Peritoneal Dialysis

[PUREkatniss]

I would just like to share my experience with peritoneal dialysis.

If you haven't read my previous post introducing myself, here a shorter version.

I started off with emergency hemodialysis due to high blood pressure. Once my blood pressure was stabilized I was able to get my surgery for my catheter on my stomach for peritoneal dialysis. I started my peritoneal dialysis in July 2016 in the hospital. I do my peritoneal dialysis at night.

If you are unfamiliar with how peritoneal dialysis works, the treatment starts with a drain, then a fill, then a dwell and the cycle repeats itself. And depending on how long your treatment runs, this cycle will repeat every hour.

A drain pretty much is what it sounds like. The catheter that is connected to your stomach (or wherever it is placed) will drain or pull out the excess fluid in your body that was unable to release from your body (in my case I am unable to urinate so all the excess fluid in my body is being drained / pulled out). After if drains, the solution will fill into your stomach. From my understanding the solution is what cleans / cleanses your stomach from all the bad stuff that shouldn't be in there. The solution will stay in there for about an hour and this is called the dwelling process of the treatment. After the dwelling the cycle of drain, fill, and dwell will start all over again.

When I started my peritoneal dialysis my first treatment was 10 hours for the first 5 nights. The first drain was the most painful. The only way I would describe the feeling is that it feels like someone or something is pulling your intestines out of you butt. *Don't let this discourage you from doing peritoneal if this is what you are deciding to do. The pain eventually goes away after a few treatments and your body will get use to it.* My treatment eventually decrease to 8 hours a night.

In my opinion, I love doing peritoneal dialysis. I find it more convenient because I do my treatment at night so during the day I still get to work, go out with friends, have a nice dinner out, watch movies, go shopping, do whatever I want to do.

I do experience some side effects here and there, but my doctor says that is totally normal because I am a dialysis patient and these are the typical side effects of having kidney disease.

So if you do peritoneal dialysis or decide on doing it you will (in my opinion) experience these things.

Please feel free to DM / comment me if you are deciding to do peritoneal dialysis and have any questions about the treatment.

[Hidden]

I appreciate the information you have provided. PD is one of the modalities I'm considering if I get to that point. The other is HHD. Lots to think about and will be watching your future posts so keep us updated. Best of luck and success.

[LoisDuncan in reply to Hidden]

Ask, before hand if you start PD you food choices are better, and you are not thirsty as on Hemodialysis. Review your choice!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Mr Kidney I would ask more about PD if I were you. My daughter has been doing it for 6 months now and she wishes she had gone for the HHD instead. She is constantly in pain with it. She has a stomach that looks as though she is 6 months pregnant and now she has devolved a hernia the size of a football at her catheter site. They don’t tell you all the bad things when you are trying to make up your mind only the good stuff. She’s only 38yrs old and it’s so unfair. The only good thing she can do this at night in her own bedroom. Find out everything you can, talk to other PD patients listen to what they say. 😟

[Hidden]

First, let me say that you responded to a post I made about 3 months ago. Things change. I'm sorry that your daughter is having so many problems with PD. To all others who have read my posts you know that I do a tremendous amount of research on every issue I need to in order to be as informed as possible.

I do agree with you that everyone should research everything they can and make the best decision they can when and if the time comes. That leaves their friends and family to wholeheartedly support that decision, which I'm sure you do.

I had to rejoin this community to answer you. I'm no longer in the two communities regarding dialysis. I still plan on doing research on everything I find that is beneficial to anyone with CKD. My best to you and your family and one final thing. PD is not a life sentence. Your daughter can ask her nephrologist about transitioning to HHD. Best of luck to her and the rest of your family.

[LadyLuv]

I am on Peritoneal, manual. I enjoy it. I have to do it 4 times a day. I will admit that it gets tiring. 4 times a day unless I have to go to Duke. But I keep going.

[Shatia in reply to LadyLuv]

Hi LadyLuv, have you tried PD at night? I did pd manual for a month and altho it was easy but yes it was tiring. It did take me a while to try pd as my nurse suggest that I should start on it. It was the fear of trying but once I got on it I looooove it. It gave me more freedom and not having to keep looking at my watch. Anyway I've been on pd 3 years now and apart from the side effects it gave me more freedom during the day.

All the best and just keep smiling and I know it's hard but we both just need to put one foot in front of the other.

[LadyLuv in reply to Shatia]

Hi sweetie!!!! You wouldn't believe this but I want to do it manually. It doesn't bother me, YES it is time consuming. I've been on it for 2 yrs, and holding on. I'm hanging in there.

Thank you for caring!!!!!

[Unityismine in reply to Shatia]

I on hemo and starting peritoneal soon (not soon enuf). What are the side effects you have had? Thanks for your input. I am trying to gain all the knowledge I can about it. Its good to be prepared!

[Shatia]

Hi thanks for sharing that. I'm too like PD however the side effects I hate it. At the moment my last 3 drains has been a pain in the butt "low drain"!! And when that sign comes up means the beep! beep!....noise and it keeps me up. Part of it is my fault I figured it could be that I'm not drinking enough during the day....oops

It's true freedom during the day is great. I'm a stay at home mum and a part time office manager and it's really flexible to go by your day. I've also taken 2 oversees trips (2-3weeks) and Baxter has been great. You've just need to be organised. I'm not the most organised person but you'll learn and in time you are a pro.

I always say "I run my life around dialysis not the other way round"

Thanks

[Unityismine in reply to Shatia]

Wow, thanks for sharing that. I thought my dreams of traveling to Ireland went out the window, but I have heard, and you affirmed it, that we CAN travel with PD. And happy to know that Baxter was so helpful! Thanks again Shatia

[Unityismine]

Thank you. I am switching to PD soon (not soon enuf ) and want to find out all I can about it. What are the side effects you have had? Thank you for saying that the painful drain gets easier. The trainer didnt mention that haha.

[Hidden]

I know what you mean when you say how the pain feels when you talk about dialysis, it was hard at first (like your belly was squeezing itself) but I’m glad because the pain left after a few days and it was the only thing keeping me healthy.