Are you on a cycler?

[KICKSTART]

Can i just ask those of you on cyclers what total UF's you are getting on average ?

[peleroja]

It depends on how much I drink during the day.  Most days, with all green, I get between 500 and 900.  The more I drink, the more I get out.  The nurses told me that if you're drinking "normally," you should be getting back 500 or more.  If I use a red I may get out as much as 1200.  Hope that helps. 

[Restorer]

My usual two bags of 2.5% (green) usually gets me between 700 and 1200 out. If a use one 2.5% and one 4.25%, I can get up to 1900 out. When I first started on the cycler, I was terribly fluid-overloaded, and a 2.5% + 4.25% took off 2100-2500 ml each of the first few nights.

[KICKSTART]

Peleroja,       Yes thanks , i just wanted a comparison of other peoples UF  Im really suprised i get an average of 14-1800 per night , sometimes up to 2300 ! Yes i still pass urine as well !  Wow mine seems a lot doesnt it ? and thats with green and orange bags. Also are you not on fluid restrictions ?

[Hanify]

If I use two greens it varies between 700 - 1200, if I use a yellow and a green it varies between 500 - 700.  I've never quite worked out why it changes so much.  I am pretty careful about my fluid intake.  I guess my body does different things with the fluid on different days. 

[peleroja]

If I use two greens it varies between 700 - 1200, if I use a yellow and a green it varies between 500 - 700.  I've never quite worked out why it changes so much. 

The lowest number (1.5%) contains the least amount of dextrose, which is what removes the fluid.  Less dextrose means less fluid removed.  As for me, I've never restricted my fluid while on PD, but then I don't drink all that much to begin with.  I just never seem to get thirsty.

[george40]

Since being back on the cycler I have averaged 600. Thats using 1 green (2.5% bag, 4 cycles, 1000ml fills) I will be going back to the full 2 bag treatment soon, so Ill report back.  BUt even when I was doing the full 2 bags, the total UF still only averaged 650 - 700. I do not restrict my fluids.

[Hanify]

Thanks Peleroja - I meant I wasn't sure why the uf varies when I use the same bags - i.e two nights in a row I'll use two greens, one night will pull off 700, the next night 1200.  That's the bit I don't quite understand.  I think I must just have drunk more without being aware of it.  Kind of like when I used to diet and not realise how much I'd eaten in a day.  Ha ha.

[prospector]

I use the Liberty cycler. When using two (2) green bags I get from 1500-1900 UF with a few into the 2000 range. I usually use a 1.5 in conjunction with a 2.5 and consistently get 1100-1300 UF. I ran out of green solution (2.5%) last week and used 2 yellows (1.5%). I was shocked to only get 325 UF return. Dialysis center couldn't offer a good explanation either. Everything went back to normal when the 2.5% solution was back in use.

[Restorer]

I was ultrafiltrating more my first month on the cycler. After my second episode of peritonitis, I think the way my peritoneum ultrafiltrates changed, and I started ultrafiltrating less. Whereas I was usually on one 1.5% bag and one 2.5%, I've had to go up to two 2.5% bags most nights. The last time I used two 1.5% bags, I got negative UF. I just had my first PET test and 24 hour collection since that change, so I'll have those results and know for sure in a couple days.

[Red from Canada]

I use 3-2.5 bags with 5 fills of 2500 each night and get between 1500 and 2000 UF.  I am on the Baxter cycler and have never restricted my fluid.

[KICKSTART]

I am really amazed that none of you seem to be on fluid restrictions ! I am sick of hearing  about watching my intake (limited to 1500) despite being dehydrated several times!

[paul.karen]

Do you pee alot kickstart?
I think that has alot to do with it.

[Red from Canada]

I was told that PD wasn't nearly as restrictive as hemo on either fluid or diet, and have never limited fluid.  I seem to take off whatever i take in during the day, even though I no longer pee.  I probably have 50 or 60 oz during the day, mostly ice water or black coffee.

[Hanify]

I'm like you Kickstart and am really careful with my fluid.  Maybe we need to experiment a bit and loosen up with it?  I will if you will.  It's never occurred to me that the machine will take off more if I drink more...I thought I just had to do as I was told ha ha.  Thanks IHD people.

[djgaryb11]

I use the Baxter Homechoice Cycler....Typically I use 2 - 6000 ml 2.5 % bags each night....and my UF is around 1000-1400 ....Sometimes I use one 2.5 %  6000 ml bag and one  6000 ml 4.25 % ...and when i do I usually get a UF around 2000-2300 ....Gary

[KICKSTART]

Before i went on the cycler i had a build up of fluid that wasnt visible and it was round my heart , which led to me having a heart attack, i was on fluid restrictions then ( i always have been) .They put me on the cycler at that time , hence my deciding to try it at home, but no one ever said i could increase my fluid intake. Im not sure about the more i drink the more the cycler will pull off, some mornings i get up feeling quite bloated to start with, as though im fluid overloaded. Im also suprised at how many different regimes we are all on.

[Ken Shelmerdine]

For the two years I was on the cycler I used the weakest bags over an 8 hour period  and got an average of 275mls. This doesn't seem a lot but I still pass a lot of fluid and my adequacy was 2.7 which the capd clinic said was way above adequate.

 Now I'm on haemo I don't allow them to take off any UF. If my kidneys are eventually going to stop producing urine I'd rather it start naturally than let the haemo accellerate it.

[Hanify]

Before i went on the cycler i had a build up of fluid that wasnt visible and it was round my heart , which led to me having a heart attack, i was on fluid restrictions then ( i always have been) .They put me on the cycler at that time , hence my deciding to try it at home, but no one ever said i could increase my fluid intake. Im not sure about the more i drink the more the cycler will pull off, some mornings i get up feeling quite bloated to start with, as though im fluid overloaded. Im also suprised at how many different regimes we are all on.

That's really frustrating Kickstart.  I only feel a bit bloated at the end of the day after having the extraneal in all day. That usually goes when I drain - usually about 2500. You almost sound like I felt when they tried doing 2.5l bags in me (because I'm tallish).  Any chance they could allow you to have less fluid in during the day?  Just a thought.  I'm also surprised about the different amounts/rules etc.  Strange.