PD/Cath Question

[Wayne]

I had my pd cath put in about 3 weeks ago.  Exactly one week after, I had it flushed.  Everything looked and went well.  A few days ago I had a pain below my navel, not too bad, but a little annoying.  I had given myself a procrit shot the night before so I figured maybe I had hit a bad spot.  Well it has lingered and last night, the pain has moved more to the right and lower, and is worse.  I called my neph and he saw me today and thinks that it has something to do with my cath.  So I am supposed to go to the clinic in the morning to have it flushed again...I haven't started pd yet by the way.  I know that is the general area of the appendix, but he seems to have ruled that out, but I was curious if anyone else has experienced a pain in that same area.

[Rerun]

Wayne it was a long time ago when I had my PD catheter but the pain may or may not be related.  If your catheter is infected you will get a fever.  You will know more tomorrow.  Let us know what you find out.

[Wayne]

Well, I went and had the flush.  They put in a bag and drained it.  Everything went perfectly.  I have to admit, this morning, the pain wasn't as bad as it has been the last few days.  But as the day has gone on it has returned.  It seems a little more centered right now

[rookiegirl]

I had given myself a procrit shot the night before so I figured maybe I had hit a bad spot. 

What is a procrit shot? where exactly did you inject it?

While I was recovering/healing from my catheter placement, my pain were mostly above left of my navel.  For me this is the top of my tunnel where the cath loops down.  I also had pain in the area of the incision site.  Even after 1 year on PD, I still feel pain in this area once in a while.  I guess it has to do with the scare tissue.

Hope you find out more on what's going on.  Good Luck to you.

[Wattle]

It maybe irritating the lining. When you are "filled" the catheter is able to float. I find if I try to go dry I get pain.

If the end of the catheter is placed incorrectly it will give you pain. They usually check the placement with an X-ray.

I hope it settles down for you. It does take a while to get use to. 

[Wayne]

Well, here is my update.  I got out of the hospital yesterday after a 7 day stay.  It was in fact the cath.  Origianally they thought it may have floated and moved after the flush, but after scans and xrays it was were it was supposed to be.  So on Monday, my surgeon decided to go in and see what was going on.  Well, the end of the cath was infected and was covered in puss.  The pics are quite revealing.  Anyway, he got it all cleaned and of course I had to stay several days to be observed.  It is still a little uncomfortable but not near the pain it was before.  Thanks for all of you thoughts!

[Wattle]

   Nasty!!

I am glad you are home and they found the problem. Rest well.

[okarol]

  Good thing you got treated so quickly. Take care!

[rookiegirl]

I'm glad they were able to fix the problem.  Hope you start to feel better.

[Brightsky69]

When reading your post it sounded to me like a tunnel infection. I only had my PD cath in for 2 weeks when I started to feel pain right next to my navel. The area was hard and very tender to the touch. Off to the hospital I went and they ended up having to take the cath out. That was about 3 weeks ago. They put me on hemodialysis until my stomach heals up completely. I am supposed to try and get another PD cath put in place soon. I pray the same thing doesn't happen again.

I am glad they managed to clean up your PD without having to remove it. I hope all continues to go well.