I have a consult with the surgeon and the dialysis center this week. My neurologist recommends PD, but since I still work and travel for work, I was wondering if any of you had recommendations. It seems like getting dialyzed at night would work best just because I often have lunch meetings and meetings throughout the day, so I worry whether it would be possible to stop for treatments throughout the day.
Thanks in advance.
I'm not on dialysis yet but expect I'll be starting within the next 6-9 months. (I've been in renal failure since January of 2017 but have had a very modest improvement in my renal function so my eGFR currently ranges from 15-17.)
I'm also still working. My nephrologist and I have settled on PD dialysis when it's time for me to start treatment. I'm planning to do dialysis while sleeping at night. But I know there is one person posting in this forum who does two manual exchanges (PD) during the daytime. Hopefully she'll share some of her experiences with you. After hearing what she shared I thought it might be possible for me to do manual exchanges during the day while working if that is necessary.
I'm determined to make this work. I'm still planning to work full time while I'm on dialysis. And my job involves some travel too.
Marj
I continue to work. I do CCPD, continuous cycler peritoneal dialysis. Although I do not have to travel for work. I work 7:30-4:00 M-F. I am dry during the day and run 8.5 hours each night. The only trick is learning how long it takes you to set up your machine- and take down, must be figured into that. An example of my day would be first thing of the morning to disconnect from the machine Break machine down , jump in the shower , then have breakfast, walk my dog, get ready to go to work 4 o’clock I come home I set up my machine, pick up or do a few chores around the house, play with my dog, and then it’s time to get connected at 7 PM. I allow myself about an hour extra time on the machine for any alarms or anything that may come (in other words I wouldn’t actually have to connect until 8:30 to do my actual run time-it’s my cushion) . Note you can disconnect from the machine once it goes into the dwell mode.
Thanks, this is helpful information. I'm very fortunate in that I get to work from home most days. I only go into the office 2-3 days a month during fall and spring semesters. (I'm a university professor teaching in an online graduate program. So I'm only on campus for committee meetings and such. And we're more and more conducting committee meetings virtually so I'm able to participate in those from home as well. I also direct statewide grants from home without difficulties. So, I'm incredibly fortunate with my job!)
I travel some to attend federal grant meetings in Washington DC and present project and research results at various professional conferences around the globe. I've just stepped down from administration to give myself more time for dialysis--I'm still awaiting the start date to be placed on dialysis.
I've got a little one, a shih tzu named Izzy) too. She sleeps in bed with me right now. I'm not sure she'll want to continue with that once I'm on the machine, but she might surprise me. Does your dog sleep on top of the covers in your bed at night now that you're on dialysis or not? (I'm expecting I'll need to train Izzy to sleep in her crate instead of in bed with me at that point.)
Marj
Actually when I first got Annie, she did sleep with me; although I have since kicked her out of my bed. She’s an 80# lab/shepherd mix-so we really have a lot of shedding issues. She is no longer allowed in my room at all.(my say so-not dialysis center) Sounds like you have a perfect job!!! I’m assuming with the name Jayhawker your a KU fan??
I'm definitely a KU fan!! Rock chalk JayhawK; although, not such a great year for us this year🏀🏀🏀
😂😂. A lot of my family is also, they live in Kansas. I don’t really follow much sports , although since I live in Missouri they always harass me about MU.
As a K-state alum, and having grown up in Manhattan, it is good to know that, in this case, I can root for an arch-rival. EMAW!
K State had a good year this year. My neighbors and good friends are loyal K State alumni. They have been thrilled with K State's season this year.
I am still rooting for Texas Tech hoping they make a serious run in the NCAA tournament this year. They definitely looked good against Michigan last night.
Marj
I have both a cat and a dog. A little miniature poodle. I throw them out of the room if I am connecting or disconnecting and then they can come in. I get up at 4 am, chase them ou, disconnect, let the dog out, give him a bit of a snack. Go back to the bedroom, connect, let them back in. The dog usually stays on the bed all night, but the cat comes and goes.
They must also leave the room when I am setting up the machine. It takes around 10 minutes and then 20 minutes to prime. My machine is an Amia.
Sometime during the day, I get the so.union bags on the cart, but the actual setting up is about 10 minutes. If you do as the machine says, it will be a lot longer.
The cat and the dog are on my lap etc at various times. As long as the system is closed.you are masked and sanitized, the risk of infection is lessened.
But, yeah, they sleep with me. Dog dissent shed much, but there’s cat hair for sure.
I did night pd for my husband for 3 yrs and then he was free all day. It was the best and for someone who still works I think that would work for you as you would be free all day. You are on the machine all night and go off in the morning. What time you go off in the morning depends on when you hook up at night. Good luck with whatever you choose.
I did PD x4 a day. Still traveled as I found gravity w/manuals were easier on my body and I would just take them and do them in my travels. I have done them in cars and at the beach etc. I hated the cyclist but gave it a try. Had a horrible experience.. I like to be in control so gravity manuals worked great for me. Everyone is different.
Would you fly overseas and stay for 3 nights and 4 days or less than a week without pd therapy?
Does anyone else feel kinda gobbled up by dialysis? I feel like it ate my life.
Involuntary jerks in left side of upper body 
