Transition from PD to Hemo or PD to Transplant

[peleroja]

In the past several people have mentioned that when doing manual PD exchanges they feel a pain when they are almost empty.  For me it was more of a "gentle ache," as if something was missing.  Recently I had to have my PD catheter removed due to peritonitis, and am temporarily on hemo.  Unfortunately, that "gentle ache" is now a 100% of the time thing for me, and it's becoming rather annoying.

Has anyone found something they can do to alleviate that feeling?  I hesitate to take pain medication because it's not really a pain.  I really don't wanna feel like this for the next couple of months!  Any assistance will be appreciated.

[george40]

Sometimes its positional. Sitting more on the hipbone seems to help with the pain. Have you figured out how you got the peritonitis? I am always concerned about this. I hope you feel better.

[peleroja]

George, the peritonitis was caused by an infected abdominal hernia I didn't even know I had.  My doctor tells me I'm "still a PD virgin" since nothing I did wrong caused the peritonitis.  Unfortunately, it was a particularly bad strain of bacteria, hence the removal of my PD catheter temporarily.

[Restorer]

I've had two similar pains - one is the usual "drain pain" I get when I'm actively draining and almost empty. That goes away as soon as I clamp the catheter or otherwise stop the draining process. The other pain I think is more like what you're describing, and I only get it occasionally. Usually it happens when I'm lying down, or especially when I've (naughty naughty) missed an exchange and I've reabsorbed a lot of fluid, hence being more empty. I've always associated it with an uncomfortable position of the catheter - maybe it's floated around, or moved due to gravity when I was empty. But that's obviously not your case, as you no longer have a catheter to shift around.

How long do you have to be on hemo before they put in a new catheter?

[peleroja]

How long do you have to be on hemo before they put in a new catheter?

I have an appointment with my neph on Jan. 22, so I suspect she will refer me back to the surgeon at that time.  Then it's just a question of when he's free to do the surgery.  I figure by March or April I should be back on PD.

[BigSteve]

  I wouldn't say this to anyone who wasn't a friend, but do you think this could be "phantom pain" similar to what amputee's get?

[peleroja]

  I wouldn't say this to anyone who wasn't a friend, but do you think this could be "phantom pain" similar to what amputee's get?

I hadn't thought about that, Steve; you may be right as it seems to be going away.  You gonna be there Saturday?

[thegrammalady]

  I wouldn't say this to anyone who wasn't a friend, but do you think this could be "phantom pain" similar to what amputee's get?

I hadn't thought about that, Steve; you may be right as it seems to be going away.  You gonna be there Saturday?

just call me nosy, but what's happening saturday

[BigSteve]

This Saturday is the annual potluck holiday meeting of our local (south Los Angeles Co) kidney support group Kidney Beings.
We meet the third Saturday of each month at the Kaiser hospital in Bellfrower, CA.  I'll be there, pereroja will also and we always have good
meetings, especially for those new to dialysis who are normally left in the dark by their doctors about dialysis. Steve

[peleroja]

Visitors from other states are always welcome.  I even have a couch you can sleep on!