PD and Hospitalization

[HouseOfDialysis]

Have any PD patients been hospitalized? I ask just in case this happens to me.

I'm not sure what the policy is, but if I happen to be in a hospital that isn't my usual one, say travelling, etc? Will a hospital generally have PD supplies? Or would their policy/insurance mandate hemodialysis over my present modality?

Would I be allowed to do PD myself, or would I be stopped from doing such things?

I'm just wondering, because I'd like to keep my fistula a virgin vein, by all means necessary.

[JLM]

I just got done with PD training and was told if you enter the hospital they have to get the supplies for you.  If they want you to bring the supplies then they cannor bill you insurance for them, because the insurance would be double billed.  We were told to contact the clinic and to let them know that you are in the hospital.  I say GOOD, let them work it out

[cookie2008]

when I was on pd and was in the hospital I brought my own supplies and my hubby helped me do my exchanges.

[lawphi]

It depends on your hospital.  My husband had a baxter catheter and supplies.  Our hospital used another brand.  Your dialysis nurse can provide you with the right connection that will hook onto your catheter and allow you to use the hospital's pd equipment and solution.  However, not all hospitals are equipped for PD.  You would either be transferred, use your own supplies or receive a permacatheter in your chest.

I would call your local hospitals and see what kind of dialysis service it offers.  If you are in a car accident, you can request to go to that facility. 

Keep in mind that if you need any kind of abdominal surgery, you will have to go on hemo for a few weeks.  In center Hemo sucks bad.  Home Hemo (Nxstage) closely resembles PD should you be stuck on hemo before you can find your kidney.

House, I hope you have gotten to CMC Charlotte for a secondary listing.  The average wait time is one year at that center. 

[cath-hater]

I think most hospitals are equipped to care for PD patients.  The only issue you may face is if the hospital is used to one over the other (Baxter over Fresenius or vise-versa), then that's when the adapter comes into play.

[*kana*]

Ha!  When I was hospitalized last time I had to provide my own machine and supplies.  My husband would bring them up for me daily.  My husband got called out of town and I was stuck in a hospital, not a rinky dink country one either, without someone to help me.  I had to call my clinic and they brought the supplies up to me.  I had my husband help me with the hook up etc because nobody knew a darn thing about PD. 

I felt that it was totally incompetent of them to not have a better plan in place for PD patients.  I have since moved and was given an adapter that works with all manual exchange bags at all the hospitals in the area.   I was told they don't carry PD solution for the cycler machines, just manual solution.

I think it is wise to ask around and see who offers what.  Most hospital visits are not planned and you might find yourself in a tricky situation.  I don't think most clinic are responsible to bring stuff to you.   

I say, plan a hospital stay like you'd plan a vacation.  You are on your own for the most part.     

[HouseOfDialysis]

Word. If I'm local, I'm gold. My hospital works in tandem with my clinic as my nephrologist is based there, not to mention the clinic is a hail mary pass away from the Nephrology Department.

[WishIKnew]

I've been in several times.  Here's what my situation was.

1.  The nurses know nothing about PD, but are interested in learning.  I've trained many! 

2.  They provided supplies and I was not allowed to bring my own.

3.  I did all of my own PD care.  They sometimes watched to learn but not to help.

4.  They do not have machines - I could only do manual exchanges.

Wish you luck!!!!!

[Lillupie]

well,
 3 years ago, I went to visit my friend in Florida, and ended up with fluid overload and couldnt get rid of the fluid. So I was in the hospital. They didnt use Baxter, and I do. The nurse told me that I could of brought in my machine and supplies. I guess it all depends on what you were having done. They werent putting medicine in my bags, not that i can remember, but I went into the ER because every area of my body was swelled up, and I went on a Sunday, so noone who knew PD was there. And the next day the nurse told me i could of brought in my own supplies. Ugh! Now you tell me

Lisa

[cath-hater]

Lili -

Did they do ANYTHING for you other than suggest you do PD to take out the fluid? If they didn't really do anything for you and tell you that you could have bought in your machine and supplies, I don't see the point of checking into the hospital at all. You could do PD at home all just the same rather than doing it at the hospital.

Did they do anything to to help you take out the excess fluid? Give you medication?