Pd catheter fitted

[Charl13]

Hi everyone, so I decided to go for peretionial dialysis and 4 days post op, still a bit sore and tender but did have a walk around the garden today, borrowing my mums stick, as still can't stand up straight without feeling of pulling. But each day is progress and although done under a local and could hear what was going on, the team in Oxford Churchill were fantastic. I will have the dressing changed by my pd nurse who comes to me on Tuesday. Then I go to hospital the following week to have it re dressed again . Then week 3 I start dialysis training at home. I'm not going to lie I was terrified of the whole process but as I say I'm getting there and feeling much more positive about everything. Hopefully when I start dialysis it will relieve some of my symptoms of exhaustion, itching and shortness of breath.

So for anyone who is making the decision, go for it and good luck on your journey.

[Bingo88]

Hope everything goes well for you once you start Dialysis. It's a decision I shall have to make in the near future, but I have other health problems as well so I think I will have in department Dialysis. Take care. Brian

[qigonger]

Thank you, Charl13. I'm was hoping to meet someone on this site who is doing the PD as I've been told that dialysis is in my future. I've had CKD for years and in the past year, age 74, it's gotten worse to the point that my GFR is now 14. I have Parkinson's also and some other chronic illnesses. So I'm extremely exhausted and the past few years have been rough. Please keep us updated on how you are doing...the good, the bad and the ugly. I'm terrified too, and can totally relate. How did you make the decision to do this?

[Charl13 in reply to qigonger]

Hi there, I wanted to continue to work as I love my job working with children. I also couldn't face the thought of needles and hospital visits 3 times a week. I've been told pd is gentler on my body so it was an easier choice. I'm 5 days post op and have been for a walk around tge garden today. It's also the 1st day I've not needed any paracetamol. So slow and steady recovery but at least I'm now more comfortable.

[Beachgirl32 in reply to qigonger]

I used to do pd I had no problems doing it myself you can do it manually or machine first they will make you do manual so you know how to do it if you lose power. I like the machince cause I had my days free but pd didn’t like me I ended up with a fungal infection so I had to go to hemo but the fungal infection only happens to like 4 to 6 percent it was the catheter itself that cause my problems . My surgeon said once you have a fungal infection he woukd not put a catheter back in. Just be prepare fro all the boxes you will revived but know when they are deliver the delivery guy will bring all your boxes in. And it very important to keep your dressing where the father is clean I change my bandage every day .

[Charl13 in reply to Beachgirl32]

Thanks for the tips 👍

[qigonger in reply to Beachgirl32]

Sorry to hear that the PD didn't work, Beachgirl32. What is the hemo like for you in comparison?

[Beachgirl32 in reply to qigonger]

I’m actually doing better in hemo and I was so against it. Now I still have the chest port . Fistula they did sept 13 but it not working do I will have to get a graft in my arm. But I’m able to deal more cause I only do hemo three hours I have Sunday Monday and Friday off from hemo. On pd I had horrible drain pain every night everyone doesn’t get that drain pain but be aware it can happen sometimes I hot pain from the fill too but the drain pain took me to my knee with the fill pain I could reposition myself to get rid of the pain . They put me on tital and everything nothing got rid of my pain . With pd you have to do a ktV test every three months you do a 24 hour urine you bring in your drain bag and they do blood work you have to get a 1.7 or higher to past I had a hard time pasting with that. On hemo they do it through your blood I’m have past it each time no problems . You have to find out what is right for you as I said I hated the thought of hemo but even my kidney doctor said. Look better on hemo .

[qigonger in reply to Beachgirl32]

So glad it's working for you! You have a great attitude.

[Jepsos]

Good for you!!! I started on Hemodialysis and very quickly switched to PD. I’m so glad I did. It certainly is overwhelming at first (all of the supplies and setup and breakdown), but by the second week, it will be as routine as brushing your teeth. ☺️

I felt better on PD than Hemodialysis, but I still got short-of-breath, tired and was quite pale. My coloring was certainly better and my skin itching and swelling improved.

I found sleeping….interesting on PD. I would cycle 5 times a night. When the machine kicked on, I would wake up briefly. Sometimes I experienced “drain pain”, and I would have to move sleeping positions or get out of bed and jump up and down a couple of times (so the fluid would settle back down by the drain).

You will quickly find what works for you. Some people start their PD after a lite dinner. Other people start PD at bedtime.

You’ve got this! 👍🏻☺️

[Charl13 in reply to Jepsos]

Thanks for that info, I've got uncomfortable feeling after I've eaten already before I've even started dialysis . It's an odd pressure feeling, and takes a while to settle. Maybe I need smaller meal portions or ?? I'm doing manual exchange dialysis twice a day so hopefully I'll soon get in a routine like you say. 🤞

[Jepsos in reply to Charl13]

I did find smaller meals were helpful. I also had to have my Nephrologist adjust the amount of fluid per exchange. They do the fluid calculations based on height, weight and etc…, but everyone is so different. If you continue to be uncomfortable, make sure you ask them if you could lower the fluid amount.

Best of luck to you!