First full day on CAPD

[Adam_W]

Well, I did my full four exchanges today at home, and except for a little fine tuning that is needed by me, my doctor, and my nurses, it went really well. Even though it does have it's downsides (every type of treatment does), I can definitely say PD ROCKS! It was so nice to be able to dialyze and not have to worry about blood, needles, big machines, etc. It does feel weird walking around and doing things for four hours at a time with 2L of fluid sloshing around inside me, but it really doesn't feel as bad as I was expecting. A year ago I was so excited to have that NxStage machine in my bedroom, but now I'm saying "get that bloody thing out of here". The biggest problem I had today was removing fluid. Because I re-absorbed some fluid, and used a dextrose level that was too low on my last dwell, I ended up 1.1 kilos heavier than I was this morning. I'll get it worked out soon, though.

Adam

[Sluff]

Glad things went fairly well today. 

[Joe Paul]

Good to hear you like PD.

[MIbarra]

That's great that your first day went so well. I wish my dr. had been willing to talk to me about PD more but she just brushed that option aside. I think it was because she partly owned her own hemo dialysis unit. I'm looking forward to hearing about your experiences.

[okarol]

I hope you are videotaping your new experiences!

[David13]

Glad to hear that your PD experience is going well.  I had a feeling you would like it!   

[kimcanada]

Hi Adam, I am in about my 6th week... I had fluid problems at first also...  I used all 2.5 bags and they put me on 5 treatments a day to get it under control.  Once you get to your goal weight the gains will be minimal... keep us posted

[monrein]

  Adam

[pelagia]

Now, aren't you going to have to change your photo?  So happy to hear that it went well.  Hope you don't get seasick from that sloshing 

[mariannas]

YAY!  Glad to hear you're doing so well!  I love PD - it's so easy and no needles for a wimp like me!  You'll get used to that full feeling in no time.  Now, it's only with the first fill that I feel a bit uncomfortable.  Luckily that one isn't in very long and as soon as I drain and refill I feel totally normal (even though I feel like I look like a whale!).  One thing that *does* helps me feel less "full" is to fill a bit slowly and move around a bit (well as much as one can when tethered to the pole I suppose) - dance around a bit, lean from side to side - that seems to distribute the solution a little more evenly so I don't feel like I just ate an entire Thanksgiving turkey!

[KICKSTART]

Glad you like pd ! You will find that you re-absorb some fluid from time to time , i do if i go over my exchange time. Thats the great thing about pd though , you can be a bit more flexable!

[peleroja]

I've always loved my PD.  I do it just about anywhere.  I travel a lot with a seniors travel group and do it in the back of the bus.  I've done it in my car and even (gasp) in an airport restroom (hey, any port in a storm, right?)  I agree with others about the flexibility.  Love it.  Glad it's finally working out for you!

[Adam_W]

One of the things I like the most about PD is the flexibility of where you can do it, even without leaving home. When I'm doing my exchanges, once I'm hooked up, I can roll my IV pole anywhere in the house, and I'm not stuck in my bedroom. Next month I plan to go to the Indiana state fair, and I'm usually there all day. I plan to keep my bags in a cooler in the car, and I'll just return to the car every three hours and do my exchange in the parking lot. I have actually heard of people doing PD exchanges on airplanes. We should start a new thread: "What's the strangest/most unique place you've done a PD exchange?"

Adam

[Ken Shelmerdine]

I've always loved my PD.  I do it just about anywhere.  I travel a lot with a seniors travel group and do it in the back of the bus.  I've done it in my car and even (gasp) in an airport restroom (hey, any port in a storm, right?)  I agree with others about the flexibility.  Love it.  Glad it's finally working out for you!

How do you keep to the handwashing and cleanliness routine in such places? Surely you must be taking a risk doing an exchange in a washroom?

[peleroja]

Ken, I haven't washed my hands for dialysis in over 3 years.  I either use Purell or the handi wipes that my nephrologist gives me.  In over 5 years of PD I have never had peritonitis or any other problem.  As I once told a doctor, there is optimum and adequate.  I'm doing adequate and it works just fine for me.