How long have you been doing PD

[Wat76]

Would like to know how long you have been doing PD. How hard is it to not get an infection.  Please provide some insight.  I have my surgery on 11 Dec and will begin training the first week of Jan.  Hope I can last a long time on  PD.

[jeannea]

I did 2 1/2 yrs on PD before transplant. Not one infection. You can do it.

[PaDude]

I'm in the same boat.  Had my catheter inserted on 11/21 and staging to start training on 12/10. Had the PD nurses home visit today and mad out well as far as having a clean site.  I choose this modality because of quality of life but now i have to admit i get "antsy" when i think aboit the possibility of infection.  Any words of wisdom appreciated

[deniferfer]

I have actually been on PD now 15 years. Also I have only had to have the tube replaced once in over the years! I have a few bad infections thru the years but it is actually pretty easy from getting a infection. But sometimes you get one and you have no reason why. Make sure you follow the rules on keeping thing clean when you hook up and you will be fine. The main reason that people are unable to keep their PD tube is cuz they get too many infections and what happens it builds up scars inside the peritoneal cavity.  So if you stick to your guns and keep things clean when getting set up you will be ok.

[drgirlfriend]

The Boyfriend has been on PD for just over a year now. He went from manual to the Liberty machine and we have moved 3 times, the last time out of state. PD can be a challenge but it's worth it. Fortunately (and unfortunately for my nerves) the Boyfriend is damn near OCD when it comes to cleanliness. The thought of infection freaks him out and he hasn't had one. If you have any doubts or concerns about the process, call your nurse and get an answer. Your piece of mind is worth it and your health is worth it. There have been times we have annoyed the nurses (they never say, but I can tell) but they know it's better to be sure and remain healthy. And ask questions here - but you've already figured that out!

deniferfer - you are a goddess among mortals doing PD for 15 years!

[Joe]

I've been on PD for a year now and have not had any infections. My advice is:
Keep clean
Your PD team is your lifeline, don't be afraid to call them, no matter what time.
Remember, we dialize to live, not live to dialize.
It's going to be a change in your lifestyle, just go with it.
Do ask questions here, one of us has likely been through anything you are going to experience.

Good luck and let us know how you are doing.

[MaryD]

I have been doing PD for 12 months now and have been through peritonitis.  I am meticulous with my preparations and have no idea how I managed to get an infection.  I am hoping to stay on PD for many years to come.


PS  Our clinic has just won the 'highest number of patient days per infection' in Australia

[blondie1746]

I have also been on PD for 1 year.  I quickly switched from manual exchanges to the cycler at night.  That helps with the infection problem because you are only hooking up once a day, instead of 4-5 times a day.  I haven't had an infection and my Dr. gives me high marks for how well my exit site looks.  But, it did take a while to look healthy instead of red.  Make sure you wear your mask and wash your hands and use hand sanitizer at every exchange.  And a week or so after my surgery, I was allowed to shower.  I don't keep my exit site covered during the shower.  I think this helps to keep it more clean.  I use soap around it and rinse well.  And I use the Gentamicin cream every day on the exit site and keep it covered.  So far, so good.  Keeping my fingers crossed that it continues and that I will be lucky enough to do PD for 15+ years.  I have Multiple Myeloma which killed my kidneys, so I don't know if I will ever be able to have a transplant.

[Lillupie]

I have been on PD for over 5 years now. One infection.

Have heard of people being on PD for 17 years, my nurse tried to say she had a patient on for 24. Dont know how true that is.

Lisa

[Simon Dog]

6 months - I feel like I'm just getting warmed up.  When I do my midday train at work, I sometimes forget about the bag when it''s sitting on the floor and I get busy with something.  The boss came in and tripped over it a few days ago.

[JLM]

Let's see, I had the cath. the end of Feb 2011 and started manual exchanges in April with Fresenous.  Then went to WI for 3+ months at the end of May.  Had to go with Baxter in WI because the closest Fresenous clinic was 90 miles away from where we were staying.    In December  I started on the Liberty cycler and so far no infections.  My exit site gets sore occasionally because sometimes it gets tugged accidentally.

[Ricksters]

I've been on PD about 15 months, using the Baxter cycler.  Haven't had any problems with infections, knock wood.  Follow the instructions given to you by your nurse, wash your hands, use your mask and sanitizer, and you should be fine.  I never had to do manuals, and still use them infrequently.  PD just becomes part of your every day rountine after a while.

Good luck!

Ricki

[lmunchkin]

John did it for 5 years, 2 infections.  Last one he could no longer do PD.  Doing hemo at home now, but PD was a good one to do, too!  Hope you can do it a longggggg time!

God Bless,
lmunchkin

[amanda100wilson]

Eight years and no infections.  Finally gave up on it and switched to HHD as PD was no longer working for me

[Simon Dog]

Be sure to ask for an emergency antibiotic kit in case you get peritonitis.   It's not a substitute for getting to the ER or clinic (since treatment will take a couple of weeks, and they do lab work on the drain bag to see what bug you have and move you t a targeted antibiotic if possible), however, it allows you to start fighting the infection ASAP.   One of the byproducts of peritonitis is it can speed up your transport rate, shorting the time PD will continue to work for you, therefore, the sooner you are treated, the better.    Would you rather be in the ER with a few grams of antibiotic floating around your gut doing their thing while you wait to be seen, or sitting in the waiting room as the bacteria continue to get married, start families, have grandchildren, etc.?

My doc was very cooperative in giving the me the RX and instructions when I asked, however, I don't think my emergency plan would have been anything better than "call the on call nurse for instructions" if I didn't ask.

[YellowRose]

Before my first transplant, I did PD about 1.5 years ( manual ) with no infection.
After the first transplant, I did PD about 4 years using the Baxter cycler until had to switch to hemo due to leaking.  No infection.
Hope your PD training go smoothly.
- Rose

[Lillupie]

"or sitting in the waiting room as the bacteria continue to get married, start families, have grandchildren, etc.?"

Love that lol. Making a family. lol

[komomai]

Aloha it's been 2 years and 4 months.  Did get an infection once.  Started PD on Baxter cycles but too many alarms so switched over to manual exchanges on Jan 2012.

Hope all goes well for you.

[M3Riddler]

Would like to know how long you have been doing PD. How hard is it to not get an infection.  Please provide some insight.  I have my surgery on 11 Dec and will begin training the first week of Jan.  Hope I can last a long time on  PD.

I was on PD for 13 years. During the time I believe I had 3 peritonitis infections..  You can also have exit site infections. This is where the cath comes out of the body.  One more thing to watch for is tunnel infections. This is where the cath connects to the tissue inside the abdomen.  Use your best sterile procedures...
I would also ask about EPS.. Encapsulating Peritoneal Sclerosis... It is very rare from long term PD.   If you do not plan on being on pd for a long time, it is a great choice to hold you over until you are transplanted.  If you plan on doing dialysis and not get a transplant, you may want to try something more adequate for long term outcomes such as nocturnal hemo or daily home hemo... 

[Simon Dog]

I have actually been on PD now 15 years.

Did you start out as a low transporter and if so, we you able to maintain yourself as a "low"?   Have you noticed any significant changes in the concentration or number of xchanges required to achieve decent treatment?

[tbarrett2533]

I have been on CAPD (I am in love with it too  ) for 1 year 5 months and I have had ZERO infections!!

the trick............. BE VERY VERY clean..... keep your work area clean!

I stay away from pets of any kind, I keep my exit site covered when I shower... remove it when I am done, let it air dry then cover it back up..... heres my kicker I have NEVER not one timer EVER used an anti-bacterial ointment on my exit site (I dont encourage that-its just what works for me)

I prime my lines for longer than you are suppose to

I use my mask EVERYTIME

I use my hand sanitzer EVERYTIME

and I am thankful to God for what I do have and I pray to God that I stay healthy!

thats the tricks of the trade!!

Good luck!!
 

[Grumpy-1]

been on PD for almost 3 years.  Up until this last year no infections.  This year 4. And I admit I'm a bit lax in cleanliness.  So it is my fault more than anything else.  Grumpy