training for capd.

[hephziba]

horray, after 3 months of waiting today I got a phone call from the unit, they finally have a free cycler machine and If I go for training next wed-friday, I can have it, if not they will give it to the next in line.

so we are going for training next week, ive been doing five manual exchanges for 2 1/2 months now, which gets me down occaisionally, I mean It just seems to much to fit in to my days.

anyway my question: I will be on a baxters machine, do you know if I have to be high up to drain or low down to fill ? .as I understand the baxters cycler works by gravity, I could be wrong but was just wondering,  as we sleep on a matress on the floor.

Secondly I don't allways sleep well, How do any of you cope with that when you are on a cycler?

also any other advice or info you can give us is greatly apreciated.

[Ginger]

The Baxter cycler works with a pump to get the fluid in and out of you. The Fresenius one works on gravity.  You will want a very low table to put the cycler on as you want it approximately the same level as your mattress. It will fill and drain no matter what position you are in unless the tubing gets kinked, then it will alarm. You can order patient extension lines to add to the cycler tubing to give you more space to move away from the machine once you are hooked up. If you order 'flexicaps' you can even disconnect after the first fill and then just before the first drain, reconnect.  You may find that the first couple of nights the sounds the pump makes interfere with your sleep until you get used to them. The sounds become background noise after while.

The training is very easy and I think you will like the cycler very much. I'm happy they finally have one for you. I sure like mine.

[angieskidney]

I was on Fresenius last and it had its own stand and was pretty high so for it I had to sleep on a normal bed. NOT on the floor

I was doing the cycler (but the Fresenius one) for almost 5 whole years. Good luck and you will love it!


I have seen the Baxter Cycler machines in a Kidney Symposium I went to but since I had to switch from PD to HD .. when my unit switched to Baxter I never got to try the Baxter Cycler out. Tell me how you like it! I am curious

[anja]

Congrats, Heph, on being the next to get a cycler!   You are going to LOVE it!  There will be no problem with sleeping on the mattress on the floor~  When I visited relatives out of state, I just sat the Baxter on the floor next to me.  It worked like a charm.  I am sad to say that they have talked me into TRYING the Fresenius cycler for a month, been on it 2 nights and both have been a fiasco!!!  I hate it already, the tubing, the alarms, the shorter patient line, the scales, you name it, I don't like it.  Maybe if I had been started on the F. instead of the Baxter, all these things wouldn't be such a big deal, but... now that I know EASY- I hate switching to NOT so EASY!  My bed must be too high for the machine (I have drawers underneath) so I always alarm on drains and fills so they are shipping me an extension to put on the pole.  This outfit is so cumbersome to move around, I constantly worry that it is going to tip over!  Maybe things will get better, I can only hope, maybe I am grumpy from lack of sleep (thanks to the alarms at all hours...) maybe I will make it through the month, maybe not!  I told them I would give it a go for a month and then said," if I want to remain with the Baxter, do I have to change Dialysis Units?"  They said that they would let me stay on it here if I wanted.  We shall see if they keep their word. ( I hope I can keep mine!!!!)   Anyway, enjoy your Baxter! (I sure miss mine!)

[goofynina]

Hey Heph,  Just wondering how you are doing with the cycler?  Any questions, comments, concerns you know we are here for ya and we'd love to hear what ya have to say....

[hephziba]

Hi Nina, Im not actually on it, My wife and I are going for training next wednesday- thurday. we are really looking forward to the freedom, especially as we are off on a two week holiday in a couple of weeks. I will continue this thread and let you all know how training goes and how we settle into it and stuff.

I was wondering when you were going to post your usually the first..

[goofynina]

Ooooh, i am soooo excited for you,  i have been on it for going on 2 months and it was the best decision i have ever made, well, almost best decision, i guess marrying this guy here would be my first   My hunka hunka burning love, lol,  Training and the cycler is a breeze, for easy alot to remember BUT, once you get a routine its easy peasy lemon squeezy.  I look forward to hearing how your adventure is going so please keep in touch,  say hi to the Little Lady for me    

[angieskidney]

Congrats, Heph, on being the next to get a cycler!   You are going to LOVE it!  There will be no problem with sleeping on the mattress on the floor~  When I visited relatives out of state, I just sat the Baxter on the floor next to me.  It worked like a charm.  I am sad to say that they have talked me into TRYING the Fresenius cycler for a month, been on it 2 nights and both have been a fiasco!!!  I hate it already, the tubing, the alarms, the shorter patient line, the scales, you name it, I don't like it.  Maybe if I had been started on the F. instead of the Baxter, all these things wouldn't be such a big deal, but... now that I know EASY- I hate switching to NOT so EASY!  My bed must be too high for the machine (I have drawers underneath) so I always alarm on drains and fills so they are shipping me an extension to put on the pole.  This outfit is so cumbersome to move around, I constantly worry that it is going to tip over!  Maybe things will get better, I can only hope, maybe I am grumpy from lack of sleep (thanks to the alarms at all hours...) maybe I will make it through the month, maybe not!  I told them I would give it a go for a month and then said," if I want to remain with the Baxter, do I have to change Dialysis Units?"  They said that they would let me stay on it here if I wanted.  We shall see if they keep their word. ( I hope I can keep mine!!!!)   Anyway, enjoy your Baxter! (I sure miss mine!)

Don't worry! It won't tip over! But it does sound like you should stick with Baxter if you had no troubles with it. I mean .. why switch to one you like less right??

The alarms get less after a bit as your body adjusts to the new machine and you don't sleep on the lines so much. If you are still having trouble with drains by the end I would suggest switching back to Baxter. Sometimes I had to sit up to get a better drain .. and then sleep ... can be annoying but it wasn't so bad .. just the first drain I had to do this with on some nights.

[Hephs-little-lady]

Just got back from hephs training, real tired and hot, but ill let you know how it went later

[Hephs-little-lady]

This is my account, i'm sure Heph will write one later too! 

We just finished the second and final day of Heph's training for the cycler and bought Boris (the cycler) home.

  The training, well wasn't really training at all. Yesterday the nurse showed us how to put him on, take him off and that was it. Heph had a go in the afternoon.

Today, they left us to it with a manual as the unit was really busy and the nurse who does the training is also the senior member of staff so was called away lots. Heph was really good though    and put himself on twice today without any help.

  The nurse did manage to give us 10 minutes of her time and showed us how to set the machine and change settings and over ride draining if it hurts or whatever so tonight we are on our own at home. We do have numbers to call if we get stuck or need any help.

She was a lovely nurse though and would be an excellent trainer if she didn't have to do 60 things at one time.

Now I just need to re arrange the bedroom so we can get all the stuff in and set up and so Heph is nearer the door and able to get up easy if he needs to!  Why is nothing ever simple?

  I'll let you all know how I like it after a night or two!

[angieskidney]

another good thing is to have a small table nearby for any addictional supplies (small things) and the manual for easy access

I bought a small table for $30 (Canadian) that had a small drawer on the front of it. I also put stickied hooks for scissors and another to hold a towel incase of any accidents with the dialysate. Of course my cycler was Fresenius.