Drain Problem Today!!!!

[rookiegirl]

I woke up this morning cramping all over my belly.  I tried to do my morning exchange @ 7am.  When I opened my port, the cramp worsen and nothing was draining.  I tried repositioning myself (standing, sitting, squatting, layed down flat, etc...); you name it I did it except stand on my head.  This has never happened to me.  I've been on PD for almost 6mos.  I called the clinic and I was told to do a flush (fill about 100cc and drain out).  When I started to fill, it cramped real bad and still could not drain.  Called the clinic again to let them know.  I was told to come in.

So my husband and I drove 45mins to the clinic.  They tried to drain and nothing came out.  They tried to the flush and drain; didn't work.  So the PD Nurse called my Neph.  I was sent to Radiology for an X-Ray.  After the X-Ray, we had lunch before going back to the clinic.  Didn't feel like eating.

Arrived at the clinic and waited over an hour for the X-Ray result.  Finally the result came in.  The catheter is higher than it should.  There is a loop of bowel they want to flush out to see if the catheter will fall back down.  I was prescribed to take Sorbitol (liquid, sugary, very sweet laxative) and not do dialysis for the day.  In the morning, I was told to fill and leave the solution in for an hour and then see if I can drain out.  If it works, do my normal dialysis exchange.  If not, call the PD Nurse again so they can schedule a procedure (insert wire in catheter).

30mins after I took the Sorbitol, I went back in forth to the bathroom 5-10 times.  I'm so scared  of what I will find out tomorrow.  What if this doesn't work  What if they have to stick the wire thru my catheter?  Has anyone had this procedure done?  Did it hurt a lot?  I just wish they would knock me out  when they do it so I can't feel it.

I'm worried about the solution (2000mls 4.25%) I put in last night @ 11pm that couldn't drain out today.  The nurse said I will absorb and once I get back on track, I should ultrafiltrate the solution.  I really hope so.

I  don't look forward to tomorrow.  I hate not knowing.

[xtrememoosetrax]

I'm sorry, Rookiegirl.  This sounds unpleasant and also scary.  Don't know what to tell you except that I hope things get straightened out tomorrow, and I'll be thinking about you. 

[neight]

I imagine the wire would only hurt as bad as the cramps you were having while trying to drain. Since they're not breaking any skin going through the cath, probly only slight discomfort from the cath being wrapped around the intestine.

[KT0930]

Ugggh, no exchanges for 24 hours? If I ever went over my 4-6 hours by more than about two hours, my belly felt huge, and I was terribly uncomfortable. I never had the wire through my cath, though I've heard of it being done. Hope they don't have to go that route with you. How are things going today?

[Laurie]

Rookiegirl, I'm sorry to hear your having problems. I had the guide wire procedure done and it was not that bad. I was taken into a room and given medication through an IV to relax me. The only time I felt anything was towards the end of the procedure. I could feel a pinching, almost like the feeling when you know your done draining. It took less than 30 minutes.

I hope this helps ease your mind a little.   

[Psim]

Thinking of you, Rookiegirl, and hoping today is going better.

[oleboy]

  I'll be thinking about you so please keep us informed , best of luck







EDITED:Fixed smiley tag error-kitkatz,moderator

[rookiegirl]

Good Evening Everyone!

The Sorbitol worked yesterday.  I was able to drain out 800mls of the fluid from the day before.  Thank God I didn't absorb all the fluid.  No pain except at the very end.  I still have that pinching pain at the end.  I was able to fill with no problem.  Kept the fluid in for an hour and drained out with no problem except the end pain as normal.  I did my regular morning exchange with the 7.5% Ico solution.  Will see how it goes tonight when do my normal 2nd bedtime exchange.

Thank you all for thinking of me and Laurie thank you for sharing your experience with the wire guide procedure.  Now I know what to expect if and when I have to have it done.  I hope no time soon.

[mysty]

Hope it all stays well for you.. in my thoughts..

[Laurie]

Rookiegirl, I'm glad to hear things worked out. I've had it happen to me once. I was only able to drain 150 and I felt huge, but the next day, everything was back to normal. It's very strange. 

[KT0930]

I'm so glad to hear everything's back to normal for you, and you didn't need any additional procedures!

[Psim]

Whew! Hope it all continues well, Rookegirl!

[Bajanne]

So glad to hear it worked out.  Hope things continue to improve for you.  Our caring thoughts and prayers are with you.   

[spacezombie]

I'm glad you were able to get this worked out a bit. I have had one catheter move up and hit my diaphragm, causing me to have the hiccups for three days straight! ARGH! I jumped around in frustration and was finally able to get it to go back down. One catheter became all tangled up in adhesions in my belly and eventually had to be replaced.

One thing I have noticed while on PD is that having sex often causes my tube to migrate and not work as well for a few days. !! I have to jump around to get it to fall back down. 

[rookiegirl]

I'm glad you were able to get this worked out a bit. I have had one catheter move up and hit my diaphragm, causing me to have the hiccups for three days straight! ARGH! I jumped around in frustration and was finally able to get it to go back down. One catheter became all tangled up in adhesions in my belly and eventually had to be replaced.

One thing I have noticed while on PD is that having sex often causes my tube to migrate and not work as well for a few days. !! I have to jump around to get it to fall back down. 

Spacezombie - Thanks for the advise.  Never thought about sex may cause drain problem.  Come to think of it, I had sex the night before and noticed the next I was hurting more than usual during drain time.  Mmmmm.

[rookiegirl]

OK, it happened again....DRAIN PROBLEM!!!!

Sunday morning I noticed it was taking longer for me to drain than usual.  Normally I'm finish draining in 10 minutes.  When I looked down at my drain bag, it was not even close to 1/2 way (500mls out of 2000mls).  I had my husband check the bag to see if there was a steady stream of flow.  Come to find out nothing.  I tried repositioning, jumped up and down, stretch, etc...  Finally, I flushed my drain line and filled with 100mls of new solution and then tried to drain again.  This time the flow was steady and I was so happy to finally drain out.

I can't understand WHY this happens to me.  Is this normal???  Does this happen to anyone on CAPD???  I'm starting to think there is something more seriously wrong with me.  This is about the 3rd time this has happened.

[KICKSTART]

Apart from it may be your catheter moving , it could also be fibrin , alot of people seem to get it and find it blocks the draining out , have you checked your bag after draining to see if any is in there ?

[rookiegirl]

Apart from it may be your catheter moving , it could also be fibrin , alot of people seem to get it and find it blocks the draining out , have you checked your bag after draining to see if any is in there ?

Fibrin was my first thought too, but fortunately no fibrin in my bag or catheter.

[Kini]

so sorry about this issue you are having. My daughter has been on PD for 5 yrs. now and I think we have faced every problem there is and I refuse to give up PD. Draining is often a problem for her, like you I have her dance all over the place. You tired the bowl opening, consipation is always an issue on PD, once I rule that out I use Heprin in her bags, even if I see no fibrin. I remember when she first started on PD there was a drain problem and it was the Omentem in her peritonel cavity which they removed in a short surgery. I am now using Heprin about twice a week in her bags, and during these hot summer days PD is most difficult and always a higher risk of infection  . also this hot weather makes her drains much slower, at least it's what I noticed after 5 yrs. OH, yes she had the wire thru her cath also, as I recall it was not a big thing but she lost that cath. 4 yrs ago, and we are just getting by with what she has now. Have you had any infections ( I hope not ) but do ask about Heprin for your bags, I personally think it's nessesary to keep it on hand... of course we all heard of the recall on Heprin so be sure to ask you PD nurse to make sure you get a NEW bottle  . Good Luck and hang in there, things will flow soon. Take care.

[rookiegirl]

Thursday, 7/10/08 @ 6am.  Well, it happened again.  It took me almost an hour to drain this morning.  Slow drain again.  I flushed my catheter and it made it go a little faster.  I was only able to pull out 1900 when I normally UF 2400.  Took 2 tablets of Dulcolax this morning.  So I hope tonight's drain will be better.  This is happening too often now.  I'm just frustrated.

[CW]

I am so sorry you are having PD troubles rookiegirl
I know the feeling !
I hope your drains get more regular and your catheter stops giving you trouble.

Sincerely,

CW

[Kini]

So Sorry you having this problem again, I know it can be so frustrating  I have been having the same problem with my daughter's dialysis the past couple of weeks, after a night of many drain alarms, her UF was -310. I can always tell too, she does not look good. I to will try the ducolax thing today, and heprin again. It's been hot here and I do think that plays a part in this. I wish I had the answer too. If she is not draining better by Mon. I will take a sample to be tested. It sure makes for some long nights, I hope this works out for you. Just know your not alone.