Freakin' Air Bubbles!

[drgirlfriend]

Was scared this morning by my bf's extreme pain from air bubbles! He has had them before but not this bad. He was groaning and hitting the pillow it was so bad. I thought he was going to start screaming. I started to cry I felt so useless. I was about to make him drink some baking soda water to try to get them out - sodium be damned! He eventually laid down and the pain subsided, but it took several minutes. It was horrible! I've searched this site for people talking about air bubble pain & there are a lot of them. Does anyone have a go-to method for reducing the pain or time in the body? Someone on here said he once nearly stood on his head and got the bubble to exit the way it came in. Unfortunately my bf was already disconnected when the pain really got going. I wish I understood how the air gets loose in the body like that. Once I had surgery and had to sleep sitting up for over a week because the air bubbles hurt so much. Anyway, how can I help him? I never want to witness that again.

[Annig83]

Ahhhh!  The dreaded air pockets!  They are AWFUL!!!
I had a horrible one that lasted for 2 days in the hospital after having my PD cath. placed, and this was also a week after a C-Section.  My parents and my BF thought I was having a heart attack.  One of the nurses who didn't know me, thought I was in labor!!! They are absolutely horrific, and it is very scary for others looking on because you can't help
Unfortunately, I don't know of any ways that really help get rid of them fast...they have to subside on their own....but what I have found that helps me is a hot heating pad and laying on the side affected.  I don't promote the use of pain killers, but if it happens to me I take a couple Vicodin that my doctor has prescribed for pain (as a PRN).  I would ask your BF's D center what they reccommend?  Everyone has a different idea, or opinion on what works best...my other suggestion is just to make him as comfortable as possible...don't ever feel useless!! I'm sure your BF was just glad you were there, and I'm sure he appreciates all that you do!   Good luck!  I hope he feels better fast!

[lmunchkin]

Wow, I bet that was frightening!  J never had the airbubbles, but he was constipated quite a bit. He would take a stool softern to help that.  Wonder if you could do that.  Most PD patients use stool softner or laxatives to keep them open so they can drain good! Not really sure about the bubbles!  Could it have been gas built up instead of Bubbles?

Really hate that for your guy!  Bless his heart!

God Bless,
lmunchkin
 

[looneytunes]

Hubby had the air bubble experience a few times.  What helped him the most was a heating pad and light pressure on the area affected. 

[Joe]

I've not had to deal with air bubbles, at least not drastically. My nurse warned me about them and cautioned to make sure I have always primed my lines thoroughly. She didn't give me much hope for making them go away if I did have one, she just said it was going to hurt like the devil. And I'm sure he was happy/comforted that you were there, even if he didn't seem to acknowledge you at the time.

[drgirlfriend]

Thanks for the support and ideas everyone! He did acknowledge that he appreciated me being there with him and holding his hand. It's just so hard to watch! I thought about trying to lightly massage the bubble away from the offending area, looneytunes. Maybe he'll let me try it next time but I'm hoping there won't be one!