Bags Missing Middle Hole?

[alrightstill]

My mom and I have a routine, she hangs my bags and I pretty much do everything else.  We've noticed lately that the bags are missing the middle hanging hole..
She feels uneasy just hanging them by the corner hole so she bunches them together to hang them by both corner holes (if that makes sense..).

Has anyone else noticed this?

[silverhead]

If you are talking about the 5L dialysate bags - they are supposed to be hung by both outside holes, the bags are to heavy to safely be hung by one hole, the probably removed the middle hole to prevent that from happening
Tom

[alrightstill]

If you are talking about the 5L dialysate bags - they are supposed to be hung by both outside holes, the bags are to heavy to safely be hung by one hole, the probably removed the middle hole to prevent that from happening
Tom

Yes, sorry I should've been more specific.  I was referring to the 5L dialysate bags.

In '05 I was taught to hang them from the middle hole - and only the middle hole.  So - seeing that middle hole suddenly gone after 2 years threw us for a loop.  Thanks for your reply!

[jbeany]

The new training is for using both holes - that's what I was taught last August when I started.  One more thing they've changed as they go!  I wish they had made the manual a regular 3 ring binder, so that I could add the updated procedures as they send them.  Right now I have the instruction manual and a separate binder for all the changes they've sent.

[cev]

We have the bags with the 2 end holes too.  I hate them, they hang all katywampos.  We were taught to hang from which ever hole we wanted.  I always used the middle.  But tonight one of the bags fell, didn't break so no harm done.  I will try hanging from both end holes, just don know how that is going to work, but thanks for the idea.  I have asked my husband when he places an order to complain about the missing middle hole.   I hate it when I see NxStage cheapen things then tell us it is better for us this way.

[Black]

Get a PureFlow and the bag problem is gone.  You will LOVE the Pureflow.  So easy to use.

[Russ]

I have a Pureflow but use 5L bags whenever there is a problem with the Pureflow.  I was surprised too when the middle hole was no long there.  I received no notice of the change.  Pureflow is much easier.

[cev]

thanks for the pureflow suggestion - but with the probelms I have read on this site, I will stick with the bags, I have no time or space for leaks, bad batches, bad water, etc.

[Bill Peckham]

Here is how I hang 30 liters using the corner holes - let's see if I can write it out.

There are four spots (loops) to hang from at the top of the pole - assign each loop a number going around clockwise 1; 2; 3; and 4.

First I hang a bag using both holes on loop 1 and then the second bag the same way using both holes on loop 3.

Next I hang a bag with one hole on loop 1 and then the other hole on loop 2.

The forth bag has one hole on loop 3 and the other hole on loop 4.

The fifth bag is then hung by both holes on loop 2; the sixth bag by both holes on loop 4.

The end result is 7.5 liters on each loop. 

It does make one kinda loopy.

[KR Cincy]

This is good to know...in the 8 months I've been on home hemo, we've never used the bags...only the PureFlow...partly because we have never been able to get out hands on a warmer, and partly because we've only had one lead with the PureFlow, otherwise it's been a dream. And since I only get two treatments per sack, we've been OK making sure we get it drained and a new batch started in time for the next treatment.

[Adam_W]

I was also trained to use just the middle hole, but I had read somewhere about a bag falling and bursting open (ohhhhhh messy!), so I started using two or even all three holes. The removal of the middle hole didn't really bother me. Speaking of bags, has anyone heard when the new warmers will be available? I heard this month, but there hasn't been a peep from NxStage (at least that I've heard).

Adam

[alrightstill]

Wow, I'm glad to hear someone else is still ONLY using bags!  POWER TO THE BAGS!! (Or something).

I've been so paranoid that they're going to force me into using the PureFlow.  It sounds like its so much work, I mean compared to the simplicity of just hanging 15L worth of bags each day.   Plus - you need a sort of special water hook up as well, no?  That's the whole reason why I went on NXSTAGE to begin with - it was just a "plug & play" type of machine.  ( 'Plug & Play' might not have been the best word choice..) 

[jbeany]

I was also trained to use just the middle hole, but I had read somewhere about a bag falling and bursting open (ohhhhhh messy!), so I started using two or even all three holes. The removal of the middle hole didn't really bother me. Speaking of bags, has anyone heard when the new warmers will be available? I heard this month, but there hasn't been a peep from NxStage (at least that I've heard).

Adam

My rep won't even give a month anymore - just says they are "close".  Close to hypothermia is what I am everytime I use bags without a heater, so it better be pretty darn close!

Wow, I'm glad to hear someone else is still ONLY using bags!  POWER TO THE BAGS!! (Or something).

I've been so paranoid that they're going to force me into using the PureFlow.  It sounds like its so much work, I mean compared to the simplicity of just hanging 15L worth of bags each day.   Plus - you need a sort of special water hook up as well, no?  That's the whole reason why I went on NXSTAGE to begin with - it was just a "plug & play" type of machine.  ( 'Plug & Play' might not have been the best word choice..) 

Once it's set up, I think the pureflow is easier than the bags.  You don't need a special water connection - it hooks into a regular water supply, right at the sink.  I've had one leak, and it was my fault, not a problem with the machine.  I did forget to start a batch once, but other than that, I prefer the pureflow to the bags - I don't have that much space for storage!  I doubt they'll force you to try the pureflow, though - they still have to keep making bags anyhow, so we have a backup when there's problems with the pureflow, or for when we are traveling.

[kidney4traci]

I heard today that medicare won't pay for the bags, that they want us all on pureflow.  After the BS from today on water testing and conductivity testing, I am wanting to go all bag or nothing.

[alrightstill]

I heard today that medicare won't pay for the bags, that they want us all on pureflow.  After the BS from today on water testing and conductivity testing, I am wanting to go all bag or nothing.

Where did you hear this!?

[kidney4traci]

my nurse

[alrightstill]

Ahh.  I hope they're just "talking" about it - and nothing is set in stone.  Can we protest? 

I had a feeling something like this would eventually happen thought.  Although, my nurse told me she didn't think they would ever do that because when doing pureflow you need the option of doing the bags.. So as long as they're already having to provide all patients with bags then it shouldn't be a big deal.  But.. as I've learned in the past, she's not always right. 

[kidney4traci]

I asked her who absorbs the cost now and she didn't know.  This is a photo of the new test kit for the chloramines.

[Bill Peckham]

Medicare reimburses exactly the same amount no matter which machine you use or if you use bags or PureFlow.

She may have meant that NxStage charges more for bag delivery than they do for PureFlow supply delivery. It is cheaper to be supplied for a month's worth of treatments on the PureFlow than it is to be supplied with a month's worth of treatments on bags. It isn't Medicare reimbursement that has changed it is the price being charged by NxStage for bags, compared to the price for being charged for PureFlow.

[jbeany]

Holy cow, traci - is that whole mess your test kit?  I've just got one little bottle of litmus-style strips to check for chloramines.  How I'd end up with chlorine by-products when I'm hooked to well water, I still haven't figured out, but I run the test with every batch just like I'm supposed to!

[kidney4traci]

That's all I had to do before too.  And about the prices, I guess that makes sense about the cost to ship those bags vs. the pureflow.  Oh well, will see how this plays out.  Thanks for the shoulder to cry on guys.

[skyedogrocks]

Our bags have the middle hole bag, thank God.  It was a pain in the neck hooking the bags up on each corner, those bags are so heavy after a while.