First Time on Cycler

[murf]

A Red letter day today. Had my first session on the cycler machine using balanced bags. Went without a hitch. Now have the rest of the day to myself. However, I must be careful of my fluid intake as it doesn't seem to take off as much as the manual exchange (even using three green bags).

[Lillupie]

I think there is a possibility that after awhile you will be able to use yellows.  THe cycler actually takes off mroe then doing manuals. The colors are for the colors are for the amount of fluid used or needed to take off the dwell time is the amount of toxins being removed.
 I hope you can always stay with the cycler. I am on it and I love it.

Lisa

[billybags]

Hi Murf welcome to the world of the cycler.My husband finds this is so much easier than manual, as you say you have all day to your self. I am glad your first night went ok, wait until you get the alarms you will sh** your self, I know we did. The alarms don't half make you jump and then you scramble for the booklet to see what is going off. Most of the time it is because you are laying on your tubing so you just turn over and it stops. Last night we had one it said "check your position" we just rolled because if it had been the night before we would have thought it was watching us "if you get my drift". You will get used to the different colored bags and when to use which. My husband is on 2 green, 1 yellow and an extraneal to finish off. He still has to do a manual at tea time. We are going away to-morrow and it is our first time taking the machine, the fluids have been delivered to the hotel and all we have to take is the bits and bobs, and the machine I will let you know how we go on.I wish you luck with it.

[RainingRoses]

Hi, Murf, I think you'll love the freedom of the cycler.  To me the only downer is the time it takes to hook up at night (when I'm tired and weary).  You'll learn to plan for that hook-up time, and it's so lovely to have the day to yourself.  I've been on a cycler for almost 3 years:  first 2 were Fresenius and last year was Baxter.  Both work well.

I use 2 yellow bags and run for about 9 hours.
Pete in Atlanta

[-Lady Noir-]

That's a tad bizarre, as Mike seems to get alot better UF's on the cycler than doing manual.
Enjoy the freedom! 

[peleroja]

Interestingly, I find I need to drink more fluid on the cycler.  Your body needs a certain amount of fluid to stay hydrated.  If it doesn't get it from fluid you drink, it will take it from the dialysate, which contains dextrose.  Try increasing your fluid intake and see if that helps with your numbers on the machine.  Just a thought.

[Jie]

I think that the reason that the cycler took off less fluid than the manual is that the cycler did not completely drained. 
This relates to the setting of the cycler as well as the body position. The maximum amount of fluid takingout is with a dwell time of a little more than a hour, so the cycler should take out more fluid than the manual.  Please try to do a manual drain on the morning to see how much more fluid can be drained out.

[*kana*]

I used to do manuals and would take off about 5#'s of fluid with 4 exchanges.  I had to drink fluids and potassium like crazy because I would drop both fast.  I cycle at night and only draw off 1pound of fluid which works better for me.