Does anyone here have a Gambro AK95S at home dialysis

[Scatterbrain]

Hello, I want to introduce my self; I was a musician for thirty years and a business man with a great career. One day I was told I had cancer in my left kidney. After two years they told me that they can operate to remove the kidney but I would have to start dialysis the day after my operation. So I did’t have a choice to close my business declare bankrupt and lose everything I worked for the past thirty years to build up. I was operated the day before Christmas Eve of 2006. After almost two years of training I got my dialysis machine at home. So I had three dialysis so far and it’s more work and stress than I ever had imagined. But I will give it the best I can to get this thing happening. Thank God I have a fantastic nurse that loves her job or I would have been just another patient. I had a really hard time because I understand English and she tried so hard to speak to me in broken English even if French was her language. So here is my question for this new tread. 

I just got a Gambro AK 95S at home for my dialysis after 2 years of dialysis at the hospital and I was having some problems with the bi cart, the machine always gives me an alarm telling me the fluid does not match, so I called the Gambro guys and they came to my home and check the machine and told me that I have to shake the bi cart sometimes because the powder in the bi cart gets stuck and does not flow in the hole creating a tunnel and leaves the powder on the side of the hole so the acid does not mix with the proper amount of the powder. The Gambro guys told me that other users don't have this problem, so I want to know if someone else has this machine and our you having problems.


Thank You, Scatterbrain

[G-Ma]

         I don't know the machine but it sounds like what I had in center in NC Davita..they had to keep changing and shaking the bi carb containers.  I'm sure someone else knows about this tho.
Ann

[Joe Paul]

Welcome Scatterbrain, good to have you aboard.

[willieandwinnie]

Scatterbrain. Sorry I can't help with your questions, someone on here will know. Glad you joined us, we are a wonderful group. 

[Razman]

Sorry , I can't help with the machine but I do want to welcome you to IHD.  I hope that you will visit often and share you experiences with home hemo.

[monrein]

  to IHD and I hope that someone who uses the same machine as you will respond to your question.

[Normie]

   Scatterbrain

Glad you are here.  I am sure someone can answer your questions.  Not me, as I am predialysis.

This is a great family to be part of.   

Normie

[boxman55]

Welcome to IHD please post often we are here together to help each other and also have a little fun. Welcome aboard

Boxman, Moderator

[Bajanne]

Welcome to our community.  Sorry I can't help you since i am on in-center hemo (have been for 3 years) as that is the only option available here in the British Virgin Islands.  But you are very welcome in our caring and sharing IHD family  Hope someone will be able to help you soon



Bajanne, Moderator

[jessup]

G'day and 

[Ang]

   Scatterbrain

[moonshadow22]

Hi Scatterbrain,

I have a Gambro AK200S at home and have have been on the machine for 2 years.  I have only had trouble once, and it actually righted itself, just as I was getting up to look at it.  While I was doing my training, some of the nurses told me to shake the bi-cart before I placed it in, and I do this religiously and I can't complain apart from that one time.  Mind you I give it a good shake for about 20 seconds - overboard it might be -but it has worked for me.

[Scatterbrain]

I would like to thank every one here welcoming me. You are all good people.

Well finally after the problems with the Gambro AK 95S, Finally got it working properly. The machine had to be calibrated; it was a simple adjustment that one of the experienced Gamber guys took care of. So far after six months at home dialysis I can say the machine is starting to be my friend. But still I can’t sleep when it’s turned on. I still suspect that Doctors know about this problem but having a hard time to deal with it. When I ask about this problem they simply reply, we know but Gambro can’t do anything about it. This is a problem beyond there control. I’ve herd it many times from different users that the machine keeps them awake. I did some test’s and its not the AK 95s that is the problem, the problem is in the WRO. The WRO is too loud. When I say it’s too loud I actually mean louder than the sleeping DB average of 4.5 Decibels, any sound level over 4.5 DB will not make you sleep even if you are the heaviest sleeper. The WRO of the AK95s is 5.9 Decibels that will keep any heavy sleeper awake. I tried putting ear plugs but that scared the hell out of me when an alarm went off and I could not hear it. I tried to adapt doing my dialysis in different times like after supper so I can watch TV till I get to sleep or start early morning so I’d be done by lunch time, But that interrupted by killing the valuable moments of my daily activities. To me the whole idea of this home dialysis is to give me those few extra days to enjoy the little life I have left.
So now I know there is ways around this problem but how long will I be able to endure the mental stress suffering. So I am challenged with a new decision in my life that will never be able to go back and reveres.
I  don’t have to let this sickness corner me into controlling my life, I have to fight this disease to the last fighting bullets my heart can handle, When I can’t fight anymore then I’ll simply hook myself up to my Gamby to do my last dialysis and take all the sleeping pills I own. Maybe it will be the last dialysis I ever have but I will have a full eight hours sleep in a full never ending dream that I finally had a good night sleep with a full clean dialysis the way it was supposed to be.


To Die, To Sleep, Maybe to Dream.
William Shakespeare.


Scatterbrain




Rocco Liberatore Mar-11-09

[monrein]

Any possibility of a different machine?  That's just plain crazy that it makes so much noise.