PD Surgery

[Whamo]

I just got back from the hospital.  I had my PD surgery today.  Dr. Gomez tied up the fat near the access site to avoid problems with fat overlap in the future.  The nausea was strong once I came out of the deep sleep.  My wife gave me grief because I wore flip flops that don't match.  The Operating Room was cold enough to hang meat.  When I mentioned this to one of the doctors she said, "Yes, and you're it."  I love her snarky sense of humor.  The doctors said I should be able to use my new access in about a week.  I imagine it will take twice that long to get in all the training and logistics worked out.  Everybody at my dialysis center, the patients anyways, warned me about getting infections.  I plan to be diligent about following a clean and sterile protocol.  I certainly don't need any more pain in my life.  I do look forward to getting of the hemodialysis treadmill. 

[justme15]

I got mine last thursday, so I know your pain, literally! Glad that things are going well so far!  keep us posted about how thing are going, so I can compare notes!

[Wat76]

Wow, I have an evaluation on Thursday to see if I can do PD.  Let me know how things come out with you. I am so afraid right now, but I am going to give it a try and see how it goes.  I prefer incenter, but being that I am trying to work for 22 more months till retirement, PD is the way I want to go right now.  Please keep this thread updated, would like to see how things are going.

Debra

[Joe]

Cleanliness is king with PD Whamo. Just get your routine going and stick to it. I've found that the repetition of the steps helps keep me on track, and I don't do shortcuts while prepping, connecting or disconnecting. So far I've been ok. Good luck!

[Willis]

Well the worst is over! After about 10 days you should be able to start training on your first exchanges with small amounts. After training you should be able to do your full cycle though it's likely you'll have some "drain pain" at first. That does lessen over time fortunately. You may also notice pressure in your rectum that makes you feel like you gotta "go" when you really don't but it's the cath. That also gets better over time. Make sure to take whatever your neph recommends for keeping your bowels regular or you will likely get constipated and have difficulty draining properly. I think anyone who has done PD will confirm that!

 

[Whamo]

What you talking about Willis?  Drain pain?  Oh, boy, another bump in the road.   

[MaryD]

Drain pain happens when you have almost finished draining.  As the drain is a siphon when the fluids get low it sometimes starts to siphon your insides.  I liken it to someone prodding my insides with a blunt knitting needle.  You can stop it instantly by twisting the catheter off.  Then is you jiggle around a bit everything moves and you can finish off your drain.

I hardly ever have anything severe, although last week out of the blue I had a humdinger which made me jump (and swear)

I have never had the full rectum feeling though

Good luck

[Joe]

I've had the full rectum feeling from time to time, just tough it out. As for end of drain pain, that can be an eye opener! I tell my PD team it feels like the drain is trying to pull my a$$hole out through my cath. It's quite disturbing. Fortunately, it is easy to overcome, as Mary said, just pinch off the cath and jiggle around to relocate the catheter inside you.

[Grumpy-1]

Most the time drain pain isn't too bad.  As said, it happens near the end of the drain when the drain is trying to suck the last of the fluid out and your insides start to move with the suction.  Don't worry about it.  besides, you can quit the sessions and close off the cath and start to fill instead.  Grumpy

[justme15]

Whamo- do you have pain in your pelvic area since the surgery?   I had some serious sharp pains in my pelvis, it almost felt like drain pain.