Learned something new about 3-digit system alarms today.

[jbeany]

Got a 923 red alarm about halfway thru treatment today.  Darn thing shuts everything down - you can't even hit the mute button.  The book just lists that as a system error and says you must call NxStage.  Didn't know what else to do, so we shut it off and did a manual rinseback, then called NxStage.  (They ought to have a separate line option for those who are trying to stop their blood from clotting, so we could get to a tech without waiting thru the hold messages.) 

The tech said the next time I get a system alarm, I should turn the NxStage off and right back on to see if it resets, then do a manual rinseback only if it doesn't. Why don't they say that in the book?  It wasn't mentioned at the training.

Other things I've learned this week -  my drain line extension sprung a leak, and I got used dialysate all over the inside of the Pureflow.  I now know that used dialysate STINKS!  (I know, I know, it's basically pee, of course it does!)  I also found out that you can remove the tub completely to clean under it.  There's a nut at the back that you can reach by sticking your hand thru the cut-out.  Loosen the nut, carefully unplug the two sensor wires, and hand them thru the machine to someone so they don't drag in the puddle as you slid the tub all the way out.  There's enough space under the tub for about a liter of fluid, maybe more, before it starts to ooze out the seams at the bottom of the pureflow.  What a mess!

[Adam_W]

Sorry about your troubles, jbeany. Your Pureflow incident reminds me of when my drain line popped out of the drain and nobody noticed it until about 45 L of used dialysate flooded part of my bedroom (it was under the bed where I didn't notice it). It started seeping under the wall, and when we saw the first puddles forming on the carpet, we thought the dog had peed on the floor and it wasn't until puddles just kept forming when we realized it was actually me who "peed" on the floor (gee, I thought I'd outgrown that  ). Now THAT was quite a mess to clean up, and yes, it stinks quite a bit. I now have my drain line secured with about ten strips of duct tape. As for the machine issues, I was told about turning the machine off and on with a three-digit alarm, but fortunately I've never had one (yet). I didn't know about being able to completely remove the tub in the PF. That will be handy if I ever get a leak in there again (I've had one, but it wasn't much and it was during PAK priming, so I didn't have to worry about 60 L of dialysate getting in the way).

Adam

[Black]

We also had our first three digit alarm this week, on 9/8, a red #720.  I grabbed the book and followed the instructions, got a yellow 40 and continued the treatment without further incident.

In our manual on page C-12, about 1/2 way down the page it reads:

n  100-999System Alarm (6-72)       Indicates a system error or internal communication error

The instructions for resolving read:

1. Note alarm number
2. Turn the power to the Cycler OFF and ON again immediately
3. If cycler repeats the Alarm, or has blank display after step 2, turn power OFF, wait 1 minute, turn power ON
4. If "40" appears in YELLOW CAUTION Window, press TREATMENT or ADD FLUID to continue
5. If system Alarm continues, or "41" appears, perform a manual rinseback if blood circuit is not clotted, then call NxStage Customer Service.

This may not be in your manual at all, or may be on another page, as there are several versions, but look around page C-12.

Smell?  Yes, it does stink like pee.  We have the drain going into a small shower stall and it has to be cleaned frequently to keep the smell washed down the drain. 

Thanks so much for the tip about removing the tub!!  We have not had much problem with leaks but in the first month at home we soaked the carpet a few times with dialysate and water (loose connections and forgotten clamps, and once due to a faulty Purification PAK which wouldn't prime) and would have loved to have been able to remove the tub then.  Thanks, jbeany, we now know for next time.

[kitkatz]

I think you all need a big expensive tool for NX stage problems....It is called a big stick!

[jbeany]

Got the same alarm again today.  Managed to get it restarted this time, and finish treatment.  Called NxStage - they may replace the machine - 923 is a software glitch, apparently.

[Black]

Got the same alarm again today.  Managed to get it restarted this time, and finish treatment.  Called NxStage - they may replace the machine - 923 is a software glitch, apparently.

Sorry about the continued problems, but NxStage seems to be ready to handle anything.  The guy who was part of the testing before FDA approval, Gus, had to have his traded out once.  They sent a tech with the new machine the next day.  The tech set up the new one, and took the old one with him when he left.

We have decided that our "red 720", a communication error, may have been because Mike got a short visit by a nurse who is one of my clients.  She had two new electronic hearing aids and the alarm happened when he she was bending down to look at the machine.  The two hearing aids communicate with each other so maybe they tried to communicate with the cycler?  We've had no problems since.

[skyedogrocks]

We had a 715 alarm once, it was due to the 170 cartridges really sucking.  There was a blood leak, talk about trying not to freak out!  Customer Service was ok, they told us what to do.