Length of time your PAK lasts?

[Xplantdad]

I'd like to get a sample of how long everyone's PAK's last. I know that it has to do with how hard your water is and if you also have an additional filter in place...but I have been tracking ours and were getting about 18 days out of each PAK.

Looking forward to hearing what everyone else is experiences are!

[Simon Dog]

I was getting 12 treatments of 40L each per pak but, since I use a 40 lactate concentration, I have to use a 50L sak.   The 12 treatments at 5 per week works out to 16.8 days - about what you are getting.

I requested a Linx pre-filter, and I now get about 85 days to a PAK.  I believe it is expiring based on time rather than the quality of the output water from the PAK.

MUCH less hassle replacing the Linx filters every 6 months and a PAK once every 3 months that doing a PAK every 2.5 weeks.

[PrimeTimer]

We have very hard water. Our PAK's last 20 treatments (30 liter treatments, 5xweek). Sometimes think about the Linx that Simon Dog mentions.

[Simon Dog]

The Linx is great.   You pretty much forget about it until NxStage includes a new Linx filer set with your order (once every 6 months), then you have about 15 minutes worth of work to change them.

[Xplantdad]

Thanks for the info...kinda what I thought. I'm going to put some heat on Fresenius to install one of those here at our house. Sine my wife has "good" insurance-I think they'll play along. I mean, the cost of that filter certainly has to be less than the cost of replacing those damn SAK's every 2 or so weeks... 

[Simon Dog]

Thanks for the info...kinda what I thought. I'm going to put some heat on Fresenius to install one of those here at our house. Sine my wife has "good" insurance-I think they'll play along. I mean, the cost of that filter certainly has to be less than the cost of replacing those damn SAK's every 2 or so weeks... 

I assume you meant replacing the PAKs every two weeks.

It's a finer point, but Fresenius will not install the Linx water filter for you.   It's a self-install job, and a fairly easy one at that (the Linx is sent by UPS).   They recommend the Linx be located at least 6ft away from the PureFlow, since the Linx is not certified medical equipment.  You will need an electric outlet for the Linx.  The water lines in and out of the Linx have a quick connect, so it is very easy to bypass the Linx if it ever gives you trouble and send the unfiltered water into the Pureflow.

The RN who handles my home care tells me the PAKs cost the clinic $500 each.

I don't think your insurance will be an issue - I got my Linx when on Medicare.   FMC bills medicare, the medicare supplement, and private insurance on a per-treatment basis, and eats the cost of supplies.    I know I caused some weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth in my clinic one month when they caught me doing 2 extra treatments (done because of the need for particular days off of dialysis) because they had to figure out how to write up the bill to get paid for those treatments.

It took several months for me to get a Linx after it was approved by the clinic since they were out and there was a waiting list.  Sort of like getting a kidney, but months rather than years.

[Xplantdad]

Simon Dog....yep...that's what I meant....the PAK's

Also I meant to say that I am going to put the heat on the nurse at Fresenius to get us one. It kinda stinks to get up at 4 am....go to work, come home at 4 pm, do my daughters dialysis until almost 9pm....the when we have to replace the PAK...stay up until midnight until that's primed, then start the SAK!

I really look forward to only replacing one every 80ish days! Thanks for the continued info 

[Vt Big Rig]

In Indiana (on well water) I was getting about 12 treatments per PAK. We have moved to Vermont, have city water .... so far we are at about 50 treatments on the same PAK.

[Hootie]

Seems like 90 days on que for us....but we have the high quality water from the Chattahooche River coming out of the north Georgia mountains.

[Xplantdad]

Thanks again for everyone's responses!

I told our Fresenius nurse that we wanted the Linx. Water samples (and the obligatory monthly blood samples) are going out tonight. One water sample from the tap and one from the PAK.

We have a QAI meeting on the 28th. We're also going to try and meet with our nephrologist one on one before the QAI if possible.

I told her that since my wife's insurance is paying for it, it shouldn't be an issue

[Simon Dog]

I told her that since my wife's insurance is paying for it, it shouldn't be an issue

I believe the Freseius (and others) bill on a "per treatment" basis, and not for the individual supplies.  That being said, a Linx will save money in the long run since (according to my home care RN), PAKs cost the clinic $500 each.

[Xplantdad]

Yep...you are correct Simon Dog.  I figured that the PAK would be even more expensive than that...

[Xplantdad]

Update: We FINALLY got the LINX on order.   Of course it's back ordered They did send the lines and miscellaneous supplies that go along with it! I have to replace the PAK again, today.

 A few weeks ago, w had a PAK last for one whole week...LOL


It will be interesting to see how much longer a PAK lasts once we get it and get it installed.

[Simon Dog]

My Linx was acting up so I asked for a replacement.  You guessed it - backorder!!!  Time to start burning through PAKs again.

[Xplantdad]

Yikes! 

[Xplantdad]

We got our Linx last night. I will install this weekend. Installation looks pretty straightforward! 

[Xplantdad]

Well...finally got around to installing the Linx system-had a family member die and some other things take precedence of getting this taken care of.

 It was really easy. Start to finish, took about 10 minutes, including running all new lines and cutting them to length. It will be interesting to see how long the PAK's last now. 

[Simon Dog]

It will be interesting to see how long the PAK's last now. 

Figure about 85 days or so.

[Xplantdad]

That will be awesome

Did you get your replacement Linx already, SD?

[Vt Big Rig]

Since we moved to Vermont and now have city water my PAK has been running since May 5...... amazing!   Four days a week..... over 80 treatments so far.

On earlier well water in Indiana latest about 15 treatments.

[Simon Dog]

Did you get your replacement Linx already, SD?

Yup.   Started a new PAK with the new Lynx; only got about 10 treatments.  Tracking treatments on the next PAK and will discuss with support if this continues - I was getting about 85 days of life with my previous Linx.