Darn Peritonitis

[rookiegirl]

I've been on PD for 374 days free of any severe complications.  Just when I thought I was doing great, this happened.  My 375th days on PD it happened to me.  Saturday, Nov 1. I woke up did my exchange and felt fine.  Six hours later, I started having stomach ache and kept getting worst.  Called the PD Nurse and was told to drain some of my fluid to see if my bag was cloudy.  Sure enough, it was a little cloudy.  Then I was told to go immediately to the emergency room.  My husband drove me to the emergency which was an hour away from home.  The whole time on the way to the hospital, I'm screaming to the top of my lung because the pain was so intense.  I felt like someone is constantly stabbing me in the stomach.

To make this story short.  I was in the hospital for 4 days being treated for the infection.  They put Cefephine in my dialysis solution. I have to take this antibiotics for 2 weeks.  The cause of my infection is due to my Constipation.  E. Coli (Gram Negative) is what they found in the culture.  I'm thankful to God the type of bug is not the kind that leaves film on the catheter.  If so, they would have to remove my existing cath and replace it to the other side of my abdomen. While the new cath heal, I would have to go on hemo which will require a permacath.  So I'm relieved to find out it's not that kind of bug.

I was released from the hospital on Wednesday and next day went to the dialysis center so they can train me on how to mix the antibiotics and administer it to my solution.  Either do it myself or drive 1 hour each day for 2 weeks.  I chose to do it myself.

After 2 treatment of antibiotics, the pain is gone.  It just came out of no where.  No signs, no warnings, nothing until it was too late.  I've learned my lesson on how important it is to control constipation while on PD.

Just wanted to share and give some heads up on other reasons to what causes peritonitis.

Thanks RG

P.S.  I spent my birthday in the hospital in pain.  But, thanks to some morphine, it helped me get through it all.

[okarol]

Happy belated birthday. Sounds like you and Brightsky had similar experiences - the same week too!
I hope you get rid of the infection. 

[ODAT]

Hey rookiegirl, I can relate to the pain you experienced. I had salmonella and was in the hospital for 2 weeks! Man, that is seriously distressing to have such extreme pain for days. My friend and I ate out and got steak and strawberry margaritas. She vomited and didn't go to the hospital. I was the other way. I couldn't eat and just sat there holding my stomach moaning and screaming. My husband said 'I'm taking you to the hospital.' I didn't argue.

Happy that you didn't need to get another cath. And Happy Belated Birthday! 

hmmmm...I don't remember getting morphine - I got gypped!

[george40]

rookiegirl,  I am completing my first week of pd training and the nurse keeps stressing to make sure to look out for constipation. Your situation drives home what she has been saying repeatedly all week. Thanks for sharing your story and I am glad you are feeling better.

[monrein]

   Nasty experience rookiegirl.  Glad the pain is gone and I hope everything is completely back to normal very soon.

[Rerun]

I'm glad you are better and I hope they gave you something for the constipation.

                                                     

[lola]

glad your feeling better.

[paris]

I am sorry for the extreme pain, it sounds horrible.  Hopefully you will keep feeling better every day.  North Carolina girls are strong!!   We really need to plan an NC get together!  Take care 

[rookiegirl]

I'm glad you are better and I hope they gave you something for the constipation.

                                                     

They gave me prescription of Sorbitol (sweet,syrup).  It makes you really really go.  I can't complain because I need it.  After that for now on Dulcolax stool softner everyday always and always.  I also stock my pantry with dried prunes and prune juice.  The prune juice is okay don't love it.

[Sluff]

I'm sorry you had to experience these complications. Hope you are on the road to recovery.     Happy Belated Birthday RG.

[RCA]

How does constipation cause peritonitis?  I can see if you're constipated, your intestine may push the catheter out of position but having a difficult time figuring out how the bacteria from the colon would "leak out" and cause peritonitis 

[Joe Paul]

Glad you are feeling better 

[george40]

How does constipation cause peritonitis?  I can see if you're constipated, your intestine may push the catheter out of position but having a difficult time figuring out how the bacteria from the colon would "leak out" and cause peritonitis 

My pd nurse warned repeatedly during training of watching out for constipation. She explained something like...  when stool doesnt move, it pushes and stretches the colon walls. It will push and stretch and cause weak spots in the colon for infection and bacteria to get through to the abdominal cavity.

[pelagia]

Hope you are feeling 100% really soon 

[RCA]

How does constipation cause peritonitis?  I can see if you're constipated, your intestine may push the catheter out of position but having a difficult time figuring out how the bacteria from the colon would "leak out" and cause peritonitis 

My pd nurse warned repeatedly during training of watching out for constipation. She explained something like...  when stool doesnt move, it pushes and stretches the colon walls. It will push and stretch and cause weak spots in the colon for infection and bacteria to get through to the abdominal cavity.

Thanks George40.  That's a scary thought...that things in the colon may leak out to the abdominal cavity!  Hope you had a great first week of PD!  Are you still considering getting the cycler?

[rookiegirl]

How does constipation cause peritonitis?  I can see if you're constipated, your intestine may push the catheter out of position but having a difficult time figuring out how the bacteria from the colon would "leak out" and cause peritonitis 

My pd nurse warned repeatedly during training of watching out for constipation. She explained something like...  when stool doesnt move, it pushes and stretches the colon walls. It will push and stretch and cause weak spots in the colon for infection and bacteria to get through to the abdominal cavity.

George thanks for giving the explanation.  This is exactly what happened to me.  The E. Coli bacteria is what they determined from the culture they grew from my dialysis solution.  It took them 4 days to grow and determine it was Gram Negative Bacteria E. Coli.

So far, I'm doing really great.  No pain, no constipation.  In fact, I feel much better than before the peritonitis incident.  The pain I use to have on my side is no longer there.  I guess it was due to the constipation.

I have to say, I'm a bit paranoid now that this happened to me.  I've been surfing the web and reading up on the issues for peritonitis.  Some of what I've read, I don't like.  There was one article that said once you get peritonitis that you are prone to get it again.  I pray NOT.  Others say that most people get it once every 15 months.  I pray NOT.

I was told by one of my PD Nurse, they have a woman in the clinic going on 15 years with no peritonitis.  I really want to meet her and pick her brains on how she went for so long without complications from infections.

[george40]

RCA, I trained on the cycler this week. I'm supposed to give it a try tonight.

How does constipation cause peritonitis?  I can see if you're constipated, your intestine may push the catheter out of position but having a difficult time figuring out how the bacteria from the colon would "leak out" and cause peritonitis 

My pd nurse warned repeatedly during training of watching out for constipation. She explained something like...  when stool doesnt move, it pushes and stretches the colon walls. It will push and stretch and cause weak spots in the colon for infection and bacteria to get through to the abdominal cavity.

Thanks George40.  That's a scary thought...that things in the colon may leak out to the abdominal cavity!  Hope you had a great first week of PD!  Are you still considering getting the cycler?

[djgaryb11]

Sorry to hear about your complications. My nurse also has really stressed the constipation issue also.  I have been on PD a month now, doing it the manual way, and I train for the cycler in 2 days.  I will be very aware of the constipation issue, and so far I have been very "regular", and my PD nurse also had me get Sorbitol to use if I ever get constipated.  It Works ! I used a few days after my surgery, it it did the trick ! ....Gary B.

[rookiegirl]

Sorry to hear about your complications. My nurse also has really stressed the constipation issue also.  I have been on PD a month now, doing it the manual way, and I train for the cycler in 2 days.  I will be very aware of the constipation issue, and so far I have been very "regular", and my PD nurse also had me get Sorbitol to use if I ever get constipated.  It Works ! I used a few days after my surgery, it it did the trick ! ....Gary B.

Gary - Wish you the best on the cycler.

[okarol]

I hope you can avoid any more infections rookiegirl. Take care!
 

[rookiegirl]

I finished the last dose of antibotics this week.  I'm feeling much much better.  I go back in 2 weeks to have my fluid test and blood work, just to make sure the infection is completely gone.  I pray to God I don't get it anymore or no time soon.  Especially, I'm only 2 weeks away from going on my 1st time Cruise.

Thank you all for the nice comments.