Icodextrin/Extraneal

[carson]

I started using this product yesterday. I have a crazy work schedule so I will be doing either the twin bag for a 12 hour dwell during the lunch-bedtime or I will use it as a last fill on the cycler and dwell 12 hours morning-dinner. Yesterday I used the twin bag and felt it didn't work as well as I expected. When I did my initial drain on the cycler it registered only 1975 ml meaning I didn't take ANY fluid off my body (I put in 2000 ml). In fact, I had a little edema in my legs and eyes. Does this mean I shouldn't drink anything throughout the day? I will be terribly thirsty if that's the case. I'm trying it again today, just doing my exchange now at 11:30 am and will dwell until tonight. I hope I don't get all puffy again. I'm so sad. I was really looking forward to this...

[KICKSTART]

I do CAPD and use 'Extraneal' at night and leave it in over night (I am not sure what Icodextrin is ? ) Do you use a combination of the two ? All i can tell you is that 'Extraneal ' on its own , does draw off more fluid , but DOES NOT  draw off any toxins, that is why it cant be used full time instead of other dialysis fluid. I have been using Extraneal now for ages and cant say i have had any side effects from the one bag overnight ..hope this helps ?

[goofynina]

Carson, i would say to stay away from anything with salt in it for a day or two and see how your drains are, sounds like your body is retaining the fluids,  good luck,, 

[carson]

Extraneal is Icodextrin, just a different name but both appear on the box. Anyway, I find that it's not taking any fluid off me at all. At the end of a 12 hr dwell my drain is less than what I put in. I don't eat salt so it's not that. I'm wondering if it might have something to do with the small amount of fluids I consume during the day, or perhaps that my potassium is low and that's what helps regulate fluid on the body. I don't know. I'm disappointed that it's not the godsend I was lead to believe, at least not for me. It seems when they have me use a 2000 ml bag my dialysis doesn't work as well - it doesn't draw off any fluid but instead gets reabsorbed. When I use a 2500 ml bag I take off quite a bit. Any thoughts?

[goofynina]

Do you really dwell with the same solution for 12 hours?  when i first started, CAPD,  i would dwell for 4 hours, come to find out i was a high transporter and needed to cut my dwell time way low, so now i am on CCPD and my dwell times are 1:30  and it seems to be working well for me.  Have you weighed yourself?  are you gaining any weight? any more swelling?   

[KICKSTART]

I understand what you are saying , although i do CAPD i put my 'Extraneal ' in as my overnight one , as it DOES need a longer dwell time to work. Like i said it is  'supposed' to be especially to get more fluid off you , but doesnt remove the toxins. I have found i get nearly twice as much fluid off using 'Extraneal' at night as compared to using another solution (physioneal) so i dont understand why you are not getting the fluid off, when 'Extraneal ' is supposed to be the one with the best results for it ? I would have a word with your renal unit and see what they say ..good luck.

[carson]

I read the insert that comes with the Extraneal. It says one is able to drink more because it removes more, however I don't really drink much anyway so maybe that's why I'm not taking any more fluid off. I don't seem to have any more edema and my weight isn't going up (I'm still 49 kg, 105 lbs.). I'm going to keep on with it and see how it goes. I like not having to do any exchanges during the day!!

[carson]

Well, I tried it for a week and here's what I found:
swollen ankles
negative UF
shortness of breath
headache

I don't think I"m going to use it any more.
I'm so sad.
I thought this would be a great thing!

[KICKSTART]

I am really suprised , i have had nothing but good results from using it , but then what suits one doesnt always suit another ! 

[carson]

Clinic wanted me to try again for another week, so I did.
Again, I was disappointed. I had edema, even if I drank nothing all day. I found that I had trouble breathing at night, but more of an allergy kind of thing than a too much water thing.
I think I"ll only use it when it's best for me.
Otherwise I'm going to end up in trouble.

[KICKSTART]

Have you told them at clinic? What have they said? It is poosible it doesnt suit you , not everything works for everyone , but have you changed anything else? new medication? I am ultra sensitive to lots of tablets but have had no problems with extraneal , in fact it is a lot more comfy feeling in my stomach then my daytime fluids.

[Krowbar]

Is extraneal actually removing more fluid for some of you?

I had to switch to extraneal during the day because I was apparently absorbing the regular solution. My initial drains are only +175 now while I used to get +400 with the dextrose solution.

[KICKSTART]

Extraneal is supposed to remove more fluid then the 'normal' solutions , but the drawback is .. it doesnt remove any toxins . Hence you can only use it once a day to remove the excess fluid.

[carson]

nope, it doesn't remove much fluid from me at all. In fact, after a week my ankles look like little baseballs and I have to do extra exchanges using dextrose solution to try and get rid of the fluid. I'm puffy all over, actually. I don't know how long it's going to take to get back to normal. I don't know if they'll give me any diuretics as I don't void too much. Anyway, I told them they can keep the extraneal but I would like to use it on occasion when I really need to.
I am disappointed. I liked the idea of not having to do an exchange for 12 hours!