Forced to switch from Baxter home Choice to Fresenius Liberty Cycler

[WishIKnew]

I've been on PD for 3 and a half year with my Baxter Home Choice machine.  It works.  I've become very comfortable with the delivery man, the process, and the outcome.  No problems.  My clinic, which trained me on the Baxter machine, ss a Fresenius clinic.  They have now discontinued their contract with Baxter and are requiring all of us to switch to the Liberty. 

I've had two different orientation's on the Liberty and am not impressed.   So, I'm venting because I really have no choice (I've been a hold out and am the only one left at the unit on Baxter.  I must train and get onto the Liberty by April first!)  I've asked about switching clinics, but the only other ones are further away and I'd have to also switch nephrologists.  I've been with my nephrologist for over 20 year... 

Anyway, I needed to vent!  I would also LOVE it if any of you use the Liberty and have good stories to tell.  I know two people who use the Liberty.  One was a high school friend who ended up at the same dialysis clinic as me.  She was a good girl and was the first one at our clinic who agreed to switch over to the Liberty two years ago (see, I've been a real hold out!).  She hated it, had a lot of alarms and peritonitis for the first time shortly after she switched.  She got a transplant last May and everything went wrong.  She died in October for transplant complications.

 The other person I know is my brother.  He'd been on hemo for over a year and I finally convinced him to try PD.  They started him on the Liberty and he hated it - said it alarmed all night long and he got very frustrated.  He quit trying to use it after a short time and now does just manual exchanges.  So, my anecdotal research is very negative!

So, as I said, venting and seeking something positive to cling to during this change I don't want to make...

Diane

[dh514]

I too was on the Baxter machine for two years and was forced to change to the Liberty in October. The first month I hated it, after three nights I got a error message that they could not fix and had to swap out machines. For the first two to three weeks in beeped on every cycle, some times I was still laying flat on my back having not gone to sleep from the previous beeps. It rarely beeps now and  I have become comfortable with the new system and new people.

One positive thing and I have no idea why, nor do my nurses, using the 1.5 solution only it pulls off much more fluid than the
Baxter did and I can now drink whatever I want. Again I have no idea why.
I also did kinetics last month and they were a l2.33 and the highest they ever were on the Baxter was 2.01, and  I seem to feel a lot better.

I understand your frustration completely I did not want to change either but once I opened my mind to it, it all  worked out.


 

[*kana*]

I've never used the Baxter so I can't compare the two.  What I have learned is they are working on the alarm issues and the newer software versions are better then the older ones.  I've had this particular machine for about a year now. 

I used to alarm 11-14 times a night and was forced to go on disability because I just couldn't get up and go to work with such little sleep on top of ESRD.  Don't laugh, but I think the Liberty is very sensitive to constipation issues.  I had a BM twice a day so I didn't think that was my problem at all.  I started taking stool softners and I don't hardly get any alarms anymore.   
Sometimes I will be laying there still from beginning of the drain cycle til almost the end and I will get a drain alarm.  I didn't move even my little finger so I don't know why it alarmed.  That makes me a little crazy.  The alarm on this machine is also a PITA because even on the lowest, it is loud.     

I think new things are always scary, but the Liberty isn't a bad machine at all.  Best of luck!

[WishIKnew]

So not looking forward to this switch!  My machine rarely alarms now and if it does it's because I rolled over onto the tubing.  I just roll over and never really wake up!  How do you get used to something that beeps even 3 or 4 times a night.  Interrupted sleep can't be healthy!  Oh, woe is me!

[WishIKnew]

Training on the Liberty on the 15th and 16th of March.  Yipee 

[dh514]

If you are already on the Baxter you will not need a lot of training. I did mine at my monthly nurses visit and all of it only took a couple of hours. The liberty tells you step by step what to do on the screen. You will need a new patient extension as the end for this machine is different than the Baxter.

My machine has not beeped at all for the last two nights.

[WishIKnew]

Talking with oneo fmy nurses about thge awitch.  Even she told me thay are having problems with the Liberty.  The big selling point was the computer chip  but now they are removing the chips until they can "work out the problems".

I know, wah, wah, wah......

Can you tell how much I'm looking forward to this!

[WishIKnew]

Just venting...

Got my first Liberty/Fresenius delivery yesterday...  So much ore stuff!  three bags a night instead of just two because their bags are smaller.   GRRRR.  Training is Tues and Wed.   

Really dreading the change....  GRRRRRR

[lawphi]

We were forced to switch from Baxter to Liberty after we moved for my job.

My husband decided to do manual exchanges verses the Liberty.  The Liberty was very sensitive to the bed height.  We rarely went a night with just two alarms.  The darn thing worked perfectly in a hospital bed though. 

There was also an incident where it over filled.

[WishIKnew]

 

Training today....  I hate the Liberty!  So obviuosly made by someone who NEVER has to use it.  Push a button, wait......, push a button, wait......, push a button, wait.......  Oh my God!!!!!

I know, waa, waa, waa

Back tomorrow for more training!!!!!

[WishIKnew]

Just running my own thread here of frustration and self pity!  LOL

Finished training this morning - got to go back for the transfer set to be switched out and I start with my Liberty machine tonight.  HATE it!

Hate that I have no choice in the matter.  Feeling sold down the river!      

[WishIKnew]

This thread has really become a blog of my anxiety about this change!  But, maybe someday someone else will read it and it will help them with their change over 

So, last night was our first night with the Liberty and it went great.  I how to set it all up with no glitches.  My husband helped me by putting the cart together and helping sort out and get rid of all the old Baxter stuff.  The hook up was smooth and not one alarm all night long.  I'm feeling MUCH better today about it all, it's going to be OK, I think.

Did have an interesting phone conversation with my kidney Dr. yesterday.  He says he really does not like Fresenius as a company, but they are the future of PD.  Interesting.....

All is well here right now!

[WishIKnew]

second night = bad night!  4 alarms between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. when I turned it off.  Plus on the first fill it pumped air into me.  Ouch!  Have you ever experienced that?  My right shoulder is screaming still!

the Liberty is 1 for 2

[Silverstar]

Hi Diane,
I got a letter today informing me that Fresenius has purchased the dialysis center from our local hospital. I'm guessing that I'll have to trade my Baxter home Choice for a Fresenius too. I hope the new machine works out for you and will be watching this thread with anticipation. I've only used the Baxter for a few months and was really just getting used to it. I've had nearly no problems with alarms but have a heck of a time trying to get much sleep on it anyway.

Hoping you are able to work the bugs out before I have to switch.

[Savemeimdtba]

i've never used anything but the liberty so i can't really compare.. but I haven't had any HUGE problems.  I have bad nights every now and then of course (the machine only works if I sleep on my right side... lame) and during that time of the month there are major cramping / drain pain issues but other than that - it's been good... I don't have very many alarms unless I lay on the catheter or the machine is in a bad mood (love / hate relationship, see ) I much prefer it to manuals though!  For the most part I sleep through the night!

[WishIKnew]

Thanks for chiming is Silver and SaveMe!

Here's my update.  Night 3 was OK, two alarms, but they were just me on the tubing.  I don't like that I have to push buttons to get the Liberty  going  again after that - with the Baxter I just roll over and it tries again and gets what it needs and leaves me alone.

So, the day after night three I got the worst case of peritonitis I've ever had.   

I've had peritonitis before twice but not at all in the last two years.  It came on quick and I was REALLY sick.  They had my husband bring me into the clinic and gave me antibiotics in my bag.  That was Saturday.  Today I am much better.  I was not admitted to the hospital and will be adding antibiotics to my bags for 21 days.  They switched me back to my Baxter machine because I'm most comfortable with it.  They still had my machine at the clinic and I have a week's worth of solution still.  After this week, I believe I will be retrained and switch back to the Liberty.  They are saying that it is probably their fault I got sick.  I probably did something wrong in the set up which they did not train me adequately for....  I don't know.  I was soooo careful, especially because everything was so new to me.  Anyway.  They sent the fluid away to the lab to see what bacterias got me, so we'll find out.

That's my story so far.....  I will add that now I'm even more leary of the Liberty.....

Diane

[*kana*]

second night = bad night!  4 alarms between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. when I turned it off.  Plus on the first fill it pumped air into me.  Ouch!  Have you ever experienced that?  My right shoulder is screaming still!

the Liberty is 1 for 2

You need to hit the back button atleast 3 times on the last screen, before hookup, or you will get air....lots of air.  Do it everytime and also look to see if the fluid is all the way up in the tube.  It is worse if you have the all in one longer cassette set up. 

[WishIKnew]

kana - thanks for the tip!  I retrain on the Liberty Friday and switch back that night to the Liberty.  Did they give you this tip in your training or did yoo learn it the hard way?  How long have you used the liberty?

Diane

[WishIKnew]

Just me complaining again but, I really hate the Liberty.   

I've missed more dialysis treatments in the few short weeks I've been on the Liberty than I had in the three and a half years I did the Baxter machine.  Last night the cart moved and the machine came unplugged.  Of course with the Liberty that means a whole new 20 minute  set up....while my poor husband was trying to sleep.  Oh, forget it!!!!!  Very frustrated with the Liberty!!!!!     Still doing antibiotics for the peritonitis I got right after I switched....    RANT RANT RANT!!!!!!!!!!   

WHY DON'T I, THE PATIENT, HAVE A CHOICE? 

[*kana*]

No, they didnt give me that tip in training because I trained, and started out with the shorter 2 part tubing.   I needed the longer 25 foot 1 piece set up to reach the bathroom so learned about the air the hard way, and very painful way.   

I sometimes have to hit it 4 times and I always look to see that the fluid is all the way up into the end cap .

I've been on the Liberty since Nov 09 and don't know anything else.  I did manual exchanges before that.  I used to work full time and I really think using the Liberty made it nearly impossible for me to continue.  My sleep is too broken up to get a healthy nights sleep and get up and work full time.

I hope that it gets better for you.  I darn near kicked mine through the wall last night because it acted up all night long.     

[sico]

I know two people who use the Liberty.  One was a high school friend who ended up at the same dialysis clinic as me.  She was a good girl and was the first one at our clinic who agreed to switch over to the Liberty two years ago (see, I've been a real hold out!).  She hated it, had a lot of alarms and peritonitis for the first time shortly after she switched.  She got a transplant last May and everything went wrong.  She died in October for transplant complications.

Thats really sad to hear.

Anyway, I was lucky never had to change from Baxter.

[lawphi]

Kana:  We had the same nightly issues with the liberty.  THe one night we went alarm free was in the hospital.  I imagine the height of the bed and a light inclined position assists the machine.
 

[WishIKnew]

Well, Friday night I had terrible cramping and a cloudy bag, even though I'm on day 19 of antibiotics for peritonitis...  Anyway, they admitted me to the hospital.  My cell count was over 3,000.  The lab results came back with a negative culture, which makes no sense, but they loaded me with antibiotics. I'm feeling better and got to come home last night.  So, that was eventful.  It all started after my third night on the Liberty.  They put me back on Baxter to heal.  Then I got sick again during the third night after being switched back to the Liberty....hmmmm  coincidence???

[cath-hater]

My clinic is suggesting I switch from Fresenius to Baxter.  I had a question for anyone who can answer it.  I see pics of peoples' Baxter setup at home and I only see 1 bag being placed on top of the machine and the second or third bags being placed by a bedside table or shelf.  Are you allowed to place only one bag on the machine itself? 

[WishIKnew]

yes, cath-hater, one bag on the top heater of the Baxter.  It fills from that bag and then pumps from the other bag into the top heater bag before filling you again from that bag.  Hope that made sense.