Hi Everyone,
I am new to this group but have been on this site before. I am a 19 year old girl who is currently doing training for PD so I can be able to do it at home. This month has been very busy and frustrating. Anyone else just barely started their training too?
Hey purpledoggy, I understand what you are talking about I was on Pd dialysis twice in my lifetime and yes at first it can be a pain with the training and all the appointments and such but once you receive your equipment either from Baxter or whoever else does the deliveries for Pd dialysis equipment you will be able to get into a comfortable system. Also there are two different ways you can do dialysis one being a twin bag style and the other being overnight with a machine. The twin bag system basically gives you control of your dialysis, you can then stop if you start having cramps or drain pain when draining. Most likely you would have to do a cycle every four hours and then your last bag would last twelve hours so that you can sleep at night. If you do the machine you would do everything at once and let the machine run at night while you are sleeping. The only negative thing about this is if the machine sees your draining stop or become less it will beep at you and wake you up. This is why I chose the twin bag system. Best of luck to you and if you need someone to talk to for support or have any other questions please don’t hesitate to pm me. Blessings.
I was aswell doing dialysis when I was 3 I think is what my mom tells me and I don’t remember any of it of-course, so doing it now is really the “first” because I understand what’s going on and everything and I don’t know much about the machine system yet doing it overnight but I feel like I’d probably stick with the twin bag system but I will see in these next upcoming months.
thank you
Yeah best idea is to feel it out and do what is best for you and what fits best for your schedule. One of the good things with PD dialysis is that you have some wiggle room with your diet. Yet I would consult with your nephrologist and make sure of this. Best of luck and blessings.
Howdy...My wife and did the training last July. Luckily we were both off during the training so it wasn't much of a bother. That being said, I know our PD nurse worked around our schedule. For example, I had a few visits with the transplant clinic and needed to reschedule our regular training. Ironically, I did receive a living donor transplant two months after I started training — so i was on PD for 5 weeks.
I really didn't mind the PD or the catheter. PD dropped my BUN by 50-60 points. Just be aware of the rather annoying alarms on your machine. My Baxter machine KNEW when I was about to fall asleep and the alarm would ring. Yikes!
That’s good you got your transplant and sometimes I don’t mind the catheter or the PD but then theirs times were I sit there and think about the whole picture. I barely started PD at home and I think I’m doing everything right I hope But for now I’m only doing manual no machine just yet
Purpledoggy...I do understand being frustrated with the entire PD catheter and daily dialysis routine. But, my wife was there to basically keep my mood in check. She would say, "remember, this is life saving technology and it makes you feel better." My wife and I actually did the daily PD setup together. We would set up 3-4 hours before and I was ready to start whenever I decided to head to bed.
Again, I'll send positive energy your way!
Christopher
Hello! Doing PD training can be daunting. At first i didnt think id be able to do it but now i could do it with my eyes closed. I even taught my 15 yo old son who was 13 at the time how to do it. As a younger woman (started PD at 36, now 38) I can understand the implications of this from a different perspective than those from my clinic who are all older patients. If you would like to chat I would be more than happy to chat with you. Please reach out. I wish i had someone to talk to when I started. 
I have been PD...been 3 months and you are right...it seems daunting but after you understand it ...it becomes quite simple... I am trying to think of the best way to dispose of used Dialysis solution...from what I have read ...the toilet...but those drain bags are heavy...what is the best way to drain them into the toilet?
I’m planning to use a long drain line and run it directly to my toilet. I’ve seen clamps people use to clamp the drain line to the toilet bowl. There are clips you can buy to do this. You’ll just need a long enough drain tube. I’ve talked with several people on PD dialysis that do this. I thought this would be more manageable all the way around: less heavy bags to lift, quicker cleanup, sanitary option. You can find the clips online.
Jayhawker
I had actually boughten one of thoes during my training to have everything ready thinking it was the right fit for my toilet but it wasn’t so I just take the whole pole to the bathroom but I’m already day 3 at home and I know I’ll eventually get over it. My nurse told me to get a command strip with the hook on it to hang the bag there next to the toilet and just tape the drain line to the toilet. Havnt tried it yet since I take the whole pole in the bathroom but I might give it a try
That’s a great idea!
The only thing about that is the Nurses want you to check your used Dialystate drain bag for Fibrin and any discoloration...I do nighttime on a cycler, so it would be diluted in the toilet the next morning if I did the Open Drain option...A full nighttime drain bag weighs about 20 pounds and that stuff is sticky....During training PD Nurse just dumped it in the sink...but from what I have read,, the only place you should dispose of it is in the toilet because it is so corrosive on pipes and the sugar will clog. They recommend running hot water and bleach even down the toilet....I also worry that the toilet would overfill unless I got up in the middle of the night and flushed....they started me with a 9 liter and a 3 liter bag....plus your own fluid dialysis pulls off....itas ALOT of fluid...
That is pretty heavy. The people who run a line to their toilets say they keep one bag periodically to check the color of the fluid pulled but they aren’t checking it continuously...
I had also though about putting the drain bags on a small rolling cart (bottom shelf) when I was contemplating PD and had been told it was time to get the catheter placed to start.
I’ll have to come up with something as I live alone. I’ll need to make this as easy as possible...
Jayhawker
I use a cart on wheels...its an old wine cart...to keep my cycler and bags and drain bag (that I lay in a plastic tote just in case..lol)...Works great and it had an adjustable shelf so I can have it even with my bed....so I can roll that to the bathroom to dump the drain bag...but still heavy to pull out to dump....gotta keep thinking....after a peritoneal catheter is placed you can never pick up over 20 pounds
Yeah, that’s a definite quandary. I’d appreciate you sharing what you devise.
Jayhawker
I would like to say hello and wish you luck with your journey I just finished my ( training) even tho I had already knew because I had been on it before and yes it is hectic when training but it should go by fast if they are training properly and making it easy to remember
I was on PD for the better part of the year that I waited for a kidney and I remember how challenging it was sometimes. I was also young at the time I started dialysis which added an extra layer to the frustration. Please feel free to message me anytime if you need to vent ❤❤
I have been on hemodialysis and now PD, though I am not new to it, once you have done it a number of times it becomes quite routine, I feel like I could do it in my sleep. Are you using a cycler yet ?
Hi.... I was thinking of going that route. I already meet with the nurse about the pros and cons. Next step is to get the procedure done, training will not be a problem, but I'm scared I have anxiety with panic attacks. I feel like I won't be able to do it. Please let me know how it's going for you. I'm new here.
I have a septic tank, anyone have any idea how that would affect things. I'm keeping a list of questions to ask. I considered getting one of those walker things that a person kneels on to put the bag on to take it to the bathroom.
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