I just wanted to comment on something that was said. I don't know how long ago you did PD, but, you said you had to dump a 10 gallon bucket of used solution everyday... i'm not sure why, but that's not how it works, now at least. You have a drain line... and in the morning when your done you hook the drain line up to your used bags and the other end of the drain line goes in the toilet, or sink, and you walk away do whatever it is you o... come back later and unhook the drain line and your bags are now empty, you didnt have to lift a thing.
Thanks, everybody. I'm calmer today, I'm back at work, everything is fine. My catheter is still bleeding a little, but they said it's probably because I've been on Prednisone so long and it's affected my tissue so it heals more slowly.Goofynina, I'm not on HD yet, I'm not on any dialysis yet. I have the catheter for PD, they said that unless I get sick, they're going to let it heal until after Thanksgiving and then start me on dialysis.Thanks everyone, for all your advice. I am glad that I chose PD, and I do think it's the right decision for me at this time. Starting dialysis is just such a BIG thing, you know? I am so glad I found this site, without it I would feel so alone. I don't know anyone at all who's ever even had kidney problems, let alone dialysis, so I don't have anyone I can talk to or ask questions.Epoman, your site is fantastic!!
Quote from: anja on November 14, 2006, 11:36:27 PMOh, Mallory, I wish you weren't so worried, but that's normal, so was I. I have been on both Baxter and Fresenius and by far prefer the Baxter machine. In my opinion,Baxter is less sensitive( so fewer alarms) because it does not work on the scale system, much easier and quicker to set up, has longer tubing, can be disconnected as many times as needed(unlike F, which you can do only once), it can drain into a bucket or stool or tub (Fresenius drains into bags hanging on the machine that you must struggle to unhook and carry to dispense of), there is less waste(tubing, containers and wrappers) with Baxter(hence, less garbage to get rid of), the connecter attached to you has shorter tubing to contend with. I could go on and on, as I did with my dialysis unit when they wanted me to switch - recounting each and every positive and negative. The only positive I found that the Fresenius had was that it was somewhat quieter, except when it switched over - that was a loud clicking noise. Now that I have moved my machine to the hallway I sleep more peacefully and have no problems or alarms- whoever said it had to be next to your head or even beside your bed? It does not! Best wishes for your introduction into the world of dialysis- you are LUCKY if you are able to do PD! Thinking of you, AnjaI just needed to correct a few things beause I am on Fresenius and you make it sound so bad. You say youcan only disconnect from a Fresenius machine one-time, and thats not true... I disconnct as many times as I want too... I have snap-disconnect and have many many disconnect's if I need them and need to be unhooked from the machine. I also do not have to carry my bags to drain them, I just hook up a drain line and put the other end of it in the toilet and come back in an hour or 2 and its empty. Also my machine makes no noise at all, not even switching from drains to dwells and fills... only sound is if I alarm, obviously. So, there are lots of positives to Fresenius also... not just negatives as you pointed out.Maybe you sed a different machine for Fresenius, idunno.. I use Freedom Cycler PD+ IQCard. I used Baxter for a week in the hospital and was glad I didn't have to use it at home.. I didn't like it at all, so you see, everyone has a prefrencce, and mine is Fresenius You will have to try and see for yourself what works for you.
Oh, Mallory, I wish you weren't so worried, but that's normal, so was I. I have been on both Baxter and Fresenius and by far prefer the Baxter machine. In my opinion,Baxter is less sensitive( so fewer alarms) because it does not work on the scale system, much easier and quicker to set up, has longer tubing, can be disconnected as many times as needed(unlike F, which you can do only once), it can drain into a bucket or stool or tub (Fresenius drains into bags hanging on the machine that you must struggle to unhook and carry to dispense of), there is less waste(tubing, containers and wrappers) with Baxter(hence, less garbage to get rid of), the connecter attached to you has shorter tubing to contend with. I could go on and on, as I did with my dialysis unit when they wanted me to switch - recounting each and every positive and negative. The only positive I found that the Fresenius had was that it was somewhat quieter, except when it switched over - that was a loud clicking noise. Now that I have moved my machine to the hallway I sleep more peacefully and have no problems or alarms- whoever said it had to be next to your head or even beside your bed? It does not! Best wishes for your introduction into the world of dialysis- you are LUCKY if you are able to do PD! Thinking of you, Anja
Memories ... pressed between the pages of my mind. . .Angie, I haven't seen one of those monsters (the 2nd pic) in years. When I had mine in 94, I called it C3PO When I get my new one it will be the Baxter one in the bottom picture. I can't believe how small they have become in the last decade, but I'm happy for it!After doing in-clinic hemo for the past 3 months, I can without hesitation say that, for me, PD is the way to go. At least at home I have a DVR :-) And people to talk to. Only 5 days until I get my fabulous tube and only 2 weeks after that I get to ditch hemo and this stupid catheter - woo hoo!
Hey angie... I dont know what a "cap" is but I believe you only use caps on baxter machines... not sure, but I have never used one on a Fresenius machine... as for the snap-disconnect, I have more than 1 to a tubing... my main tubing comes with 2 snap-disconnects and the extra tubing I add on before I hook up has 5 more snap-disconnects. I usually dont add the extra disconnect tubing unless I know i'm going to be using them, b/c for the most part I never even disconnect once, however if I disconnect once and need to do so more b/c of my kids I will add the extra tubing then... but yah, I got a lot of snap disconnects if needed...I think the cap thing your referring to is on baxter... i remember using baxter once in the hospital and they used the phrae cpas a lot... P.S. That was awesome only waiting 2 months when u were 16, i wish we all had that luck Huh lol
yes, i definatley know what u mean!! i hate when im having tummy trouble and have to spend most of the night in the bathroom, or running there If anyone is on fresenius and they want that extra tubing ill get the item # for yaz, i know ur not on pd anymore angie, but for anyone who is, if ya have the fresenius machine and snap-disconnect connections..
I Hate Dialysis Message Board
I Hate Dialysis Message Board
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