Peritoneal Dialysis

[judystuddard]

Can some tell me what all is involved in Peritoneal home dialysis???

[Heatherlbrown]

I like the freedom of perotinal , but I don't sleep well anymore . The machine is nice u can hook up and it does the job for u . I currently have to do 10 hrs and although the machine does all the work I often get tangled up in the cord and just have a difficult time sleeping through it . But I'm very grateful for PD because I had a difficult time in hemodialysis. My one suggestion is make sure u have ample space to store supplies. I was shocked and not prepared for my first delivery. So if u have a big designated storage spot where u can keep supplies that's good

[TheOther_MrsRobinson in reply to Heatherlbrown]

PD involves getting your treatment through an abdominal catheter. The catheter connects up to the PD machine, and you get dialyzed typically for 9-10 hours, which is why most people do it during sleep, often referred to as "nocturnal dialysis". Your stomach also is filled about 3lbs of fluid while you are not on the machine, which is purposed for filtering waste. PD is the closest form of treatment to mimicking dialysis, since kidneys filter out waste and clear toxins from the blood 24-7. If you have a job during the day, PD also makes it easier for to do that. You can travel while on PD, but there are a TON of supplies involved, not to mention PD dialysis machines are usually larger than in-center or home-hemo machines. So traveling is made difficult, but nit impossible. As mentioned, you will have a boatload of supplies involved, which takes up alot of room in your home, especially if you live in a smaller space. You wont have to take phosphorus binders which constipate you, but you will be injecting heparin throughout the week to prevent clotting, and you may be on blood pressure medication. There are pros and cons which each form of treatment. You just have to decode which one will be most conducive to you. Hope this helps !!!

[Heatherlbrown in reply to TheOther_MrsRobinson]

I'm the opposite I take phosphorus binders but I do not use heparin

[TheOther_MrsRobinson in reply to Heatherlbrown]

oh wow thats interesting !!! I though coumadin was required for all patients, but as they say, each case is different. You must have really good blood and veins !!!

[judystuddard in reply to TheOther_MrsRobinson]

I am already on cumiadin. Thank you so much. So glad I found this site! Have a blessed day!😁

[judystuddard in reply to TheOther_MrsRobinson]

I am already on cumadin. Thanks! Have a blessed day!!

[judystuddard in reply to TheOther_MrsRobinson]

Thank you. You did an amazing job explaining the procedure!

[TheOther_MrsRobinson in reply to judystuddard]

oh wow thank you !!! So glad I could help !!! I was a healthcare professional before marrying my husband so we were trained to put things in laymen terms.

[DShack]

I am on in-center hemo twice weekly. that works great for me. I've been pushed by the "medical professionals" to go to peritoneal, but that comes with things that will not work for my active lifestyle. I would be able to go to the lake, but would not be able to get out of the boat and into the water. Everyone I know who has tried peritoneal has ended up with peritonitis at some point also.

[TheOther_MrsRobinson in reply to DShack]

yes my husband went to in center for precisely that reason, he got peritonitis very severely, and that was when we were just dating actually. In our experience hone hemo is the best form of home dialysis, but in-center is where we are staying until transplantation !!!