First night on the Baxter concerns

[MelissaJean]

I just finished my first night of the Baxter Cycler and I experienced a lot of pain; cramps when I am draining, and pain from bloating when I am filling.  I called the nurse and she said she didn't know why but she thinks it is because I am thin (5'3 92lbs) and I am being irritated.  She thinks they need to reprogram the machine.  It was 4am so I didn'task too many questions.  Has anyone else experienced this?  Also, How did they not catch this from my 10+ trainings that I am small?  Is this an honest mistake or should I be annoyed?

[angieskidney]

I just finished my first night of the Baxter Cycler and I experienced a lot of pain; cramps when I am draining, and pain from bloating when I am filling.  I called the nurse and she said she didn't know why but she thinks it is because I am thin (5'3 92lbs) and I am being irritated.  She thinks they need to reprogram the machine.  It was 4am so I didn'task too many questions.  Has anyone else experienced this?  Also, How did they not catch this from my 10+ trainings that I am small?  Is this an honest mistake or should I be annoyed?

wow you are lucky you can call a nurse at 4am (I can't ).

Didn't you fill and drain during trainings? Did you have pain then? I would think it would not have been different doing it on your own. But you probably have the dialysate in longer than you did during training. How much do you put in? Maybe you are too small for it. Who knows. You are pretty small. And with all that fluid it does take up a LOT of room (and will end up making you look pregnant).

Sorry I can't be more helpful since I was on the Fresenius Cycler and not Baxter.

Also if you didn't have a lot of fluid to drain it might pull? And cause a little discomfort you are not used to yet?

[toad]

i have been on the baxter cycler for 3 years i had the same problems at first...they eventually reprogrammed my machine...ask your nurses if u can go on the tidal cycle what this is is it leaves approximately 200-300 mils in every drain.only does a complete drain on the final drain lots more comfortable....your size u should probably be using just 1500 ml fill...if u have any other questions feel free to ask

[hephziba]

Dear Melissa Jean, Is this your first time doing pd, I know you are on a cycler but were you on capd before hand. I had a lot of pain both filling and draining when I first changed from haemo to capd. you peritoneum gradually gets used to having fluid inside and then the pain stops, also if you are constipated this can lead to pain when you fill or drain.

the pain went within a week for me, and now Its fine. let me know how you get on

[goofynina]

Hi there,  When i first started PD, i too hurt like hell (and i am a large woman)  so it is very normal to feel pain until your peritoneum adjusts and adapts to the amount of fluid you are putting in.  Dont give up,  in the long run, you will be very thankful you didnt, 

[jdat]

It will take time before you are fully used to it.

The catheter will take a while before it's in a comfortable position.

Over time I also realized that depending on the way you are in your bed during the exchanges on the cycler make a world of a difference. You need to try different positions.

Best of luck! Drain pain is no fun 

[JerseyGirl]

Ask your nurse what your fill volumes are.  Usually when I put patients on the cycler I increase their fill volumes as when you lay supine you should be able to tolerate higher fill volumes.  Remember the more dialysate you get is the better dialysis you get, and the more dialysis you receive improves your kt/v ( clearances).  It does take time to adjust to the fact that you are literally bathing every part of your peritoneum when you are lying flat and different areas are stretching. I train patients on the Fresno's Newton IQ cycler-does not have a pump just works by gravity.  Your nurse may suggest increasing your volumes gradually to decrease discomfort.

[JerseyGirl]

That's the Fresenius Newton IQ cycler - not Fresno BTW.  Sorry about the misspelling (EPOMAN) tee hee!

[angieskidney]

That's the Fresenius Newton IQ cycler - not Fresno BTW.  Sorry about the misspelling (EPOMAN) tee hee!

That is what I was on! ! Does Baxter's pumps make you feel differently than Fresenius' gravity method? I found that with Fresenius Newton IQ cycler the only discomfort I had was when I was draining and it was near the end of drain.

Maybe your Baxter's pumping method makes more discomfort? I wouldn't know myself..

[jdat]

I can't compare the Baxter Homechoice cycler with Frenesius as I never tried the Frenesius one.

I will say that I usually only experieced paind near the end of the drain if I had any pain, this goes for manual exchanges as well as with the cycler.
Add to this that the pump can cause some more severe pains at times, and if you are really suffering I recommend you hit the red stop button , maybe change your position and once it's better hit the green start button again.

[angieskidney]

I can't compare the Baxter Homechoice cycler with Frenesius as I never tried the Frenesius one.

I will say that I usually only experienced pain near the end of the drain if I had any pain, this goes for manual exchanges as well as with the cycler.
Add to this that the pump can cause some more severe pains at times, and if you are really suffering I recommend you hit the red stop button , maybe change your position and once it's better hit the green start button again.

Good advice! I find the Fresenius one is more like manual (CAPD) exchanges.

[MelissaJean]

Thank you everyone for all of your help!! I am relieved to know that this pain is something that will lessen over time.  I did do the manual exchange in the clinic during training and had no pain.  I really appreciate all of your responses!  I will ask my nurses the questions the next time I talk to her (hopefully tomorrow).  THANKS!!!

[Panda_9]

I was on a gambro cycler at home but in hospital (which was alot), I was put on a baxter cycler. It gave me such extreme pain that I told them Im not going to use it anymore so either I do manual bags or bring the gambro machine in. Well they wouldnt let me do manual bags so I had to lug the machine in. I was talking to the gambro reps and they said the gambro machine fills and drains with a constant flow, where as the baxter flow is a bit more irregular.

If you are only 92lbs then Im not surprised it hurts!! Perhaps you could get some pain releif medications while everything is settling. Good luck, hopefully everything will settle down.

[hephziba]

Hi melissa , has the pain lessened any, how are things going with the machine now ??

[MelissaJean]

Yea no more pain!  It took about a week to get used to.  Also, the nurse had to change some settings.  I mostly have a low initial drain b/c my body is sometimes absorbs the fluid.  When I get swollen I have to use 2.5% for a couple days in order to reduce the swelling.  How is it going with you??

[hephziba]

well I am just getting over a bout of peritonitis, but yeah the dialysis seems to be working well, I tend to get the best initial drain, and I don't have any problems with fluid control so thats cool.

hope it continues to go well for you 

Heph