , but no-one could tell me why (again) they just said i shouldnt have been given it and dont use any more. But on the whole Baxter have been really good with me but i am in the UK.

[Kathleen]

Thank you KICKSTART.

I'm also wondering what the difference in the connector, I know that it will have to change also, I can't find a image on the net to see how it looks like.  I look at the shipment it has big red clamps, don't know anything about them...yet. What throws me for a loop, they only sent 12. With Fresenius we have small blue ones and they send enough for a month..

I'm so glad you are doing good on Baxter.

[anja]

   I have been on both Baxter and Fresenius and by far prefer the Baxter machine. In my opinion,Baxter is less sensitive( so fewer alarms) because it does not work on the scale system, much easier and quicker to set up, has longer tubing, can be disconnected as many times as needed(unlike F, which you can do only twice), it can drain into a bucket or stool or tub (Fresenius drains into bags hanging on the machine that you must struggle to unhook and carry to dispense of), there is less waste(tubing, containers and wrappers)  with Baxter(hence, less garbage to get rid of),   the connecter attached to you has shorter tubing to contend with.   I could go on and on, as I did with my dialysis unit when they wanted me to switch - recounting each and every positive and negative.  The only positive I found that the Fresenius had was that it was somewhat quieter, except when it switched over - that was a loud clicking noise.  Now that I have moved my machine to the hallway I sleep more peacefully and have no problems or alarms- whoever said it had to be next to your head or even beside your bed?  It does not!  Best wishes, Kathleen!

[goofynina]

Hi Kathleen,  I dont know anything about Fresenius but i do know i love my Baxter machine, i love my deliveries (and the driver)  they are sweet and caring, I can honestly say i have not ever had a problem with my machine, my delivery, the drivers or anything,  I hope you enjoy Baxter as much as i do. 

[Kathleen]

Thanks everyone for your help. I think we are going to like Baxter much better.

[carson]

After being on Fresenius for 10 yrs, I was switched to Baxter just one week ago. There are many things I like about this cycler vs the old one except the noise. That's my only complaint! I haven't had any alarms, except for one drain alarm when I got all wrapped up in the lines. I like not having to contend with the 5 litre drain bags! Unlike Anja, I can't disconnect at all! I liked that Fresenius at least gave me an opportunity to go to the bathroom if I had to! The thing I look most forward to with Baxter is switching to Icodextrin, so I can go all day without doing a manual exchange - yippee!!

[anja]

Carson, I am sorry to hear that you cannot disconnect at all!  I would ask the PD nurse to order some Flexicaps so you could do so.  They have a Povidone-Iodine Solution soaked sponge in them like our mini-caps do so your infection possibility is cut down.  Doesn't hurt to ask...   

[carson]

I followed your advice and asked for some flexicaps. THey looked at me like I was from Mars, then they said, "Oh, you must mean OPTIcaps". Whatever, just give 'em to me! Now I can disconnect if I need to! THanks, Anja.

I STILL can't sleep with all the racket the Baxter cycler makes. I look like crap! Big raccoon eyes...any suggestions? Any way to muffle the noise?

[kitkatz]

Do you want to borrow my large stick?

[anja]

Sorry they acted like you were from Mars, carson...  The name on my individual packages is FlexiCap Disconnect Cap... so there, to them!!!   I am glad you can disconnect now whenever you wish.  (don't forget to order extra minicaps so you will have enough of them too)

As for the noise, can you move the machine away from your bed?  Preferably out of the bedroom?  Just make sure it is in a grounded outlet, I have an older home so use a surge protector with 6 feet of cord.   I set my cycler on towels and threw a folded towel over the machine to help with the noises. (before I moved the whole table out to the hall)   I spent many a sleepless night also, so know what you are going through! 

Maybe your machine is noisier than others and you could ask for an exchange... Just a thought.   Best of luck for good nights of rest!