Struggling

[murf]

After nearly five years on dialysis, I am struggling with the process. Sure, I have had bad days but always seem to bounce back. Recently, I have been put onto PD and I like it. But it is not clearing very well leaving a fair amount of toxins. Consequently, I wake up feeling crook and immediately begin to dry retch. The team put me onto bigger bags (2.5l) to help draw out the toxins. But this means that I am taking off huge amounts of fluid and my BP can be really low (88/50- once) and that means I am often short of breath and dizzy. The worst part is that I am grumpy with my family and friends which is not like me at all. I even resent it when my friends say how well I look when I know that I feel crap. Sorry about the whinging but writing this might help to get frustration off my chest. 

[glitter]

we like to use the word 'venting' and this is the perfect place to do that! At least here, people dont just sympathize-they understand. If writing about it helps, then feel free to vent away. There are alot of people here on PD and hopefully they have some ideas to help you. 

[KICKSTART]

Im the other way round ! I did PD . loved it and felt great , now im on hemo i have more bad days than good !  The thing i dont get is , putting you on bigger bags wont improve your clearance ! Yes it will pull more fluid off but that doesnt = getting rid of toxins. Its sounds like you need more exchanges , how many do you do per day or are you on the cycler at night ? I did manuals for 5 years! and felt great , then i decided to give the cycler a go and went really downhill. I suggest you ask about more exchanges , that way you dont re-absorb the fluid, which is what you may be doing ? I used to find if i left it in for approx 4 hours i started to re- absorb it and of course the toxins that where in it ! 

[RichardMEL]

Gee Murf - you're a pretty positive bloke - but we all have our down times. I had a bit of a pity party myself just last week over something pretty trivial and started thinking why do I bother and all that sort of thing. I don't know enough about PD to suggest anything there but perhaps you need to take this issue up with your treatment team so they can help in some way.

I'll be thinking of you mate!

[Red from Canada]

Murf---If your PD is not getting the clearances you need after 5 years, maybe it is time to try a hybrid.  PD six nights a week and hemo one night a week.  It will still give you a fair amount of freedom, but will boost your clearances.

[KICKSTART]

Actually Murf , ive re-read your post and it could be that PD is coming to an end ! Sorry mate ! This is what happened to me .. i got just over 5 years out of it . I dont think they will bother with hybrid if it is.

[peleroja]

Whine away, murf.  You and all the rest of us are entitled to whine once in a while.  I don't usually whine about my dialysis; it's my arthritis that gets me down.  Johnny Ray sang "go ahead and cry."  Well, I say, "go ahead and whine!"

[billybags]

Sorry to hear that Murf but as Kickstart says, you could be coming to the end of the road with PD. Your best bet is to talk to your neph or nurse. How long is it since they have done a clearance test?

[okarol]