In an excruciating amount of pain

[Punkybruister84]

The past few nights I think I've been getting air in my catheter. I hook up and then I get a
 Huge amount of pain on my abdomen chest shoulders and limbs. I've had this pain before ( chest and shoulders) after awhile it went away and I was told it was air. So I'm figuring this is the same. The pain has gôtten to the point where not only can I not get comfortable at all but I've got hôt flashes and started sweating. I called my pd nurse she thinks its constipation and told me not to call Baxter because they will open a report on them.  I ha
Be been on the same pd  machine for over a year. When I was in training with this machine ( at a different dialysis center) the cassette door came open during priming the pd nurse there said " that's not supposed to happen" but still issued me this machine. The pd nurse I see now said if there were air bubbles in any of the lines the machine would alarm and turn off. But like I said I have had air in the lines before. The machine never alarmed or anything. 
All the pd nurse told me to do was do manual exchanges today. I didn't get
A chance to Because I'm so exhausted and slept most of the day. Not to mention I don't have everything I thought I did for manual exchanges.

[amanda100wilson]

Constipation does not cause that type of pain.  It is caused by air trapped under your diaphragm in the peritoneum. This irritates the phrenic nerve which causes referred shoulder pain.  As far as I am aware, she iis talking crap since I do not believe  that constipation can  cause this type of pain.  Baxter technical support are a resource that you can and should use, and not be dissuaded from using, if you believe that this is a technical Issue which it sounds like it is, since there is really no other explantion as to why this should be happening.  I have done PD for a total of ten years and this only ever happened during manual exchanges when I didn't prime lines properly.  I do not believe that this is a medical issue, and I believe that you are well within your rights to phone Baxter and ask their advice.  I am not aeare that there is any adverse outcome for your nurse or unit as a consequence of you phoning Baxter; technical  suppory is part of their service.  DO NOT be dissuadec by her., phone them about it.

[jeannea]

You can still have air even if your macine is working. But I believe you. If you think there's a problem you should call Baxter. Or if your nurse doesn't want you to call then she could give you a different machine. You don't have to just be in pain. Meanwhile, when you feel the pain, get out of bed and move around. Bend over, stretch up, try different positions to get the air moving. Then swear a lot. Studies show it helps with the pain.

Stick up for yourself. Get a working machine.

[Punkybruister84]

Hi guys, thanks for the replies. I switched to manual for a bit. Have been moving around and stuff. Unfortunately I'm still in pain. So .. I dunno, i figure it doesn't matter whether I do manual or cycler. The pain is still there. So I'm going to go back on the machine tonight if pain gets worse, you bet I'll be calling Baxter! I honestly don't care who's reputation ( Davita or whoever) I effect anymore. I'm already having issues with getting a transplant done ( long story, but I have a donor) the hospital are the ones holding everything up at this point. I just want things to be a little easier.

[jeannea]

I think at this point you also need your nurse to do a culture. If you're in pain all the time there's a chance you could have peritonitis. Go into the clinic and get a sample taken. It's important.

[amanda100wilson]

 Air pain usually dissipates in about 48 hours, so there may be a different cause.

[komomai]

Is your drain cloudy?  It should be clear, if not go to your kidney doctor to check for an infection.  I used to bring in a small sample in a used water bottle when my drains came out cloudy.  Then I got my doctors email address and just used my phone to take a picture to send it in to him.  Don't mess around with infections, as on my 2nd one it settled on my PD tube and according to the doctors the end in my stomach was covered in pus, which put me on hemodialysis.  Hope you get better.