PD training center visit

[Willis]

Visited what is likely to be my PD training center today. Honestly, I picked this center to look into first because it is only 3 miles from my house and on the same route I take to work every day. The facility is only a few years old so very modern and clean and across the street from a hospital. They use BAXTER and that was a big selling point for me. The center director is an RN and she sat with my wife and I and answered all of our questions for over an hour...and she added information we hadn't thought to ask. The PD training is two weeks long and D will start as soon as I get my catheter (probably next week) and it heals a bit. This center does only PD.

Only downside to this is that I will have to change my nephrologist. It sounds like the new neph is good and I have my first appointment tomorrow. I really like my old neph but I have to drive over an hour one-way to his office. Also, his D center is 20 miles away in the downtown of the city and not the greatest place to be walking around at night. (Even the doc admitted this.) So this change will certainly be more convenient and take a lot less GAS.

But when I asked about having two nephs they just looked at me funny.

I think I might still check in with my old neph once in awhile to keep him in the loop and to offer a second opinion on things until I gain full confidence in the new doc. (Very quiet and discreetly of course!) 

 

[willowtreewren]

Good luck with your PD, Willis.

Aleta

[Jie]

They probably have training only for 2 or 3 hours a day; otherwise, it should not be 2 weeks long. I had 4 days of training, each lasting about 6 hours. This was longer than I needed. It is better off to let the exit site heal before to start PD. It takes about 2-3 weeks to heal.

[Kong]

I only trained for a week at 4 hours a day. It looks a little intimidating at first but it is really pretty simple. You'll be washing and sanitizing your hands more than anything else it seems. Good luck with everything.

[CHeatherS]

Blessings on all of this Willis.  I just brought home my cycler machine, and will use it tonight, once we get it set up.  I have been on manual exchange for about 3 weeks.  So I am new to all of this.  I am a PKD patient, so I don't have a lot of room in my abdomen for the whole prescribed fluid, but they have been working with me, and surprisingly compassionate and caring about my opinions and ideas.  I hope that you will like your new nephrologist, I am sorry you will lose the one you are used to. 

Heal and take care.

Heather