DRAINING!

[Alisa]

 
i can't drain ,, not the first time,, tried everything positioning,  and switiching to a bag.  Hooked up at 10 and have had low drainage alams since 1st drain.  3:00 tried bag,, nothing....  I guess no sleep again tonight .. was actually asleep when alams ovcured ....luicky me

[tamara]

 


Just trying to get this noticed by anyone on PD that can help Alisa.

[KICKSTART]

Sorry i do CAPD so cant be of any help , but shouldnt you contact your unit ?

[shay_pcb]

I do CCPD, but I've never had a problem draining unless the tube was kinked somewhere. You should contact you dialysis unit. You may have fibrin build up or the tube isn't positioned right inside.

[Alisa]

Hey thanks for responding. I contracted the unit once again and they said exactly what you guys said. It's just so frustrating because now I was stuck doing bags every 4 hours which totally ruins my day. I am somewhat small is i can barely move when filled with 2liters and then once draining comes around I am going to explode never mind barely stand.
It must just be positioning but I am sick of it. It is happening way to much.

[rimbo74]

I have "low drain volume" alarms during most drains at night, it has been happening since I started 3 weeks ago.  I've noticed that if I stack my pillows so it elevates my upper body, sometimes I can get through a drain without an alarm. 

Good luck to you!  I still just suffer throw the alarms because it sure the hell beats manual exchanges during the day.

[Ken Shelmerdine]

Rimbo
You're not alone with this  as I think most of us on ccpd have had this problem at some time or other. Try lowering the machine so that the where the drain line goes into the cassette it is either level or lower than the bed. I don't know how far you can lower the machine before you get the opposite problem ei. slow fill volume but I think I've read on this site about someone putting the machine in the floor. When I have drainage problems I sleep with a big volume pillow next to me. Although this raises the line from your body as it rises to the top of the pillow, there is enough pull from the machine to get it there (to the top of the pillow). Then because at that point it's quite a bit higher than the machine it builds up momentum as it starts to drain downwards. Think of it like a roller coaster that's just reached the top of the rise and then goes into free fall.

There is also constipation that can be the cause especially if you have a small abdomen. This can temporarily change the position of the tube.

[goofynina]

Alisa,  has your draining problem been resolved?  If it has, can you explain what you did for other members who might experience the same problem, please...  Thank you

[rimbo74]

Thought I would repost this so in case someone else is having the same problem as I was:


MY DRAINING PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN RESOLVED!!!

We increased the amount that I put in from 2,000ml to 2,600ml (4x a night) in hopes of "floating" my catheter out of wherever it was hiding.  This appears to have helped because I no longer get the pulling pains. 

Also, I carry 500ml during the day.  I found that if I only drain 100ml on the initial drain, it keeps the alarms from occuring.  Meaning I'm starting off with an extra 200-300ml since I didnt drain it out completely when starting.


           

[goofynina]

Right on Mark,  so happy to hear they have resolved the problem.  Thanks for posting that information, i am sure it will help others who are having the same problem     Keep on keepin' on my friend. 

[Alisa]

How do I fix the draining problem.  Well there are a variety of things I do. 1) I sleep on my right side, I have much better draining.  If it is one of those nights and nothing is working I unhook from the machine go to sleep and then in the morning (usually) the catheter has fixed its kink or whatever and then I drain into bags.  I then do bags for the rest of the day (I know it sucks).  Other then that all I can suggest is that you never become constipated, that could lead to serious problems.  Hope this info helps.

[MyssAnne]

You might also have something clogging the tubes, fibrin, for instance. I've had to be flushed out a couple of times,
and use heparin as well in the bags. I hate that stuff. It stings, I swear!  But, it works. What also works for me is to
go to a higher strength bag for a day or so (I'm on the cycler too). As far as when I'm on the cycler and it's not
draining, I simply bypass it after it's done it twice, and fill up. Sometimes it just needs a kickstart, so to speak. If not,
that's when I go to the higher dose, after talking to the nurse, of course.

[goofynina]

MyssAnne, you can actually feel the heparin? i dont understand?  I do have it, i just never used it.  How and when do you know when to use it or do you just automatically use it each and every time?  Now you got me wondering

[MyssAnne]

Goofy, I don't know if you are supposed to feel it. I do, it stings when it settles in my body.
You get a pretty good sized bottle, which is good for one month, and it's injected into your
bag once a day. If you do manual, it would be the last one of the day so it can stay in your
body longer.  The nurse will sign it out to you along with the syringes & betadine so you can
inject it. I've done it several times, as I've done the antibiotic, kinda cool, actually! I know when
I need it if the strongest dose of dialysate does not work within two exchanges. I'm very prompt
about anything odd, having had the dreaded 'P' three times last year. My nurse strongly encourages me
to use my best judgement on it, since I do seem to have a problem with clogging.

[goofynina]

Well, i think the fact that i use a red bag everyday might help that i am not needing to use it.  I do have it, just never have used it,  thank you for the information, it will be good to refer back to it if and when i do have to use it.     

[MyssAnne]

GoofyNina, I hope you don't. Those red bags are powerful, aren't they? Whoo!!! EVERYTHING comes out
when I use them! I've found really good information here from other posters, which is nice to know, if
it ever comes to needing it. I find it very reassuring, to know I can come here and find out what I need to
know. For that, thank you, everyone.

[goofynina]

Yep, but its the red bags that do the job for me.  I am still drinking more than i probably should and eating too much salt, so that is why i use a red bag to make sure i am getting it all out, some nights, when i feel like i drank tooooo much, i will use two red bags but the next day, i will really watch what i drink and then use 3 greens just to give my peritoneum a rest   i dont know if it does it anygood, but it seems to work for me  

[MyssAnne]

Goofynina, whatever works. I tell ya, I let the nurses and social workers do the judging. You and I know how hard
it is to stay on a strict diet, darn it. It's easy for them!  I pretty much do what you do, I use greens then reds when
necessary (not draining, or had ham for dinner, as today!!).  I don't know about you, but I have an absolute craving
for salt. Serious. I know it's bad for me, but sometimes, you just gotta have it, ya know?

[goofynina]

Goofynina, whatever works. I tell ya, I let the nurses and social workers do the judging. You and I know how hard
it is to stay on a strict diet, darn it. It's easy for them!  I pretty much do what you do, I use greens then reds when
necessary (not draining, or had ham for dinner, as today!!).  I don't know about you, but I have an absolute craving
for salt. Serious. I know it's bad for me, but sometimes, you just gotta have it, ya know?

No, it is easy for them to tell us what to do, that doesnt mean they are doing it themselves, lol, it's always easier said then done huh?    I notice that as well, i dont eat much anymore, but what i do eat or crave, it's salty food, McDonalds fries especially, damn,  i've also been craving alot of salty chips that i can eat salsa with, i really dont care for them alone, but the saltier the chip, the better.  my taste for sweets is almost gone, once in a great while i will get a candy but i rarely finish it.  But give me some fries and stand back

[Sluff]

No, it is easy for them to tell us what to do, that doesnt mean they are doing it themselves, lol, it's always easier said then done huh?    I notice that as well, i dont eat much anymore, but what i do eat or crave, it's salty food, McDonalds fries especially, damn,  i've also been craving alot of salty chips that i can eat salsa with, i really dont care for them alone, but the saltier the chip, the better.  my taste for sweets is almost gone, once in a great while i will get a candy but i rarely finish it.  But give me some fries and stand back

Step away from the fries with your hands in the air. 

[goofynina]

You might as well go ahead and shoot me cuz i am eatin' me some damn fries dammit

[Sluff]

You might as well go ahead and shoot me cuz i am eatin' me some damn fries dammit

Hey what was it you just yelled at me about? A couple of measly orange peeps.