a manual drain ??

[goofynina]

Has anyone ever did a manual drain to relieve air in your tummy?  I talked to my PD nurse and she suggested it, i just dont see how it would work especially since i am on the cycler and those drains havent helped any,  she also said to raise my butt on some pillows, so the air can come out that way,  i guess it is worth a try, i just was wondering if anyone else had ever had to do this 

[Wattle]

    Goofy it sounds a little strange that a manual drain would relieve air. Are you having shoulder tip pain? I was told that the air accumulated by doing PD would dissipate by itself. I do get some pain in my shoulder blades and the normal "drawing" pain associated with draining.

Try doing a manual bag and see if it makes a difference. I do a day time exchange and I always drain better manually than I do on the machine. I have an "empty" feeling that I don't get on the machine. Its worth a try.   

Also, do you drain into bags or directly into the drain? Doing a manual bag gives you a good look at what is coming out. Do the old "can I read through the bag trick". The upset stomach and the feeling of wind maybe the start of an infection. If you do a manual bag, keep it and take it in to the doctors if you go. They can run some tests on it.     

[goofynina]

Thank you for your reply Wattle,  i drain straight into the toilet (extension)  but i do have one last manual drain and that always comes out clear.  Now that you mention it, my shoulder has been hurting some. daaaamn, just when you think your doing good, BAM, something has to come along to mess up the rotation,    oh well,  i am still going to take my drain bag in on Wednesday just to run tests,  my total UF's have been running kinda low too, i think i am retaining the fluid again, aye yi yi, if it aint one thing, its another huh?  well my friend, wish me luck and i will let you all know what the outcome of all this fiddlefaddle turns out to be.  Love ya,  Susie

[Sluff]

I wish you luck goofynina.   

[Chicken Little]

I was told nothing could be done if you happen to get air in there.  It just has to dissipate on it's own.  I don't see how a manual drain would help either.     I hope they find a solution soon. When do you get to go see that new doctor?

[Ken Shelmerdine]

 Goofynina  sorry to hear you'r having problems. Sometimes I get shoulder pain and I'm told its caused through air pushing up against the diaphragm. How long before you connect up do you prime the cycler. If you you leave it too long between priming and connecting yourself, the fuid can drop down the patient line an inch or two. and the air which has displaced it will go into your abdomen when filling starts. I always make sure that after priming, the fluid is right at the top of the patient line and there's no bubbles. Maybe also get your machine checked over. 

[goofynina]

You know Ken, i always have to prime my lines twice cuz it only goes 1/2 way up the patient extension the first time,  sometimes on the second prime fluid leaks out the top (has that ever happend to you)?    But now that i think about it, there has been times when i set up the machine early and i do do the priming twice so i am sure the fluid must drop back down in that time before i hook up.  I never checked it before but i am going to for now on thats for darn sure, thank you for the info, it's greatly appreciated... 

[rimbo74]

I was having pain in my right shoulder (before dialysis) and it was caused by my phosphorus levels being too high.  Thought I would share since it might not be caused by air.

[MyssAnne]

GoofyNina, I tried raising my butt in the air (VERY funny visual!), and using pillows did help.
Making sure the liquid is all the way up will help with the pain as well. Otherwise, til it goes
away, Percocet/any other STRONG painkillers are nice too!!! I had never heard that, about
doing a manual to relieve the pressure. Hm. Interesting. So is it still there? 

[MiSSis]

I don't have too much trouble with shoulder pain although I did when I started my first stint on PD many, many years ago.  This time when I started back on PD (3 1/2 yrs ago), I experienced shoulder pain on for a day or so.  I usually get my machine set up earlier in the day...bags loaded, tubing loaded... but I don't prime the lines until just before I hook up.  I also make sure the line is primed all the way up to the patient connector.  Not sure what machine you use (mine is Fresenius) but I make sure the patient line connector is slightly below the level of the bags so my line will prime completely to the end. 

The only time I do a manual drain is when I feel I haven't drained enough through the night and know I still must have some fluid inside.  (I'm dry during the day.)

Hope you're doing better.  That shoulder pain can be, well, A PAIN!!