I decided to have a Surgeon look at me

[Sluff]

Hang in there Buddy.  Things will get better.

[Joe Paul]

Thanks Red, I feel much better today. I did go in center for a Hemo treatment, in which they were able to pull 6 kilos off. I start my PD routine again today only a half kilo over my dry weight, hopefully that wont be a problem for the solution to pull off.  I will post again later, after my first exchange which should be around 11 am.

Well, my first exchange is not a good one. I put in 2000 & only got out 1200. The fluid is nice and clear, meaning there is nothing blocking the catheter. No signs of any fibrin, which again I was told can block the draining. I did the 2nd fill, and am hoping for a better drain in 4 hours.

[Sluff]

What do the Nurses think the problem is?

[KT0930]

I'm also curious about what the nurse says. Please let us know, JP! Was that last exchange with a 4.25%?

[Joe Paul]

The Nurse didn't say, other than to tell me it might take time for the PD to start working. The last 2 exchanges I did,  I got 2100 out both times. That was at 3 hour dwells instead of the 4 hours I was told to do. The first today were 4 hours, 1200 & 1300.  Also, of the 2 - 2100 exchanges, 1 was 2.5%, the other 4.25%. Clearly there is something not right, will wait for the Nurse to call in the morning to decide what to do next.

[spacezombie]

Thanks Red, I feel much better today. I did go in center for a Hemo treatment, in which they were able to pull 6 kilos off. I start my PD routine again today only a half kilo over my dry weight, hopefully that wont be a problem for the solution to pull off.  I will post again later, after my first exchange which should be around 11 am.

Well, my first exchange is not a good one. I put in 2000 & only got out 1200. The fluid is nice and clear, meaning there is nothing blocking the catheter. No signs of any fibrin, which again I was told can block the draining. I did the 2nd fill, and am hoping for a better drain in 4 hours.

How long did you leave the solution in before you tried to drain? If I leave in 1.5 for a long time I will absorb most of it, especially if I am somewhat dehydrated already. I hope you get this figured out!

[Joe Paul]

How long did you leave the solution in before you tried to drain? If I leave in 1.5 for a long time I will absorb most of it, especially if I am somewhat dehydrated already. I hope you get this figured out!

The first 2 yesterday were 4 hour dwells, the rest were 3. My bedtime dwell ended up being 3 1/2, with a drain of 3000!! Thats what I was hoping for, a couple more like that and I should be OK, so far as reaching my dry weight. Next drain is at around 8, hope it is as good as the last.

[tamara]

Great to see that you are pulling the fluid Joe Paul , here's to a couple more ! 

Tamara xxxx oooo     

[Sluff]

Good for you JP glad things are improving. 

[bolta72]

Hang in there JP.

[Joe Paul]

Thanks Guys 

[thegrammalady]

glad it's working

[Joe Paul]

Thanks, Gammalady...things went well for the rest of the day yesterday. I got down to my dry weight, but had to  stop the last treatment last night due to a blood test I had to have done this morning. The key I found is 3 hour dwells, and checking my blood sugars at least 6 times a day, and giving insulin accordinly, as the solution spikes my blood sugar, and if my blood sugar gets too high, the solution will not draw off any fluid.

[okarol]

  Thinking of you JP!

[monrein]

Sounds like your body and you are sorting things out.  That's great

[spacezombie]

I'm glad you're getting things all figured out! =) 

[Ken Shelmerdine]

  Glad things are picking up Joe. It's strange how your body adapts but it does.

[okarol]

Hey Joe Paul - How are you? Where are you? I miss you buddy, come back and give us an update please. I hope all is well! 

[tamara]

Hey Joe Paul

Thinkin of ya and how it is all goin for ya way down here ! 

Take Care

Tamara xxx ooo     

[Joe Paul]

Thanks for asking Karol & tamara, and for your well wishes. Ive had my ups and downs, but all in all not doing badly at all. I go this Wed. for my pet test, then to bo trained for the cycler. The main problem I have now is weight gain. I am now up to around 98 kilos, it seems my body loves the calories in the PD fluid. I did have my first blood test after starting PD, and it was good, other than the calcium level hovering on the high end. I cant tolerate any binder other than Phoslo, so my Doc increased my sensipar saying he would rather I have a low PTH, rather than the high calcium. I have been doing very well with my blood sugars, keeping it @ an average of 80. Once i get started with the cycler, I will still have to do 1 manual during the day, to start. Nurse says it may go to 2, wont know that until the following months bloodwork. Will update as I find out how things are going. Again, thanks for the thoughts and well wishes, JP

[Sluff]

Sounds like things are going fairly well. Glad to hear from you JP. 

[willieandwinnie]

Joe Paul, it sounds like your doing well on PD. Are you eating better on PD then you did on HD? Keep letting us know how you are doing. 

[Bajanne]

So glad to hear from you and hear that things are starting to work out for you.  Our caring thoughts and prayers are with you all the way.

[Romona]

Nice to hear from you. Hope you continue to do well. 

[Joe Paul]

Update: I have come to the conclusion, I do not like the PET test. We have already found my body doesn't like longer than 3 hour dwells, and the 12 hour dwell I did for the test, my body absorbed a good bit of the fluid. Again, I filled up, after the 12 hour dwell, for the 4 hour part of the test, and only got 1300 of 2000 out, my legs, ankles and feet were so swollen, I was in a good bit of pain. What was bad too was that the exchange I did BEFORE the 12 hour, I got a poor drain, holding around 400 of the 2000. Keep in mind, most of the time, when I do hold fluid, it was in my hands mainly, so the legs & ankles was something new to me, and I repeat, it is painful! The same day as testing, I was trained for the cycler, and brought it home for my first run. I thought I would use a drain bag, just to see how much would come off, and let me tell you, that was a huge mistake, as it pulled off 3157 mls, plus the 10,000 of red I was told to use, to be rid of the fluid I had put on. That poor drain bag was so full, it looked as though it would burst, and was very hard to hold over the toilet to get rid of. Since then, I been using the extensions to reach my bathroom, no more carrying those bags for me. I will say it took 2 nights (9 hour runs) + 2 daily exchanges of the red bags to be rid of the fluid my body had absorbed. It is so nice to have my ankles back, and not look like a stuffed sausage. I am happy to say last night I was able to use green bags & go from 220 pounds, back down to 205. It wont be till sometime next week before the results of the testing come back, but for now, as I said, I do a 9 hour run on the cycler (which fills me at the end), a 3 hour dwell, another exchange & 3 hour dwell, then I am dry for the rest of the day. Depending on the test results this may change to more time on the cycler, or more exchanges during the day, all dependent on the clearance. I am still tired, but thats due to being new on the cycler, I wanted to stay up just to note what happens when, just for my own peace of mind. As I find out more, I will update.