Dialysis Newbie needs help!

[Sonarman2]

I've been on dialysis since mid June, 2011. I started out on manual PD. My center said today that beginning the third week of August I'll be going for training on a machine that will work overnight. I have such limited experience I would appreciate any input from you folks. I've spent enough time on the site that I can see it's a great resource for like me. Please take a minute to help a poor ignorant "newbie". 
Doug

[boswife]

I dont know about PD but i know theres some REALL good helpful people here that are gonna help ya out    And, from what I hear, your gonna love the overnighter    Lotsa luck to you, and welcome to our happy home 

[HouseOfDialysis]

What you are talking about is called a "cycler". I've been on mine long enough to know that I prefer it over manuals. What questions do you have?

[Sonarman2]

I dont know about PD but i know theres some REALL good helpful people here that are gonna help ya out    And, from what I hear, your gonna love the overnighter    Lotsa luck to you, and welcome to our happy home 

I'm still trying to figure out how to respond to messages that are left for me. Sorry for the ignorance to peculiarities of this great site. S2

[boswife]

well your already doing better than me..  i cant seem to figure how to "   "  quote someone..lol       

[Sonarman2]

well your already doing better than me..  i cant seem to figure how to "   "  quote someone..lol     

Hmmm..."I" may have figured it out. Thanks boswife.

[lmunchkin]

Wow, me too, Boswife!  For the life of me, I don't know how to pull up quotes either.  Maybe in another thread, huh?  S2, my husband did PD for 5 years, partly manuals and lastly the "cycler".  He liked them both!  There is this little learning process of the cycler, but it really is no biggie!  I too was nervous about it, because Im not computer saavy like others, but look at it like learning a new job!  You'll be trained and required to do it over & over again until "walllla" youll be home with it in no time doing it!

Then you'll look back and wonder what all the fuss was about!  Trust me, you will do fine!  Just do what you are trained, follow the rules of sanitary, and all will be ok!  You already know about the sanitary rules being you are on manuals, so just figure you will be hooked at night and the machine will do it for you!  And YOU WILL HAVE ALL DAY FREE!

Main thing is at least you won't be In-center!  It just wasnt for us!  Keep us posted on your switch, okay?     

God Bless,

lmunchkin     

[HouseOfDialysis]

Click QUOTE in the upper right hand corner of the post you want to quote, edit what you want to quote, and you're off.

[lmunchkin]

Thanks HOD!   Did you get that Boswife?

[mcclane]

I've been on dialysis since mid June, 2011. I started out on manual PD. My center said today that beginning the third week of August I'll be going for training on a machine that will work overnight. I have such limited experience I would appreciate any input from you folks. I've spent enough time on the site that I can see it's a great resource for like me. Please take a minute to help a poor ignorant "newbie". 
Doug

I've done both forms of pd, manual and cycler. 

The cycler (mine was from baxter) does give you the whole day to do what you want, you're not too worried about your exchanges during the day.  It made work a whole lot easier.  On the other hand, the hospital had my cycler at 8 hours, so I usually liked to get setup and going by 9 pm (so at 5 am, I am done).  During the work week for me, that was ok because we didn't do much, but on weekends, it was a different story.  If we were out, I started to get antsy when 9 pm rolled around and I wasn't at home yet.

I also found that the cycler made alot of gurgling noises after the initial drain/fill (I think it was transferring fluid from the cold bag to the heater bag).  I banished it from the bedroom to the living room (I connected 2 patient lines so I could sleep in the bedroom while the machine was out in the living room).

One thing I really hated was the PET tests for the cycler.  It would create a 10L bag of fluid which was extremely heavy.

[billybags]

Sonarman2, First of all    to the site. you have come to the right place. If you have been doing Pd you will be OK with the cycler and yes there are lots to learn but after a couple of weeks it will just be a walk in the park. You may find the noise of the machine gets on your nerves, it gurgles and sucks it whines but you do get used to it. I think the scariest thing about it is when the alarm goes off, you lay there and think OH shi* what is going off. The alarms are mostly self sorting, it may be that you are laying on the patient line and as soon as you move the alarm stops. Always keep the manual close to hand. We have a 24 hour help line so any problems you get in-touch with them. You will find that you have more box's and more ticky tacky than PD.You will find you have a WHOLE DAY to your self when you have not got to think about dialysising.and that is a big  bonus. You will be fine, let us know how you go on. Ask as many questions as you like whether they seem daft or not. We will be here for you.

[Sonarman2]

Click QUOTE in the upper right hand corner of the post you want to quote, edit what you want to quote, and you're off.

[Sonarman2]

Okay, let's see where this "Quick Reply" pops up.

[Sonarman2]

Click QUOTE in the upper right hand corner of the post you want to quote, edit what you want to quote, and you're off.

Thanks HOD. I tried this once before and about the time I wanted to post, poof, my text went away and just the quote remained. I must be a complete dolt. Is there a tutorial for the manipulation of this site; I'm going nuts!

[tbarrett2533]

I've been on dialysis since mid June, 2011. I started out on manual PD. My center said today that beginning the third week of August I'll be going for training on a machine that will work overnight.
Doug

I just want you to know that you have every right not to go on the cycler....it sounds like they (unit staff) have told you that you have to do the cycler
Maybe I am just interpreting this wrong, but just know that YOU are the BOSS!! this is your body and your health!!!

[Kong]

You may find the noise of the machine gets on your nerves, it gurgles and sucks it whines but you do get used to it.

If I have trouble with the noise I wait until the cycler stops pumping from the supply bag to the heater bag and then hit stop, wait for everything to go quiet and then hit go. The cycler stays quiet until the next drain.