how does people feel on pd

[triplejay]

i'm new to pd . just want to know how other people feel when there on pd. i feel tierd all the time can sleep 24/7. very realy do i have energy. but when i do i spend it with my kid

[MyssAnne]

Triple, how long have you been on it?  How long had your numbers been low before you went on it? Are you at full strength that
your doctor has prescribed?  Those are questions to think of, as well as your level of anemia.  It took me a while to start to get
back to usable strength. I've never been back to full strength and I don't know if it's possible. I haven't, in the 2+ years I've been
on PD.

[triplejay]

i've hade the pd catherder in for a mounth but was not draining so hade to have another opp to see why. i'm waiting to see if it is going to work  agian in a week. just having proplems draining

[rookiegirl]

Hi Triplejay,

I've been on PD since Oct 2007.  I have my ups and downs.  Mainly, at the end of my drain.  Pinches like hell.  As for my energy, well so so.  I was anemic to begin with prior to PD.  I was taking EPO shots 3x/wk and monthly iron infusion.  Now my hemoglobin is up to 14.  They stopped my EPO shots.

[KICKSTART]

I've been doing PD fo over 3 yrs now. I think everyone finds you have good days and bad days! Energy levels never come back to what they were before dialysis sadly. I make the most of my good days and rest on my bad days , not really much else you can do.

[kimcanada]

I am getting my cath in this Monday (April 21)  I just assumed that I would have more energy on PD , I am pretty surprised that some of you don't have more energy  dang...

[MyssAnne]

Don't forget there are other factors as well. Some of us started early enough that we were able to
continue at previous levels of energy, a lot of us waited til the very last possible minute to start
dialysis, which greatly affects your energy and stamina level. Infections, procedures, operations
illnesses can also affect stamina/energy levels as well. In my case, as soon as I would start to feel
better, I'd get an infection OR have to have the tube replaced or something would go wrong,
i.e., I"d get the flu. I work full time as well, and the pressure to go back to work was always there.
A lot of times I go back to work before I am ready, simply because I don't have the sick leave to take.
That affects it as well. Heck, just working full time will do it too. Whether you do PD or HD, it wears
you out.

[st789]

Same here when I had dialysis.  Some days are up and some are so so.  Another factor is because of my Hep. B.

[MiSSis]

I can't say that my energy levels approach what they were prior to my having to start PD again in Oct 2003 after my 2nd transplant failed.  I will say, though, that it's much better now than when I did PD from Nov '83 to Dec '87.  There have been many advancements since then and although EPO, Procrit or Aranesp (whichever your doctor prescribes) isn't the same as having healthy kidneys, it's remarkable the difference it has made in how I feel this time around.  And I also hate to admit it but exercising, even a little bit, seems to increase my energy levels too.  And trust me, I HATE to exercise.  And yes, it's extremely difficult to make myself do it but if I do, I find I feel better and sleep better too.  I know it's hard to even think about exercise when you're tired all the time but even a little walk around the block or yard is helpful.  I try to do some sort of exercise 3 times a week but I'll admit that there are days when I'm just too tired to do much more than sit and read a book or play at the computer. 

Depending upon how ill you became before starting dialysis, it might take some time for you to rebuild some of your former strength and stamina but unfortunately I don't know of anyone who will tell you that you'll ever feel the same as before you ever had kidney problems.

[kimcanada]

I am not to sure if I should ask this in here but here goes...

When I was getting my first "lesson" about PD the nurse was stressing ab out stretching and not extending your arms and blah blah blah...

Well I love to exercise, but I am kinda nervous about what exercises I would be able to do???

Any suggestions?

[kitkatz]

I am not on PD, but here is thought: You are on some form of dialysis! That make you tired.

[highlite36]

Being on PD has allowed me to have the greatest sense of "normalcy" (if that's ever possible!) in my own life.  It took over a year for my body to even itself out.  The first year was hard.  But it's always hard the first year.  I was tired and uncomfortable for a while, but once everything fell into a routine, it fit my lifestyle very well.  Here's what I learned:

1.  The process of filling and draining will get easier with time.  Sometimes the line can be positional...you just gotta find the right position....  Oh yeah, and if you can....try warming up the bags to body temperature....It really helps with the filling.

2.  I was not hungry and felt tired for a very long time.  As it turns out, both were very clear signs of being under dialyzed.  Once the dialysis was regulated, my body felt MUCH better.  I can't complain much though.....I did lose about sixty pounds in the process and got REALLY HOT....even managed to catch myself a boyfriend in the process.... :-)

Hope this helps you on your way to a happy dialysis!!!

[MyssAnne]

Kim. I have NO idea what she is talking about!!! Why wouldn't you be able to stretch out your arms, or your body? I do both, all the time,
and am on PD. Maybe she's thinking of HD? With the fistulas in the arm?  Now, I was told we could not do situps, or any exercise requiring the
use of the stomach muscles. But walking is good, biking is good, swimming is good, heck, even weight training is good. 

[oleboy]

I started out doing Hemo, but had wanted to do PD now doing CCPD the initial drain cramps are the only discomfort I have and my energy levels are coming up, so overall I glad I choose this method.

[MiSSis]

Regarding exercise on PD ... I've had some heart problems so for 3 1/2 years, I attended a Phase III Cardiac Rehab program sponsored by a local hospital.  Although most of the people attending were heart patients, it's open to really anyone who would like the higher level of care provided.  By that I mean there is an RN on staff from 6am to 2pm and also an exercise physiologist to help monitor your level of exercise and make suggestions on what you might do to improve.  During the time I was there, I would walk about 1 mile, row 1-2 miles and then attend a 45 minute light aerobic/light strength training session conducted by the exercise physiologist.  Initially I would periodically have problems with low blood pressure but once I got more used to being back on PD and the docs got my BP meds straightened out, I really didn't have any problems with any of the things I was doing.  My nephs would always ask about my exercising and would tell me they wished more of their patients would do the same.  So I don't think you would have any problems either although you might want to check with your doc to find how he/she feels about it.

My problem now is that I stopped going about a year ago following a severe case of peritonitis and I just haven't gotten my head back into going again.  And I really need to!!!  More than anything, I'd like to get rid of the 10 lbs. I've put on sitting around and not doing much of anything.  Maybe admitting here how lazy I've become will give me the incentive to finally do something about it.

[peleroja]

I've been on PD for 5 years, and except when my blood pressure drops because I'm dehydrated, I feel great.  I travel frequently, mostly day trips a couple of times a week.  Sometimes there are longer trips, like to Alaska, Branson, MO by train, Sedona (just 2 months ago), and a 15 day all cruise to Hawaii coming up in November.  If you feel tired all the time, perhaps you aren't dialyzing enough or with the right solution.  Talk to your nephrologist, as you should definitely feel less tired on PD than on hemo.