Cycler Panic

[Ken Shelmerdine]

Baxter have just called me to say they will be taking in my cycler on Thursday to service it and leaving a replacement. I'm a bit worried because I know that the noise level they make varies between cyclers.

Although my own cycler is fairly quiet it did take some time to get used to it as it used to wake me up on each fill and drain. If I get one that's noisier there's no way I'm going through that again. I asked whether they could return the same cycler after service but they said I have to  keep the replacement because my own cycler just goes on a conveyor with lots of others being seviced at the same time.

I think Illl put my initials on the underside and then they will have to identify it and send it back to me. I don't care what they might say about defacing their equipement, I'm not going to put up with a crap cycler. On the other hand I may be worrying unnecessarily you never know, maybe the replacement will be quieter.

[Kini]

Hi Ken, I understand you worry about them taking your machine. When my daughter first started on PD 5 yrs ago I didn't know a thing but shortly found out the machine they sent was a refurbished machine !! Not acceptable to say the least, knew something was not right with it. She uses a Fresenius machine and it was pretty quiet but just a month ago they changed her machine, they are no longer making the bags that hang on the bottom, changed the set up. But even still the machine it's self is pretty quiet. Go ahead and mark it and see if you get your machine back,,, good idea. but if your not happy with once it is back see if you can try Fresenius.. good luck 

[Ken Shelmerdine]

Kini I think the British NHS only have a contract with Baxter for APD. I've heard the fresenious machines are almost silent because they work on gravity rather than the pumping action of Baxteer

[peleroja]

lol, I'm on my 5th machine now, mainly due to the noise.  I kept calling them at 2 in the morning to complain.  Finally I figured out that with an extensionr I could put the machine out in the hallway while I slept relatively quietly in my bed.  If you have enough room and the noise is really that bothersome (it was for me), you might think about an extension to the patient liner and moving the machine.

[Kini]

Ken, Sorry you can't get the Fresenius machine there  it is quiet the only slight noise is when it kicks into a drain and it's just the valve opening. Good Luck and I hope you get YOUR machine back. I have never dealt with Baxter but have been ready post of people that do.
 

[Ken Shelmerdine]

lol, I'm on my 5th machine now, mainly due to the noise.  I kept calling them at 2 in the morning to complain.  Finally I figured out that with an extensionr I could put the machine out in the hallway while I slept relatively quietly in my bed.  If you have enough room and the noise is really that bothersome (it was for me), you might think about an extension to the patient liner and moving the machine.

Peleroja and Kini thanks for your posts . Unfortunately I can't put the cycler in the upstairs hallway because it would then be right outside my wife's bedroom door and she has to sleep with ther door open so it would then keep her awake. Anyway today's the day they deliver the replacement cycler so watch this space.

[Bajanne]

We're watching and hoping for you.

[Ken Shelmerdine]

The replacement Baxter came yesterday and I used it last night. Mixed feelings about it. On the one hand it's quieter than my other one during dwell time and you can still do the silent dwell time trick with it but it's slightly noisier during fills and drains and in particular there's this kindof fizzy humming noise going on when it drains. I'm just wondering if something in the machine is resonating with the wooden top of the stand that it's on. I might try putting a towel under next time  to deaden the sound. If that doesn't work it's going back pronto! 

[MiSSis]

Hi Ken,

I use a Fresenius machine but I can sure relate to the noise problems you're having.  Just recently I was changed from the older Safe-Lock system to Fresenius' Stay-Safe system.  I'd been on the older machine for almost 5 years and had to have my machine switched out only once before.  The old one was really quiet with only a very slight humming noise when the valves opened and closed for fills and drains.  The design of the new one is different and Fresenius has added a pump that pumps fluid from the weighed drain bag into waste bags.  The darn pump makes a strange clicking noise that kept my husband and me awake for most of the first night.  But after just a few days, I noticed that we weren't waking up any more and I just don't seem to hear the machine as much.  Guess we've just gotten used to new noises now.  There are several other things I don't like about the supposedly new and improved system but at least I'm sleeping better at night now.

[peleroja]

I put a towel under my machine and it did help cut the noise.  Keep us posted!

[Ken Shelmerdine]

I put a towel under my machine and it did help cut the noise.  Keep us posted!

Peleroja since I put a thick towel under the machine it is a lot quieter and now bearable. Thanks for that.