Peritoneal Catheter Placed

[Kathymac2]

Hi all,

So I had a buried peritoneal catheter placed last Thursday.  All went well during the surgery and I came home in the afternoon.  I'm still in the feeling sore post-op stage and looking forward to getting more used to this feeling of having a catheter in my abdomen so it doesn't feel so weird.  One good thing - I totally lost my appetite so maybe I'll be able to lose a few pounds (ha, ha) 

No follow-ups with the surgeon and I don't have to see my nephrologist until December, so I'm hoping for a quiet couple of months.

Two things I learned during this process:  (1) a dialysis nurse marked my abdomen prior to surgery with a permanent marker and (2) I now have a titanium connector in my abdomen - part of the catheter I guess.

If you are contemplating this surgery for yourself, it's not a barrel of laughs, but it's certainly do-able.

Kathy

[kickingandscreaming]

Congratulations!  When I had my PD catheter installed I felt like on the the victims in the movie "Alien."  All these weird bumps on my stomach.  I was waiting for an Alien to burst out at any moment. Now I'm used to it.  My abdomen won't be winning any beauty contests in the future.

[Kathymac2]

Yep. I can totally see the Alien similarity (down boy!).  I'll sure be glad when this soreness goes away.

Kathy

[kickingandscreaming]

I'll sure be glad when this soreness goes away.

This too shall pass.  It takes a couple of days for the laporoscopic gas to dissipate and the incision soreness to calm down. Give it time.

[cassandra]

Well done Kathy, glad to hear all went well.


Love, luck and strength, Cas

[Fabkiwi06]

My icepack was my best friend for the first week after my surgery. Didn't need the painkillers for more than a day, though.

Glad yours went well! Speedy healing to you!

[Kathymac2]

Thanks for the good wishes. Another week and I should be good to go.

It's so nice to be part of a community who really gets what you are going through when your kidneys poop out. Most of you have been there and done that and remember how it felt. You give great support.

Thanks.   Kathy

[IOnlyGet5]

I'm looking at surgery for PD catheter placement soon & have a question... I have a dog to walk & am concerned I won't be up to it when I get home from surgery...he's only 27 lbs but he can pull really hard when he wants to.  Based on how you felt after surgery wold you have been able to walk a dog do you think?  If not, how long did it take you to be up & around?

He's very attached to me (& no one else) so I don't have a choice of putting him in a kennel for a few days. 

When I became ill last year I found he cannot be kenneled. I thought maybe I'd get a doggie lawn for patio he could do his business on if I really can't walk him after coming home from surgery  or the next day.

[kickingandscreaming]

Can you hire a dog walker?  You may be tired and sore for a couple of days.  I didn't want to walk much right after the surgery, but I could have. Fortunately, my dog is old and I have a fenced in yard.  But I also sometimes hire a dog walker.

[Charlie B53]

Laparoscopic?  My Surgeon made a 3 inch gash across my belly so he could stick his WHOLE hand in!  I think.

Either way, I was still able to be up and around afterwards.  Fortunately our dogs don't have to be kept on a leash out here in the sticks.  But I think I could have, if I kept the leashes short.

You may be surprised how your dog reacts to your surgery.  They KNOW when you aren't 'Right' and they will adjust their behavior to your condition.  Our Pets are far smarter and perceptive than most give them credit.

[Simon Dog]

You might ask you doc if there was a medical reason why he didn't do it laprascopically or if he was just not schooled on the technique.  Mine was done laparascopically with absolutely no pain at any time.  None.

As to dogs - my dog always sits on the couch to my wife's right side.  She had major shoulder surgery, and the dog started sitting on her left side ... without being asked.

[IOnlyGet5]

Can you hire a dog walker?  You may be tired and sore for a couple of days.  I didn't want to walk much right after the surgery, but I could have. Fortunately, my dog is old and I have a fenced in yard.  But I also sometimes hire a dog walker.

Unfortunately he would probably bite a dog walker.  However, i may have found a temporary option!  He bit my roomate's  caregiver he thought was trying to kick him (she wasn't but she was repeatedly kicking something out of the way right in front of him & he interpreted it as meant to cause him harm & dashed up & bit her before I could restrain him). So he had to go to vet's boarding for quarantine (state law). They said there was ONE employee he'd let take him outside long enough to do business.  He wouldn't eat much  or play or interact with anyone except to bark in fear & warning (looks like a small dachshund mix  but sounds like a doberman... vet said his barking is b/c he's  terrified of everything). I know he's terrified of the tiny mewling kitten he can only hear on balcony above & that I have to muzzle him for any vet exam b/c of fear & his attempts to defend against those trying to help him. The one day his chosen employee was off work he wouldn't go out with anyone else & had an accident in his cage. 

It's not ideal ... but I've scheduled him to go back there the afternoon before surgery through two days after IN CASE I need it. Hopefully I'll feel well enough to get him back late the day after surgery but in case I don't I know he's safe...not happy...but in a safe place where they'll take as good care of him as he'll let them.

My main worry about him is that he gets SO excited to see me come back (even if I've only left him home long enough to run through drive thru a block away) that he jumps up repeatedly like a canine jack-in-the-box ... front paws hitting me right about where I think I'm going to be most sore/where catheter is.  I have been trying to train him NOT to but we moved recently & it's slowed his learning.

I'm thinking of holding a thick pillow in front of my abdomen when I pick him up to protect myself until he's gotten it out if his system & calmed down.

My other concern is that I'm very short & when I drive my abdomen is touching the steering wheel b/c I have to have the seat so far forward to reach the pedals...I can see that keeping me grounded for a few days & no one else here drives. I've got a ride to & from surgery but after that it's up to me b/c my roommate is unable to drive since her stroke.














Sp mod Cas

[cassandra]

Hi Iog5 I think you might want to leave picking up such a scared dog for a bit after surgery. Better safe than sorry?


Wishing you all the best for your surgery, Cas

[PrimeTimer]

Maybe what they call a "thunder shirt" for your dog will help keep him calm while you're away.

[IOnlyGet5]

He has a thundershirt but I haven't noticed it does much to  alter his behavior. I may invest in some calming treats a trainer suggested this summer when working with him.  Thanks for the suggestions folks!

[smartcookie]

My vet told me to give my dog Benadryl for anxiety.  One mg for each pound.  That might be a solution for a bit.  I would suggest having a friend or family member come over and help take care of him when you are better.  That way he is used to another person and you will have someone that he trusts when you go through stuff like this.  I know how hard it is to have a scared dog.  My dog was neglected and grew up in a dog hoarding situation.  She will only come to and sit with me.  She does let other people care for her, fortunately.   

[Michelle2016]

I had two medium size dogs when I had PD surgery. I walked dog everyday without any problems. Just make sure wash hands frequently.


Wish you the best.

[IOnlyGet5]

Good suggestions. Unfortunately Buster Brown has never positively responded to anyone else so he won't let anyone else walk him or take care of him.  I decided to have him boarded at vet -there is one employee there he will let take him out to do business. It's not ideal but they will take the best care of him he'll allow & will repeat liver blood test when I pick him up on Friday so I can muzzle him (if he doesn't fight me much) otherwise I'll take him back when I'm not in as much pain.