Problems with PD Catheter placement

[dlady64]

Hi all,

Outpatient surgery for PD cath was last Monday.  Unfortunately, there were complications and I ended up back in the hospital that evening via ER.  Just got home yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon--feel like I've been GONE for a week.  Guess that's what copious amounts of Dilaudad will do to you if you take it every two hours for a couple of days.  I'm down to oral Percocet now (sadly, it's not all that fun when you really need it for pain <smile>).

Still processing exactly what happened, but bottom line, after a couple of CT scans, etc., there were no surgical complications (no internal perforations that weren't supposed to be there anyway), just a problem with the inability to urinate (backing up my bladder) and excruciating pain.  Oh, did I mention that I'd also started my menses just a couple of days before?  Is that too much information?

Just starting to move around again--so good to be home.  I feel somewhat incoherent and typing is really testing my eye/hand coordination. 

Good news is that the pain now is what it *should* have been on Monday.  So, moving forward, I'll be meeting with the dialysis nurse this coming Monday to have the dressing changed and to flush the catheter. 

I have to admit though, I was completely unprepared for the abdominal agony.  I'm terrified of moving forward--but can't go back either.  Doc told me this was very minor surgery and I probably wouldn't need any pain meds at all.  Hah!  My husband and I debated whether to go to the ER or just try to wait out the pain (the surgeon said, "it might get better, but if you want to go to ER, no problem."  Well, no!  I didn't WANT to go...but eventually hubby put his foot down and took me.  I kept having to explain to all the medical personnel that I'd just had a little PD cath put in--kept feeling as though I had to apologize that I was bothering them with my pain when it shouldn't have been a big deal.

They put in a Foley catheter so that helped.   Apparently, they pump your abdomen full of air when they do the cath placement and that, combined with the menses cramps and the surgery did me in.  I feel like such a wimp.  I'm scared that if I couldn't make it through just getting the cath, how in the HELL am I going to make through any exchanges?

sigh.

Well, it feels better having vented.  So glad there's someplace to do that.

[MyssAnne]

  Hahahahaha.  I just have to laugh when they say it will be minimal pain. HA!!! What do THEY know???  I've had it done 3 times, and it's
  been painful all three times! I didn't have to go to ER as you did, but man!!!  It WILL get better. It really will.  Especially after you've done
  the exchanges, and see how it feels and how it operates. I started on manuals, which was okay, but then went to the cycler, which was
  WONDERFUL, at least, for me it was!   

  Oh.  When you go to ER, ALWAYS say you are a dialysis patient, it will get you better service, for the most part!!!!  Every time I've had to
  go to ER, as soon as I say dialysis...it's rush her to the back, get her settled and comfy!!!!   

  And no, Percocet is no fun when you are hurting already. I found out the best way to handle the pain was to take the percocet BEFORE I
  needed it, so if it was for 6 hours, I would take it after 5 hours, so that it was in me, and going by the time the prior dosage had worn off.
 
   
 

[KICKSTART]

Any doctor that tells you there is no pain, wants one fitting themselves . Yes it is painfull , but it will subside. Mine has been in 3 yrs now and i was in agony , it seems mine curls upwards and rests on my last rib, it has from the day they put it in. Please dont worry about the exchanges ,you have had the hardest thing done now. Exchanges can get a bit uncomfortable towards the end of the drain , but you are in control , so you can stop it!!! Give it at least a week to start to be bearable and about 6 weeks in all for a full recovery , but dont worry exchanges wont make it any worse .Avoid any strain and try and take it easy.Anything else you want to know ..just ask 

[Sluff]

Thats what I love about this site and it's members, straight forward truths.

[KT0930]

Minimal pain?? Who are they kidding? I was in more pain after PD placement than after my most recent transplant (a week on pain meds vs. one dose once I got home!)

Anyway, as others have said, take it easy, expect about a week for the pain to subside to bearable, then about 6 weeks for a full recovery. Also, don't know if the docs or nurses have told you, but once you start exchanges, don't lift anything above about 10-15 pounds, since this can cause a hernia, and that's the end of PD.

Hope it all goes well for you, keep us informed! Also check your PM's.

[dlady64]

What a relief to know I'm not just a "wimp".  One of the great things about having some folks to talk to--actual experience  can't be beaten.

Thanks for the PM!

LeAnne

[spacezombie]

The PD cath surgery has always been painful for me also. I wouldn't call it minor. You are not a wimp! Just take it easy and feel better soon!