PD cycler

[Wat76]

Good Morning,

Question for PD Users:  How many nights per week are you using the cycler?.  I have had no problems with adequacy and would like to try 5 nights on the cycler versus 7 nights.  If I skip a night, i feel great, however when I continuously run 7 day, 8 hours a day, I am always exhausted.  It feels as if I am washing away all my nutrients.  Would like to know how many hours/nights you stay on cycler?  I use the lowest leve fluid l the 1.5 yellow bags, I don't hold water, I still urinate and don't have a problem with swelling.  If I don't eat some salt or potassium daily, I cramp really bad.  Please let me know ASAP.

Thanks for your response

[Joe]

I always did 7 days a week, but my adequacy was just under 2. I felt I needed to make sure I was doing everything I could.

[Wat76]

Thanks Joe, I know there are more people using the cycler and for long periods, What has worked for you, any changes otther thant 7 days, 8 hours?

[JLM]

Talk it over with your doctor and the nurses.  That's your best way to go.

[Wat76]

JLM, I am going to talk it over with my doctor and nurse next week.  the reason I was asking is because I know that we are all built differently and have different things/reasons as to why we are on dialysis.  I just want to know how people who has been doing PD using the cycler for a long time is faring with the program.  Sometimes, you learn more on this forum than you get from your doctor office.  I feel the patient is more of an expert to offer their real time experience, than a Doctor who is lumping everyone in the same category.  I have learned a great detail of information by reading people post and comparing notes.  I see my Neph on the 19th and will be sure to ask what he thinks.

[JLM]

I urinate very well also.  One night while setting up for the my treatment my cycler did a nose dive.  After speaking to the tech and with him having me try to continue the treatment it was a NO GO.  I dismantle the machine and went to bed.  I didn't do any manuals the next day.  The new cycler was at my house by 4 pm.  That night I put the IQ drive in the machine and had my regular treatment.  Then one time I had a Hernia surgery and it was decided by the doctors that I wouldn't get treatment for 2 days/nights  I didn't have any ill effects.  I have been on treatments since April of 2011.

[Wat76]

Thanks JLM, just curious.  I think I have a hernia also, will address that at my next appointment.  You didnt have to get your tubes removed when you had your surgery, that is what I am afraid of. I dont have a fistula.

[Charlie B53]

After doing 4 manuals a day for the last 15 months, I started using the cycler two weeks ago.  11 hours a night 6 fill/drains then a final fill of ico that I carry all deay.  Labs done about the tenth day, my numbers were better than ever before doing manuals.

It is different, not interrupting my day so many times, clean up drain and refill.  but it does cut my evening a bit short connecting at 7 so I can get done and off by 6 a.m.

I'm using one 5 L bag of 2 1/2 and one 5L bag of 1 1/2 to remove my daily weight gain of anywhere from 1 to 3 lbs of water.  I P, but most days it is far less than one L.

I quit swelling when I first started PD, took off over 40 lbs of water.  After I started insulin, yup, became diabetic, once my sugars came under good control I lost another 11 lbs of water.  Went from 310 to my current 242, and that is my wet weight, just filled with the ico in the morning.

By this time next year I may see 220 again.  Whoo-Hoo!

[JLM]

Thanks JLM, just curious.  I think I have a hernia also, will address that at my next appointment.  You didnt have to get your tubes removed when you had your surgery, that is what I am afraid of. I dont have a fistula.

My hernia was above the belly button.  When I
had the first one I had to go on Hemo for 3 weeks; for the second one I didn't have treatment for 2 nights.