Cycler Question

[prospector]

I have been on the Fresenius cycler for 2wks. but have some questions. I was initially set up for 4 exchanges per night but the setup took about 14 hrs. total. We have changed settings and now I am doing 3 exchanges per night and 2 manuals during the day. Everything feels okay-no pain- but I am somewhat concerned about my drain volumn during the night. My drain during the night varies from -150ml to +350ml. While during manual exchanges prior to using the cycler I was taking from 300 ml - 500 ml (lowest rates) excess each exchange. With the cycler, the drain totals mentioned above are less for 3 exchanges than for a single exchange doing the manual procedure. My weight isn't rising but it is harder to control my sugar. Does anyone else experience this. I'd be interested in any and all comments.

[george40]

Hi Prospector, I just started using the baxter cycler this week. I have also drained less on the cycler than via manual exchanges. My cycler warns sometime 'low drain volume' and last night I decided to sit up instead of laying down and for some reason the catheter found quite a bit of fluid to drain further. Sitting up during treatment defeats the purpose of the process happening while you sleep. Anyways, thats my experience this week of getting more drainage.

[mikey07840]

I am an insulin dependent diabetic on the Baxter cycler. It took a while for my endo MD and me to find the right insulin dosage to cover my exchanges.  If my blood sugar is too high, then the drain volume goes down and the PD doesn't work well. There needs to be a higher sugar level in the PD solution than in me so that the process will work.

[Ken Shelmerdine]

It's possible that your not getting full drains in a lay down position. In the morning I do a manual drain standing up and get more fluid off.