PD Training

[Laurie]

I have some good news to share. Since starting PD, I have had a hard time with the drains. I have recently switched from the cycler to manuals hoping that would help with the pain, but it didn't. I was putting 1500 in and only getting out around 1000 if even that much. I started getting a lot of swelling in my legs and hands. My UF was always a negative number. Finally I have found something that works. I have found that if I sit on the floor when I drain I have absolutely no pain whatsoever. My UF last night was 550. I was so excited. I was beginning to think that PD was not gonna work for me, but now I am hopeful that it will.
Just wanted to share this information so if anyone else is having drain pain maybe this will help them too. 

[angela515]

I was putting 1500 in and only getting out around 1000 if even that much.

Just wondering, but have you found out if your a high transporter or a low transporter yet? How long do you dwell for?

[Laurie]

I don't know if I'm a high or low transporter. I will have labs done on November 14, so I should find out then.
I do an exchange in the morning at 5:00 am, one at 4:30 pm and one at 8:30 pm. So 2 of my dwells are pretty long. I think thats part of the problem. I think I'm absorbing a lot.

[angela515]

Sounds to me your a high transporter then... and WOW, those are long dwells... why so far apart?

[Laurie]

I work full time and I really don't want to do an exchange at work, so they agreed to let me try this.

[angela515]

Maybe you could try to fit 1 fill and drain in before work, and go dry at work, and do a few more after work.. that way your drains will be more than your fills and you won't be absorbing all that fluid? Idk, just offering some advice.

[Laurie]

I'm not sure how I would get a drain and fill done before work. I already get up at 4:30 am. However, I do like the idea of being dry during the day.  I could add one more exchange after work. Thanks for the advice. I will mention it to my nurse. Unfortunately, my doctor is out of town for a few weeks, so I know she will not change anything until he gets back.

[goofynina]

Sounds to me your a high transporter then... and WOW, those are long dwells... why so far apart?

Sounds to me that your a high transporter too, i would definetly talk to your PD nurse about this, i've never heard of dwells that long either 

[Laurie]

Sounds to me your a high transporter then... and WOW, those are long dwells... why so far apart?

Sounds to me that your a high transporter too, i would definetly talk to your PD nurse about this, i've never heard of dwells that long either

Ok, I'm convinced. When I drained this morning I only drained 1400 and when I got home from work, I only drained 1050. So I decided to add an extra exchange. I filled at 5:00 pm and drained at 7:30 and drained 1800.
I will talk to my nurse and see what she suggests.

[MyssAnne]

I agree, it sounds as if you are a high transporter, and need to get another one in there to drain off, it sounds as if you are doing what works for YOU.  Ultimately that's what it comes down to, what's best for YOU. If you can be dry during the day, all the much better for you then! 

[Aldente]

When I was on PD I did five exchanges.  To meet the needs of my work/lifestyle this is how I had them scheduled.

When I came home from work at about 5:00 p.m. I had dinner and then did an exchange.  I would disconnect from the cycler and watch TV, do chores, etc until about 10:00 p.m. I would reconnect to the cycler and do three more exchanges while I slept.  My last fill was Extraneal (Icodextrin) and I would carry that fill during the day.   Extraneal is approved for extended dwells.  The Extraneal will be drained at the next evening exchange.  All of the exchanges were pre-programed in the home choice pro cycler.

My day dwell was approximately 2000ml and I did not feel the extra weight.  However... I was a rather large boy at that time so four pounds was no big deal.  A much lighter person would most likely notice the difference.

The schedule I started on was too constraining for me and I thought I had to live with it.  When I started doing some research and asking questions the doctor was more than willing to alter my schedule.

[Ken Shelmerdine]

Best of luck, Laurie! My training nurse told me that they don't use the tidal program, but then, they don't do a few things I wish they did!

Katie

KTO if you are using a Baxter you can progam a tidal drain yourself. Bollocks to what they do and don't do at your clinic.