Cycler Manual Draining

[Ken Shelmerdine]

I dialyse with a baxter cycler but am dry during the day. I use a tidal setting because I can't fully drain in a layed down position. So much so that after my final drain in the morning I have to switch the machine onto manual drain and stand up for about 5 minutes to get the last 250 or so mls out. Does anyone else have to do this?

[MyssAnne]

No, I'm on Fresenius, and I HAVE to lie down to drain/fill, it's better for me. I wonder if that is because of the tubing, or whether it's the
way your body is?  Odd, isn't it, how we are so different in some ways, with the same equipment!

[Ginger]

Ken,
When I was on PD with the Baxter cycler, I used to do a manual drain at the end alll the time. I was also dry during the day.  I had noticed that I was getting more negative UF's and began doing manual drains which then always gave me positive UF's in the end. I also realised that I was not gaining weight once I began doing the manual drains. (There was no fluid left in my abd to absorb.)

[KT0930]

I noticed when I went from manual to cycler my UFs were less, and had figured out while doing manuals that if I stood up, I got more of a drain. I never did much about it on the cycler (I was on Fresenius), but yes, I had essentially the same problem. Since we were on two different companies, I would guess that it would have to be the way our bodies are shaped.

[mikey07840]

What is a negative UF and a positive UF?

Thanks Mike

[KT0930]

What is a negative UF and a positive UF?

Thanks Mike

Mike, a negative UF is when, throughout the night, you've pulled out less fluid than you put on; positive is the opposite. For example: when I was doing CCPD, throughout the night I would put in 10,000 ml of fluid. If I drained a total of 9750, then I would have a negative 250 UF. If I had drained a total of 10,250 instead, then I had a postive 250 UF.

If you have too much sodium in your diet, if you sweat a lot, or don't drink anything at all, and you use a low dextrose solution, then you may occasionally have a negative UF. If you watch your diet and fluid intake carefully and/or use a higher dextrose solution, then you are more likely to have a positive UF.

[Ken Shelmerdine]

Thanks all for your posts on this. It's not a big problem it's just having to stand there like a lemon waiting for it all to drain. I do think the fact that I get it fully drained out is the reason my  weight remains stable.

[Slywalker]

I used the Frenius cycler and I also was dry during the day.  Sometimes I had to stand up - and do lots of wierd positions to get the final drain done.  My catheter moved from time to time which was a bit of an issue too.

Good luck.

Sandyb

 

[dlady64]

I'm confused...what does the term "dry" mean?  I thought that once we started dialysis, we will always have some fluid in our peritoneal lining.  I'm still on CAPD, so my last exchange is supposed to stay in until the next morning, right?

And when I switch to the cycler, I'll have fluid all day.

Sorry for the newbie question, but it's got me stumped.

[MyssAnne]

Dry means you DON"T have any fluid in you til you are on the cycler. Some people can do that,
I have gotten to the point I can't. I need to have that fluid in me, for comfort, as odd as that
sounds.

[KT0930]

dlady, it also depends on whether you are a high, low, or mid-transporter. That means how quickly the toxins are pulled out of you by the dialysis. If you are a high transporter, you will probably be dry during the day when on the cycler; but if you are low or mid, then you will probably have fluid in, because it will continue to pull toxins off all day.

[dlady64]

I'm new to the rules, but can we continue this thread?  How do I know what kind of transporter I am?  Which brings up--how do I know which bag to use?  My prescription said Day 1 - 2 bags green; 2 bags yellow.  I was told I might need to vary it, but I'm not clear on the criteria. 

Thanks for answering what probably has been asked a million times--I just can't find the right search term

[KT0930]

Your clinic should do a PET test sometime in your first or second month of PD in order to determine what type of transporter you are. Then they may tweak your prescription based on that.

For now, follow the prescription of 2 yellow and 2 green and see how you feel and how your weight and BP are. If you show any signs of being dehydrated - light headed; low BP; shakiness - use fewer green and more yellow, or take in more fluids, whichever you feel comfortable with and your clinic recommends. If you show signs of holding fluid - bloated; raised BP; gaining more than a pound or so per day - use fewer yellow and more green.

[dlady64]

Makes sense.  !