Dialysis Today

[jjneyjr]

My mother had a PD cath that came through her belly. The doctors here developed a cath that runs through a tunnel and comes through your chest. They have had great success from this cath as you constantly use your belly muscles all day long. I know from the incisions that this is very true. I hope to start my 2nd PD training on May 20th for my own dialysis. I watch the in center tech and the nurses like a hawk while the hook into my permcath to do my hemo. They know I know a lot so they feel under my thumb. Having all these tubes protruding from my chest makes me feel right at home. I have worked on machinery all my life and now I am an accessory. Just plug me up to hemo or PD and I am ready to go! I attached a photo of the permcath and the Missouri PD cath protruding from my chest.

[MommyChick]

But MooseMom, I don't feel "left behind" because I do in centre dialysis.  I'm in no way passive in my treatment.  Nothing is done without my say so.  I decide where the needles go (I have 3 available sites and one more developing), I decide how much fluid is taken off.  If I don't feel well halfway through the treatment, I decide if I should come off and go home.  I watch the machine, and I can alert the nurses if there's a problem with the pressures before the alarm goes off.  I don't in any way feel that I get poor treatment because in centre hemo is all that is available to me.  Would I try other modalities if they were available to me? Sure, if I thought they'd be beneficial, but the notion that I or others on in centre hemo are lazy or are getting inferior treatment simply because we are in centre is offensive.

Riki I'am with you on this!! This year will be 8 yrs In-Center Hemo & I am very pro-active in what gets done during my treatments & my nurses are with me on what I say! I don't have a problem with anyone's choice on what Dialysis is best, but I do agree with Riki on this !

[boswife]

wow jj... trip!!

[Angiepkd]

Hi,

As you read from my earlier post I was feeling REALLY desprate.  I joined ihatedialysis because I needed to know if all things I learned from my health care professionals were my only options.  I am 45 and very active.  I work to jobs - both very physical.  I am so energetic (until this ESRD) that I don't even sit down to watch TV.  I CANNOT ever see myself sitting in a chair for several hours - several days a week.  I think I would have some serious depression over that.  So, I asked about PDTI was immediately told that the cath went in my belly and my physical jobs would have to altered AND no pool and no TUB.  WHAT?  I am a water girl.  Then the dogs.  I have two small dogs who are litter box trained. (BIG NO) 

The post here were what had me looking into PD further.  Many had animals.  Some had cats with litter boxes.  So I search on.  Low and behold I find a "bath tub" cath posted somewhere in my travels.  WOW!  I research it and not only does it allow me to a bath tub but also in my pool because the cath is above my water line!  SERIOUSLY?  Why didn't my doctor tell me about this?  I as her.....she never heard of it!  So I search on.  I can't find a surgeon to do it!  THEN.....I call large hospital within 3 hours of my home. AND what do I find?  A surgeon who specializes in what they call a "missouri" cath. 

I meet with the dialysis clinic and the nurses there are excited to learn something new.  My doctor is young and didnot want anything to do with it.  So I now have a different doctor (not so young) who said "lets make it happen".  So I schedule surgery in a hospital 2 hours from home to get this cath. 

I will let you know how it goes!

You are a perfect example of how we should take charge of our health!  Hats off to you for being your own advocate and making it work for you!  Hope everything continues to work out!  Keep us posted! 

[nholleger]

I went to University of Maryland Medical Center yesterday and got my presternal PD cath placed.  More painful than I expected, but done!  If anyone here is a Star Trek fan....resistance is futile....i have been assimilated.  I feel like the  Borg queen.......

[MooseMom]

I went to University of Maryland Medical Center yesterday and got my presternal PD cath placed.  More painful than I expected, but done!  If anyone here is a Star Trek fan....resistance is futile....i have been assimilated.  I feel like the  Borg queen.......

You are not the first to feel "assimilated"!  Just do an IHD search for "Borg", and you'll see what I mean!

I really hope your cath serves you well.  I'm sure everyone at your clinic will be really impressed!  I hope your pain goes away very soon.  Good for you for doing your research and getting what you want.  You are an inspiration!

[Riki]

I went to University of Maryland Medical Center yesterday and got my presternal PD cath placed.  More painful than I expected, but done!  If anyone here is a Star Trek fan....resistance is futile....i have been assimilated.  I feel like the  Borg queen.......

You are not the first to feel "assimilated"!  Just do an IHD search for "Borg", and you'll see what I mean!

I really hope your cath serves you well.  I'm sure everyone at your clinic will be really impressed!  I hope your pain goes away very soon.  Good for you for doing your research and getting what you want.  You are an inspiration!

yep.. I say that I have regeneration cycles 3 times a week. *G*

[Simon Dog]

I refer to it as "resetting my death clock"

[lmunchkin]

I refer to it as "resetting my death clock"

[Angiepkd]

I refer to it as "resetting my death clock"

I call it "getting my oil changed" lol.  I like yours better!

[Riki]

I refer to it as "resetting my death clock"

I call it "getting my oil changed" lol.  I like yours better!

that's what my dad calls it.  I told my best friend one day that I was getting my oil changed, and she asked me if I also got a lube and filter. *LOL*

[Simon Dog]

I refer to it as "resetting my death clock"

I call it "getting my oil changed" lol.  I like yours better!

that's what my dad calls it.  I told my best friend one day that I was getting my oil changed, and she asked me if I also got a lube and filter. *LOL*

It would be reasonable to consider the heparin the lube, and you already do get a filter, so your answer would be yes.

[Riki]

I refer to it as "resetting my death clock"

I call it "getting my oil changed" lol.  I like yours better!

that's what my dad calls it.  I told my best friend one day that I was getting my oil changed, and she asked me if I also got a lube and filter. *LOL*

It would be reasonable to consider the heparin the lube, and you already do get a filter, so your answer would be yes.

She knew what I meant by oil change, but you're right.. I never really thought of it that way... there was another day when I was talking to her and I told her that I was on my way home from dialysis and she asked me how I was feeling.  I said, "drained."  She thought that was funny