I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: GonePostalWV on April 19, 2009, 05:04:28 AM

Title: PKD: First cyst rupture since starting Dialysis question
Post by: GonePostalWV on April 19, 2009, 05:04:28 AM
Hello folks,
Haven't posted much since introducing myself a couple of weeks ago... but I've been busy
getting thru day by day  ;D.  I'm handling the dialysis fairly well.  Other than the sticks at
the beginning... and the standard bout of leg cramps practically every treatment I'm doing
pretty good. 

(Where I'm going to dialysis straight from my walking mail route... I tend to cramp a bit
whether they're pulling fluids or not.  So far I've told them to dialysize me... and pull
fluids as a last resort.)

I'm up to the 15 gauge needles, and they are running me at 400, with a change to 450 this
week , I think.  Size 160 dialyizer if that's important.

My question is... I haven't had any problems with cysts rupturing from my PKD for several years.
I've been feeling rough the past week or so... hinting that a problem was coming.  This weekend
I started experiencing the flank pain and the slightly "kicked in the nether regions" feeling that
is a sign of a cyst about to go "boom".  Well, last night it happened, and I'm now passing the
blood in my urine. (Not real bad yet.... just looks a nice shade of dark pink  :o)

I'm wondering should I call my Neph's phone line this weekend and try to get someone to call
me in some antibiotics as a preventative measure?  I have a few hydrocodones to help me with
the pain... but worry about an infection.  Not sure if I'm more prone to one since starting dialysis...
but figure I should ask the experts to be on the safe side.

I could probably wait til dialysis tomorrow night.... but thought I'd check with the group.

Thanks in advance for any info...
Title: Re: PKD: First cyst rupture since starting Dialysis question
Post by: kristina on April 19, 2009, 05:20:00 AM
Hallo GonePostaWVl - just read your letter - unfortunately I cannot help you with any advice because I haven't started with the process of dialysis  etc. yet -  just wanted to tell you how very sorry I am and I do hope you get sorted soon because what you write sounds rather serious. All the best from Kristina.
Title: Re: PKD: First cyst rupture since starting Dialysis question
Post by: GonePostalWV on April 19, 2009, 05:43:55 AM
Thanks for the reply and kind words kristina...

Just wanted to emphasize to the non Policystic Kidney Disease folks out there,
cysts rupturing is not that unusual of an occurrence.  With PKD my kidneys are
about 3 times the size they should be... and look like they are full of little balloons <g>.

(Basically if I'm explaining it right, cysts form on the kidney from the pkd... they are
filled with fluid and blood.  They range in size from little tiny things, on up to in my
case the size of a good sized tangerine.)

You can go for years without one rupturing, but occasionally one will get too full, and
"pop", it ruptures and sends the blood mostly out via your urine.

(The pain from PKD comes mainly from the full cysts pressing on nerve endings in the
kidneys.... Some Nephrologists think the pain is in your mind.... but I disagree !!
It's in my blooming kidney, and hydrocodone is my friend  :2thumbsup;)

Normally when one goes your at an increased risk for infection.  I'm just concerned
that I'm more of a risk because of the dialysis.  It's not as bad as it sounds... just
freaked me out the first time it happened.  (Looked like I was passing 30 weight motor oil  ;D)
Title: Re: PKD: First cyst rupture since starting Dialysis question
Post by: cloud393 on April 19, 2009, 05:01:23 PM
Just read your post. I too have PKD and have recently started Peritoneal Dialysis. I don't recall being told anything about what to do if a cyst ruptures. I would give the doc a call just to be on the safe side.  If anything, it might make you rest easier.  Good luck.
Title: Re: PKD: First cyst rupture since starting Dialysis question
Post by: Ang on April 19, 2009, 05:50:13 PM
as  a  pkd  who  has  been  there  and  done  that,  blood  in  the  urine  can  last  as  long  as  4  hours  out  to  2  weeks.

as  i'm  in  oz,docs  in  the  states  may  do  things  differently,  but  i  was  advised  to  wait  it  out.


if  fluid  is  not  a  drama ,  drink  to  try  and  flush  it  out.


hope  this  helps. :thumbup;
Title: Re: PKD: First cyst rupture since starting Dialysis question
Post by: Wattle on April 19, 2009, 10:11:08 PM
as  a  pkd  who  has  been  there  and  done  that,  blood  in  the  urine  can  last  as  long  as  4  hours  out  to  2  weeks.

as  i'm  in  oz,docs  in  the  states  may  do  things  differently,  but  i  was  advised  to  wait  it  out.


if  fluid  is  not  a  drama ,  drink  to  try  and  flush  it  out.


hope  this  helps. :thumbup;

I agree with Ang. I have been told to rest and wait it out. I find a hot pack helps with the pain (as well as the drugs). Dialysis will not make you anymore susceptible to an infection.

I feel for you ...  cyst bursts are a huge pain in the   :sir ken;

 :cuddle;


Title: Re: PKD: First cyst rupture since starting Dialysis question
Post by: kitkatz on April 19, 2009, 10:28:00 PM
I would call the neph and ask for an opinion over the phone.
Title: Re: PKD: First cyst rupture since starting Dialysis question
Post by: Wattle on April 20, 2009, 06:19:50 AM
I would call the neph and ask for an opinion over the phone.

And yeah... what Kitkatz says also. Can never ask too many questions!
Title: Re: PKD: First cyst rupture since starting Dialysis question
Post by: paul.karen on April 30, 2009, 01:01:00 PM
LOL  for a neph to say a PKD pain is in your mind is shameful.  I get very VERY bad pains.  And i have had several bubbles burst so to say.  Usually not to bad passing the skin from the cyst can be painful.  Last time i peed what looked like pure blood for about three days.
My neph said it is all part of having PKD.  the cysts pop and that is that.
I never heard or even thought it could cause an infection.  But i ques it makes sense that it could.