It Really Is a Small World

[peleroja]

I frequently go on day trips with my travel group and I do my dialysis in the back of the bus.  A couple of years ago our regular driver was sick and we had a substitute.  Shortly before we were to reach our destination (and my time to start dialysis), the lady who runs the group came to me and said the substitute was a real jerk and she didn't know how he would react to my dialysis.  Ain't nothing I could do, it had to be done, so I made sure I was hooked up prior to arrival, figuring he wouldn't throw me off the bus.

At our destination, folks filed off the bus and I was the only one left.  He came walking up the aisle toward me.  I put on my biggest and brightest smile and said, "Have they told you what I'm doing?"  He said, "You're draining."  Knowing I had never used that term with the passengers, I asked, "How did you know that?" and he said, "Because my mom was one of the first people ever to do PD!"  Well, of course, we high fived and bonded immediately.

Now here's the strange part, and I'm not even sure I understood him correctly.  He said that when his mom was finished filling, she rolled up the empty bag, taped it to her body, and that became the drain bag for the next exchange.  Can anyone back me up on that?  Remember, this would have been 35-40 years ago.  He seemed to think the new system of discarding all the bags was much more practical.

[monrein]

Yep that's exactly what was done when I went on dialysis back in 1980.  Another thing that didn't appeal to me about PD at that time.  I was 26 at the time.

[IUNurse]

They never "capped off" like you  do now.  They were always connected to an empty bag (2-3 Liters)-that they would roll up and tape to their abdomen!  They also had to hand spike the bags for every exchange as there was no "ultrabag" system like Baxter has.  Pretty weird to imagine, and we think PD is a lot of work now....!!

[circleNthedrain]

Yep, I started PD (called CAPD then) in 1980. Spiked each bag and had the tubing changed once a month at clinic.  I would fold the bag and stuff it in my sock, with the tube running down my pant leg.  Also had a homemade belt with velcro with a pouch for the bag.  I could then wear the bag around my stomach under my shirt.  Worked great for me for over 9 years!  They eventually came up with the cycler, but I couldn't use it because my cath wouldn't drain lying down.

[KT0930]

Yep, I did CAPD in 1980-81, then switched to the cycler in about mid-1981. I didn't spike the bags myself, as I was 6-7 at the time, and there's no way I would have had the strenght...heck, Mom barely had the hand strength for it! But I clearly remember the cloth and velcro pouch that CircleN mentioned.

Honestly, I wouldn't have been able to tell you until reading peleroja's post that the bag I had taped to me was used as the drain bag the next time. I could tell you that we had to wear a mask during the whole exchange though, not just while hooking up; and whichever parent did the exchange for me had to scrub up to their elbows with Betadine and dry with paper towels.

As the old cigarette ads used to say...You've come a long way, baby! And thank goodness they have! 

[carla13]

I remember having to be 'masked up' every time i did an exchange! I also remember that the hospital gave me plastic forceps and told me to pull off the scab on my exit site once every week. I used to hate doing that (I was 19) I'm so glad I don't have to do THAT any more!!

xx