PD Catheter and intestinal pain after eating.

[tinyspiko]

I just got my PD catheter placed last Friday. It has been five days and every time I eat, even soup, my insides hurt  . I can feel the food going through. Is this normal? I am very small, 4'11" and am wondering if I just don't have a lot of room in there. My Neph said the PD cath goes down in front of the intestines. Also, how long did it take for the swelling and pain to go away? Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Lisa]

Hello
What tpe of surgery did you have to place your cath?  I had mine placed laproscopically.  It took a week to get over the surgical pain.  I still haven't used it yet to dialyze yet but they have flushed in several times.  I am only 5" so I can tell you that I get a pulling pain in my groin when I am in certain positions and my PD nurse said it is probably rubbing on my bladder and when I start to keep fluid in for the dwell that pain will go away.  It very well could be a temporary thing.

[KICKSTART]

Regardless of size and weight it takes 6-8 weeks to heal internally from having a cath put in ! But i would like to ask ..where is the swelling? or do you have fluid in ? is that what you mean? Are you doing exchanges?

[GeeWillikers]

I had mine done last Tuesday and have already been using it...

I get a little pain when I eat too - nothing major, but I can tell that things aren't as they used to be.  I'm sure it's just a period of adjustment and in time I'll get used to it.

[tinyspiko]

Thanks for all the replies. Kickstart - you are right they told me 6-8 weeks for everything to heal internally. I had my surgery laproscopically. I had to start taking stool softeners. I also take in a ton of fiber to help. Some of the pain is from constipation and some from swelling/healing. I have Addison's and Hashimoto's. The Addison's is autoimmune so I heal much slower. Thanks again for the input and support. 

[clappedout]

I have been using mine for 3 months now and its just started to settle in. i found when you have at least 2 litres in your P..you tend to eat a lot less as you feel full more quickly...well I do anyway. I also had a severe pain in my shoulder...the team at the hospital tells me its quite common and is caused by cath touching nerves or something. the only cramping I have experienced so far is on an exchange when getting empty...

[jersey girl]

I've had pain like that, as well.  My neph told me the same thing, that when you are empty, the catheter sits on something inside and hurts. Once you start using it, it will float in the fluid.  That can also move it from where it is causing a problem.  Mine still moves sometimes and I o on tidal mode for a couple of weeks until it stops hurting when I drain.