Drain Problems

[KidneysR4Wimps]

I've been on the Liberty cycler for about 2 weeks now and things are a little up and down. I keep having problems with draining, even when I was doing manuals. Some drains are great and others are hard. In order to keep a positive UF I have to stay awake and move about in order to drain it all out. And if I happen to be asleep during the drain (imagine that!), 75% of the time it's a negative UF. I'm regular, I've tried heparin, and I talked to my surgeon about it. He claims to have never had to redo a cath because they don't flip. Granted, this isn't something he does very often anyway since he's a bariatric surgeon. I have no problems filling, only draining. Last night I had a drain take 48 min (I'm only sched for 20) and then still leave 400 in because I was asleep. I feel like if I'm not awake during these drains then I'll be a walking water balloon the next day.

Any thoughts? I really need a good nights sleep. 

[cassandra]

I'm sure you'll get more 'up to date' answers soon, but I seem to remember while on the cycler to sleep with a pillow in my side, and laying on my side, and I started taking Diazepam to actually sleep.

Good luck, and love, Cas

[Charlie B53]

I too took a while to drain when doing manuals for over a year.  Once I switched to the Cycler my PD Nurse set the machine to "tidal' mode, leaving a percentage in until the last drain.  The machine would stop and hold just before that last drain until I got up and hit the 'Go' button.  As Long as I was vertical I drained OK, Then I once again had to poke the machine to do the 'last fill' using the Ico that I carry all day.

Almost 10 months now, so far so good.

Ask your PD Nurse if a 'Tidal' setting could be a better choice for you.  They can adjust the amount of fill, amount of drain, dwell time, and number of exchanges, all tuned to what is best for YOU.  There is no carved in stone directions.

Take Care,

Charlie B

[David Pascoe]

You need to get your catheter checked out, Yours, is a common problem caused the catheter end being poorly positioned and getting blocked. Most likely it needs to be re positioned. Don't put up with that condition any longer, get help.