My First night on the Baxter Homechoice Cycler

[djgaryb11]

Well i just completed my first night on the Baxter Homechoice PD Cycler, and everything went really well.  I had only one "alarm" go off , after my first drain for "low drain volume"...but i think this is pretty common or expected when starting off...since my nurse pointed out that particular alarm message during my training.  I did not feel anything really at all during the entire treatment  process....so things are lookin good so far ! 

[george40]

Thats great. I started with the homechoice pro cycler two weeks ago now. Did you get the new model with the computer card? That low drain volume warning, most times changing positions will let the catheter find more fluid to drain off. I have had more drain pain on the cycler than with manual exchanges. My nurse mentioned I may need an xray to see where the catheter is sitting. If you feel nothing, your catheter sounds perfectly placed. I'm glad things are going well 

[djgaryb11]

I just have the regular Homechoice model...for some reason my PD nurse does not like the Homechoice PRO, and she said there is no significant benefit from the pro, since when her patients had the PRo many never used the cards or the data feature...or something to that effect....I'm sure the pro has some benefits with the added features, but I guess my nurse just does not see the need to get it. 

[Ken Shelmerdine]

Digary
I'm really pleased for you that things are going well on the cycler. Sounds like your cath is placed exactly right.

[coorsbob]

Glad to hear you are doing so well on your cycler. I to was on CA-PD for three months and switched to CC-PD and experienced a better dialysis after doing so. Its nice to hear about other people that are in my shoes and share with you the experiences they have had. Keep up the good fight.

Take care!
Robert aka Coorsbob

[Nan]

Congratulations on your success with PD.  I was on PD for a year and a half before I had my transplant. I had named my machine, Pierre, he became my best friend, my night time bed partner.  I have to tell you that there was a "safety" with my cycler, I adjusted quickly to being hooked up at night and always praised it's job  of keeping me alive and well.  After my transplant, I felt like I was missing out on something, no procedures, no hooking up, no alarms going off. They all provided me with a sense of security, I actually missed Pierre!  I LOVED PD, it was just so much easier than Hemo, I did not have to deal with the cold Minneapolis weather in going out to my clinic, I did miss my hemo friends, but I kept up with them via phone. You are in a good place, I hope you have the safety and security that I felt with my Pierre (cycler)

[peleroja]

Sounds like you're doing great.  I used to get those blasted "low volume" alarms, and I started sitting up in a better chair (I usually started around 8:30 pm so I could get off by 7), and then the alarms stopped.  I can't wait to get back to my PD (they had to remove my catheter due to peritonitis, and I'm on hemo for a while).  Keep up the good work!

[djgaryb11]

Hi all...Well I have been using the Baxter Homechoice PD Cycler for just over a month now, and its working out really well for me.  My original machine started acting strange about a week ago, and was giving me all these "System Error" messages, and after calling the Baxter tech help line, they told me there was something wrong with the software, and the machine needed to be replaced.  They arranged to have a new machine shipped to me the very next day, and I got it just like they said.  When I tried to program the new machine, with my PD nurse on the phone with me, the new machine had issues also ! So got in touch with Baxter again, and they shipped me another new machine ! This new machine is working fine so far, so hopefully it does not have any bugs in it.  I'm curious for all you others out there that are using the Baxter Homechoice PD machine, how often do you have problems with yours that it requires that it needs to be replaced ?

[Red from Canada]

I have never had to have a machine replaced, but when I get a power surge or outage, the Baxter people have been very helpful.  I have named my machine "Slurpy" and hope to be back on Jan 4th, after having a tube replaced for pseudomonas, like Peleroja.  I can hardly wait, as I just hate being tied to in-center Hemo.

[Nan]

I had my machine replaced once in a year and a half.  Baxter was great, they are prompt and efficient, one thing I "don't" miss is..........storing ALL those boxes!

[george40]

Everything was working fine for me on the baxter cycler when like yourself the machine started going nuts. I told my nurse that I was reading about how a few patients was having to return some of the recently produced machines. Basically I was told that maybe my catheter is the problem (which works perfectly for manual exchanges) since i get alot of system errors during drain cycles. I told her that sometimes the treatment finishes and there's at least 200-300 ml of fluid left in the bags and somewhere the math wasn't working out in the machine. Other times the bags are empty like they should be. Also, at times the machine says 'program missing' grrrr. Anyways, I think I will call baxter tech support next time so they can log and diagnose these problems.  This machine is supposed to be brand new (homechoice pro)

Hi all...Well I have been using the Baxter Homechoice PD Cycler for just over a month now, and its working out really well for me.  My original machine started acting strange about a week ago, and was giving me all these "System Error" messages, and after calling the Baxter tech help line, they told me there was something wrong with the software, and the machine needed to be replaced.  They arranged to have a new machine shipped to me the very next day, and I got it just like they said.  When I tried to program the new machine, with my PD nurse on the phone with me, the new machine had issues also ! So got in touch with Baxter again, and they shipped me another new machine ! This new machine is working fine so far, so hopefully it does not have any bugs in it.  I'm curious for all you others out there that are using the Baxter Homechoice PD machine, how often do you have problems with yours that it requires that it needs to be replaced ?

[djgaryb11]

Well my new Baxter HomeChoice Cycler machine seems to be working fine so far...No "System Errors" with this one so far, so I'll keep my fingers crossed ! Did you call Baxter about your Machine George40 ?Curious what they said about yours, or if they shipped ya a new one ?

[Red from Canada]

Hi All!   Last night was my first night back on the Baxter cycler since they put in my new tube after the old one was removed for pseudomonas!  And it worked beautifully!  I got a UF of over 1900!  So no more hemo.  Yay!  To all of you worrying about whether to try again after peritonitis or simiilar....GO FOR IT!  Especially you, Ken.  Baxter rules!

[BigSteve]

I just started on the cycler, but I refuse to name it till I'm sure he/she/it is treating me good.
Also, how about the programmer who has the machine read "turn me off"?