Pain when breathing-shortness of breath

[tbarrett2533]

I have encountered my first problem with PD and need some help please 

When I laugh to hard, or breath in to deeply I get a terrible pain in my ribs/shoulder/neck (on the right side).... I also have been having shortness of breath, but actually it does not feel like I am short of breath, it feels as if I can not catch my breath... the kicker is that I don't have these problems all the time it comes and goes and sometimes I can get the pain to ease by changing positions.... Mandy is off until Monday, should I call my doctor???

My weight is not up
No swollen legs/feet
my BP is normal

Please help IHD'ers

 

[Darthvadar]

Sounds to me like you've an air bubble!...

My mum's had a few... Very uncomfortable, and I hate to tell you, it'll probably take a few days to dissapate...

Make CERTAIN that you do your fifteen second flush when putting fluid in...

Sorry I can't help any further...

Hope you feel better very soon...

Love...

Darth...

[HouseOfDialysis]

I was always taught five second flush of the fill line. Either way, make sure the line is clear and eliminate the air bubbles from the bag working the broken cone to clear it.

But the gas travels up and up until it gets out your body. I didn't clear the line ONCE and that was enough of a learning process in and of itself.

[tbarrett2533]

I am "priming" aka clearing the lines with every excahnge

I am getting these pains throughout the day not just when I am filling or draining

[Darthvadar]

Mum's pain was constant... Not just filling or draining... It appears to be constant if you've an air bubble....

Darth...

[tbarrett2533]

Mum's pain was constant... Not just filling or draining... It appears to be constant if you've an air bubble....

Darth...

Ok so how should I get rid of it???
It will be a full week this Saturday

[Willis]

I think it may be related to your cath surgery. It hasn't been that long. I had mine on 5/10/2011 and I still get random pain around my diaphragm. It hurts especially in one spot on my right side and that's were I get the worse drain pain too. I also get the difficulty breathing you describe from time to time when I'm laying down. When I stand up it goes away, so I've concluded that the weight of the fluid pushes against my diaphragm and causes the pressure. All of these symptoms have gotten better some but haven't gone away completely.

Now all of this is just me...please, if your gut instinct is telling you something is wrong get down to your clinic!

 

[Darthvadar]

Might not do any harm to check it out with your doctor just to put your mind at rest...

Mum was getting that kind of pain for the first few weeks after she started PD.... Think the flush was being forgotten....

Darth...

[Willis]

Another idea...I have never had any problem with fibrin so others may have better advice, but perhaps internally your cath is clogged a bit? Maybe you could add some heparin? I'd be nervous about doing something like that on my own because even though I was trained to do it I've never needed to. But it's something you could ask your PD nurse about.

 

[tbarrett2533]

Another idea...I have never had any problem with fibrin so others may have better advice, but perhaps internally your cath is clogged a bit? Maybe you could add some heparin? I'd be nervous about doing something like that on my own because even though I was trained to do it I've never needed to. But it's something you could ask your PD nurse about.

 

No fibrin, well not since the very first excahnge that I did during training at the center... however you have sparked an idea..... the pain started the exact same day I had all that blood in my drain which lasted for all of 2 exchanges and the blood was gone, the pain still here... I did use heparin then, but none since... I am wondering if that could be the case...... a clogged cath?? does that even happen??

[HouseOfDialysis]

I have had slow drains from fibrin before and we did three exchanges with heparin and a HUGE KNOT of fibrin had to be worked out. It looked like a huge batch of dirty spaghetti.

[tbarrett2533]

I have had slow drains from fibrin before and we did three exchanges with heparin and a HUGE KNOT of fibrin had to be worked out. It looked like a huge batch of dirty spaghetti.

Yea, but would this cause the pain I am describing??

[HouseOfDialysis]

It could be just simply your body adjusting to having that much fluid in it. Air pockets will form being pushed by liquid and all that. I say give time for your body to acclimate.

[tbarrett2533]

I called the center and the PD nurse is off till Monday (which I knew) as is my Dr. 

so they (Center Staff) called the on-call Neph and he told them that he suspects my PD solution is leaking into my lungs so I have to go in the AM for a chest x-ray, drain out tonight (which I already did) and not fill, AND HAVE A HEMO TREATMENT  and I just started crying again by typing that.... 

The best part about it is NO ONE wants to switch a day or time for me so I can go in-center for a treatment so (which I will never ever do again and I used to give my chair to anyone that needed it) I have to be admitted into the hospital under 24hr survaluence (sp) just so I can have a treatment

Please please pray  for me everyone....... I do not want to have to go back to Hemo.... I won't do it again..... I won't.... that will be a wrap for me b/c I will just be done all together!!!!
I can't stop crying over this..... 
I love PD

[jeannea]

I hope you'll be ok. But you did the right thing. You have to check things out and make sure you're not in any danger. I suspect it will be ok but best not to take any chances. I'm sorry things are so crappy right now. 

[Darthvadar]

Hope it all works out for you...

I'm sure it'll be fine....

Please let us know when you can...

 

Darth...

[tbarrett2533]

I just spoke to the my center's director (Joanne) and she told me that she called my Dr. (while on Vacation) sorry Dr. Sadovnic
and he told her that there is no reason why I can not wait to have a hemo treatment until Saturday so that I do not have to be admitted and be there for the next 2 days just so I can have a treatment. (I have a 6am chair on Saturday)

The Dr.  also told Joanne that he suspects that this is just my bodies way of getting used to PD........ and I hate to say it, but I think he may be right.... since I drained last night (well like 2 hours after) I have not had any more pain at ALL!!! 

Joanne went on to tell me that he told her that he will let me know if or when I need to go have a chest x-ray on Monday......
so here I sit dry, waiting to literally go get poked with god damn needles again!!

I HATE KIDNEY FAILURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I know that I have said it before, but I will say it again...... I can not imagine spending the rest of my life living like this!!!!!!!!!!!   

[billybags]

tbarrett2533, Hope every thing goes alright. You do get teething troubles to start with and hopefully they will get ironed out quickly. Do not let this put you of PD. Thinking of you.

[drgirlfriend]

Hang in there! I hope it's just your body getting used to the pd. My bf had some lower back pain and chest pressure last night. He chose to fill 1800 instead of 2000 and he's feeling better so far today. I hope your solution is as simple! Thinking of you!!

 

[Atooraya]

I had similar difficulties early on. They persisted for 3 weeks and disappeared. When there is pain, we always think the worst. Hang in there. It'll get better.  Best of luck.

[rsudock]

   so sorry about those needles...they do suck!

xo,
R

[tbarrett2533]

Had a HEMO treatment today 

Got there at 5:30am left at 11am... went home and was sick with a headache, stomach ache and a general feeling of absolute crap (which I did not have with PD)  So I slept from 11ish till 5pm..... been sick all day (which is b/c of the treatment like it was all the time before)

I will know if I can go back on PD by Monday!!

I will keep you all posted

[MooseMom]

I know absolutely nothing about PD, but I wanted to wish you luck and to tell you that I'm glad it seems like this is resolving itself in due course.  I'm sorry you had to have a hemo treatment and that it made you feel lousy; let's hope that's the only time this happens and that you'll be back to PD soon. 

So, does this mean you won't be dialyzing today at all (Sunday)?

I'm eagerly awaiting news from you on Monday!

[tbarrett2533]

So, does this mean you won't be dialyzing today at all (Sunday)?

That is right!! a day off 

[wbdoug]

I will know if I can go back on PD by Monday!!

I will keep you all posted

Keeping my fingers crossed for you! Looking for a happy ending.
Bill