What is PD training like?

[Sara]

How long does it usually take, what does it cover, where is it normally done, etc?  Especially concerning the overnight PD if it makes a difference.

[MyssAnne]

Depends upon the patient/caregiver quite frankly. Mine took a couple of weeks because we spread it out over several days
of about 1-2 hours (I was and am working full time, still!). As for the cycler, that's done after you've trained and done manuals,
hopefully!  I was on manuals for about 4 months, and then I asked for the cycler. I stll do manuals when away from the house,
and like the ability to go back and forth, but prefer the cycler, it seems to drain more. It will seem confusing at first, just take it slow!!! For the first week or so that I was on the manual by myself, I was very deliberate about each step, even talking to myself about each one, what was needed. Joe will love it! And so will you!! I so hope so!!

[goofynina]

Sara, i hope while you are asking all these questions Joe is preparing to get the catheter in,  girlfriend, i wouldnt waste no time, get that catheter in him and get him started A.S.A.P,  i know you said they wanted him to do 6 days hemo a week, that is going to do alot to his body and PD is so much more gentler.   

OK,  the training takes about 2 weeks,  they will probably wait 6 weeks to start the training to give his catheter time to heal from the inside since he is diabetic.  do you want him on the cycler?  i think it would be so much easier for the both of you to put him on the cycler instead of manual exchanges especially to find out he is a high transporter, that means his body will probably start absorbing the solution quickly and he can get edema quickly so push for the cycler.   Training should be given at the clinic you go to now, if they dont have PD there they should refer you to a clinic that does.  But the most important thing to do is get this ball rolling girlfriend.  Good luck to you and Joe   

[Sara]

Yes, ma'am!  LOL  Joe has an appt on the 12th I think to see his neph (he's out of town until then) but he's also put a call into the nurse practioner (I call her the bi-atch practioner LOL) to get info.  I think the cycler would be better too.  Seems like it would interfere less.  They haven't started him on 6 days yet but I don't want him on that any longer than necessary (if only b/c of his fistula).

Thanks for all the advice and tips, I really appreciate it. 

[goofynina]

Yes, ma'am!  LOL  Joe has an appt on the 12th I think to see his neph (he's out of town until then) but he's also put a call into the nurse practioner (I call her the bi-atch practioner LOL) to get info.  I think the cycler would be better too.  Seems like it would interfere less.  They haven't started him on 6 days yet but I don't want him on that any longer than necessary (if only b/c of his fistula).

Thanks for all the advice and tips, I really appreciate it. 

Oh and another thing Sara,  if your neph says that he doesnt think PD wouldnt work for him for any reason, size or anything, you tell him you want to talk to the surgeon anyways.   When i told my neph i wanted to do PD he said due to my "size" (puhlease)   he said it wouldnt work but he sent me to the surgeons anyways, and the surgeon said it would be no problem and thank goodness it hasnt been a problem.  Hang in there girlfriend, 

[KICKSTART]

Isnt it strange how it varies in USA and UK ? Iam on CAPD it took me 3 days to learn had to stay at the hospital , i did my first exchange one week after catheter fitted.Went home armed with phone number for unit and a booklet going through exchange step by step (for a while it became my bible!) then i relaxed , it all kicked in and now its just another thing to do , like making my dinner!

[Joanniebop]

My husband had the cath implanted in the hospital and that same night they had him started on PD.
He was on it 24/7 .
When he got out of the hospital we had to go to the dialysis center for the PD training.
It took 4 days. 4 hours per day.
Does 6 exchanges at night on the cycler, takes about 8 1/2 hours, while he sleeps.

Never had the manual exchange training.

And oh yea, I forgot to ask about the manual training when we went for Chuck's first check-up today.
I've got to call them tomorrow.

Good luck!

Joannie

[goofynina]

When a patient actually starts PD depends on the patient, if they are diabetic, they need to give the catheter time to heal on the inside    and as for the training, i have noticed that everyone gets trained differently.