anyone on the PD cycler?

[Lillupie]

ok,
 I am on Baxter for over the last year now. I have 2 bags and a 2000ml of a last bag fill. The cassette that I get usually has 3 tubes, well 5 all together. One on the right is for the drain line or a drain bag, the next 3 to the left of the drain line one, each go to each bag that I have (3 bags, 3 lines), and the last one goes to me.
 Well Baxter sent me a 4 prong cassette. Well the drain line oin this one is so short that I need 2 drain extensions to get to the toilet, instead of one.
 Not only that, but with this 4 prong cassette the tubest with the white clamps split to a V, and I am really not sure.
 It just makes me mad that all this time, I got used to the 3 prong cassettes and now I got surprised with a 4 prong. It should not make that much of a difference but it kind of does.

Anyone else get this change too??
This is to Baxter. I HATE BAXTER
Lisa








EDITED:Moved to PD/Home dialysis section-kitkatz,Moderator

[-Lady Noir-]

Well the drain line oin this one is so short that I need 2 drain extensions to get to the toilet, instead of one.

Hi Lisa
Just wondering if Baxter supply you with opticaps, for if you need to use the toilet in the night etc. [Probably a daft question considering you are filled during the day, you probably use an opyicap then right?]

Here in NZ, there has been no change with the cassettes.. i wonder why they would bother. Sounds frustrating!

[Jie]

Well, I have not opened my new box yet. I have always used three prong cassette. I think there are always 4-prong cassette too. If your prescription is 3-prong, and they send you 4 prong, it is a mistake. Baxter should exchange for you for free if it is a mistake.

[-Lady Noir-]

For free? Excuse my ignorance here, but are there costs involved with Baxter where you are from?

[KICKSTART]

Sorry cant help you there i used to use 8 prong ones !!! If you feel its wrong then contact your supplier and double check.

[peleroja]

Let's see now, my cassette has the patient line on the far left, next is a blue one which I use for the Extraneal, then is a double pronged one, and it doesn't make any difference which prong goes on which bag to the right of the machine; lastly is the red heater line which connects to the bag on the cycler.  It's always been that way for me.  I agree, though; if you think they made a mistake, call them and ask.

[Jie]

For free? Excuse my ignorance here, but are there costs involved with Baxter where you are from?

if it is the mistake by Baxter, Baxter should replace it free. It does not matter where it occurs. Any co. should replace it free, not just Baxter.

[-Lady Noir-]

Oh, what i meant to say was, do you have to pay for your dialysis equipment? I was confused when you said they would replace it for free, cause here in NZ everything from Baxter is free anyway.

[tito]

Dialysis supplies may be free to the patient, but insurance is covering it. With my insurance, I get one delivery per month of all that I need. If I miscalculate and have to order something in the middle of the month, Baxter bills the PD clinic. I've never been in this situation, but perhaps the PD clinic would bill me for my mistake?

My PS clinic is part of Dialysis Clinic, Inc, even though it is located at Faulkner Hospital in Boston (part of Brigham and Women's). They are non-profit, so I know if they incurred any additional Baxter charges because of me, it would affect them.

[-Lady Noir-]

I see. Sorry for the silly questions, it's obvious that healthcare in the states is very different to NZ. Hence the confusion. 

[vivisfab]

Hey Lisa. I use the same cartridge you do. Like you said, the first one starting from the right is the drain tube and my pd nurse taught me, red, white, blue and you. I was recently in the hospital and they used the same cassette you described. they said the v line was for filling antibiotics into a bag. Sounds like baxter sent you the wrong cassettes. Hope that helps.

[sico]

Hey Lisa,

I've been with baxter on the cycler for over 12 months now and always used 4 prong cassettes here. I only use two bags at night.

The drain line with the white clamp that splits into a V has that there to connect a fluid sample bag. Something that i've never used.
As far as it being short goes, i drain into a 30lt drum that i rinse out with bleach every day.

[jeannea]

I get cassettes with 5 prongs like you described.  But my dialysis nurse showed me that Baxter was changing the cassettes and bags so that it would be a twist on to connect instead of poking the bags.  Baxter told me last week that I would get the new ones with my next order.  But I don't know if they have 4 or 5 prongs.  I'll get them next week.  You could call your nurse instead of Baxter if you think that would be more helpful.

Jeanne

[-Lady Noir-]

Far out, what a tidy little set up you have there Brad! And that drum for draining.. genius!

[Lillupie]

I dont get why you drain into that thing. I dont have that. Mine does straight into the toilet.

Lisa
 drain into a 30lt drum that i rinse out with bleach every day.
[/quote]

[sico]

I dont get why you drain into that thing. I dont have that. Mine does straight into the toilet.

Lisa
 drain into a 30lt drum that i rinse out with bleach every day.

[/quote]

I guess its my unit saving costs on drain bags or longer drain lines, thats what they get all their patients to do regardless.
And having the drum its easy to inspect for cloudy fluid. 30lt is overkill, only need 15 probably.

I get cassettes with 5 prongs like you described.  But my dialysis nurse showed me that Baxter was changing the cassettes and bags so that it would be a twist on to connect instead of poking the bags.  Baxter told me last week that I would get the new ones with my next order.  But I don't know if they have 4 or 5 prongs.  I'll get them next week.  You could call your nurse instead of Baxter if you think that would be more helpful.

Jeanne

Mine have always been a twist to connect here in Australia.

Far out, what a tidy little set up you have there Brad! And that drum for draining.. genius!

I like to be organised hey. I have since moved it to the foot of my bed so the humming and light don't bother me at all.
Mike uses a drain bag i think. Just over 2 weeks now Nik 

 

[-Lady Noir-]

 

Oh, Mike puts a t-shirt over the machine, which helps with the light.. 

[Red from Canada]

With Baxter Home choice cycler, there is a program to dim the lights.  It is in the manual.  Mine goes dim after 2 mins and will only light up again if you press the down arrow.

[-Lady Noir-]

We nagged our nurse to dim the lights on the pro-card so that it's always low, but problem is, Mike can't sleep with any light.. so the t-shirt does the trick 

[tito]

I had heard that Baxter was changing the way in which bags are connected to the cassette tubing. I was given a nifty little mechanical gadget which does the connection. You put set the end of the tube into one slot, and the tube from the bag into another. Then you take off the rubber cover from the bag's tube, close a clear plastic lid and pull a lever back then forward. It automatically takes the cover off the cassette tubing and inserts it into the bag.

I don't know if all this will change.

No air or germs can get inside the device with the lid closed, and you are not actually touching any part of the tubing. Apparently this has reduced infections substantially. We've had nephrology fellows from all around the world looking at this.

[Lillupie]

Hey I was wondering could you possiblt take a picture of this device you are talking about?

thanks, Lisa

I had heard that Baxter was changing the way in which bags are connected to the cassette tubing. I was given a nifty little mechanical gadget which does the connection. You put set the end of the tube into one slot, and the tube from the bag into another. Then you take off the rubber cover from the bag's tube, close a clear plastic lid and pull a lever back then forward. It automatically takes the cover off the cassette tubing and inserts it into the bag.

I don't know if all this will change.

No air or germs can get inside the device with the lid closed, and you are not actually touching any part of the tubing. Apparently this has reduced infections substantially. We've had nephrology fellows from all around the world looking at this.

[sico]

I had heard that Baxter was changing the way in which bags are connected to the cassette tubing. I was given a nifty little mechanical gadget which does the connection. You put set the end of the tube into one slot, and the tube from the bag into another. Then you take off the rubber cover from the bag's tube, close a clear plastic lid and pull a lever back then forward. It automatically takes the cover off the cassette tubing and inserts it into the bag.

I don't know if all this will change.

No air or germs can get inside the device with the lid closed, and you are not actually touching any part of the tubing. Apparently this has reduced infections substantially. We've had nephrology fellows from all around the world looking at this.

Are you talking about the Ez-Aide Assist Device?
Thats on a DVD i got from baxter, think it's good if you are elderly and have the shakes or bad athiritis.
I reckon it'd be more of a hassle to set the machine up with it.

[tito]

Hi Lisa,

Here is a picture of the little gizmo. It is very simple to use, not a hassle at all, and it adds one more layer of antimicrobial protection to PD - I'd rather use this than get peritonitis.

[Jie]

I thought this device is the standard tool for cyclers. I did not have it during the first week because it arrived late. It is better to use it.

I forgot to bring my 3 prong tubing with my trip this week and had to borrow from a clinic. It is 4 prong, instead of 3 prong. Without the 22 feet tubes, 4 prong is not as good as 3 prong to move around a room.