Activity restrictions on peritoneal dialysis?

[Cabrilla]

I just attended my first PD orientation and I am very sad to learn that once the catheter is in place I won't be able to soak in a bathtub or go swimming. The RN didn't seem in favor of doing other strenuous sports like snowboarding or running. Have other been able to stay active and do sports while doing PD?

[Mgt8]

Hi,

Yes that's a tough one. It is exactly why I decided to do haemodialysis instead. Once the fistula is made, which can go in your non dominant arm, you can do pretty much anything you want.

I love to have a nice soak in the bath and swimming is such good exercise too.

Hoping this helps,

Mgt

[Eyak1971]

Determining your dialysis option is a very personal choice depending on your lifestyle. I had both in my 5 years before having a transplant. I valued my independence and pd was better for me. I was in control of my treatment and was not restricted to 3 days in a center. My at home treatments did not make me ill and I could function in my job and keep my illness private. On Hemo I often felt ill after a treatment and my daily schedule was interrupted. Before dialysis I usually took a shower and only swam on occasion. So for me pd worked. Whatever your choice take care.

[ParShooter]

Yeah, I have a nice hot tub I can't use. But after your catheter grows in it will take less maintenance. I play golf, do yard work , farm work, etc. I don't jog or run but I could. Also most exercises. At almost 70 yrs old contact sports are not a factor. Best of luck. The only real hassle has been where to put 30 odd pretty heavy boxes of PD fluid per month...

[pepeagamez]

Not easy.. you have to choose between the bad and the worst. Transplant is best. Good luck.

[redpanda67]

Hi Cabrilla,

I was on PD in the late 90's early 2000's. I swam 2-3 times a week, in fact, it was encouraged because I couldn't handle most other forms of exercise. I think there has been some fierce debate among those in the field regarding the safety of swimming with a PD cath. A PD group in Australia has done a nice study looking at the risks of swimming with PD caths. They concluded there is a risk, but there are steps you can take to avoid the risk of infection. Furthermore, there have been several other groups that suggest for the general PD population swimming with a PD cath is not recommended, unless swimming is an essential part of keeping your mental and physical well-being in check.

In general, many dialysis patients tend to be older and/or in poor physical condition. This can also vary depending on the geographical location of your dialysis unit. So the risk for most patients would be much greater for these types of physical activity compared to someone who may already be very active and lead a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, this also means that most of the recommendations from the units come from their experience with their particular patient population.

As far as other sports. High impact sports like snowboarding could damage your port if you fall the wrong way and potentially cause a tear in the peritoneal membrane from a severe impact. As a former skier, I don't think I would risk being on the mountain with a PD cath. One patch of ice or critter running across your path could lead to a wipeout that may not cause problems to your normal body, but the added weight and fluid in the peritoneal cavity may cause some severe issues.

You make try exploring alternative, less impactful sports. The last link below had a good discussion regarding the impact of jogging on the abdominal wall. Ultimately you may benefit from finding a good exercise physiologist who can work with you and your doctors to help you understand how to avoid injuries or make modifications to your current physical activities.

Australian Study - journals.sagepub.com/doi/10...

International Society of PD Swimming thread - ispd.org/question/i-had-a-p...

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

Good luck

[BeachLove]

Hello,

I survived the chest catheter by taking baths but not allowing the water to be as high as the catheter and it was not a problem. To avoid the shower I would wash my hair in the kitchen sink that has a handy sprayer.

[Porter20]

I was on PD for 1.5 years before getting a live donor transplant. I found it worked great for me except the bathing part. I got use to it and it seemed pretty flexible. It is all about timing. I was lucky no side effects and it only took about 2.0-25 minutes. I use to just watch a funny 30 minute show sitting in my bedroom. Long distance on demand travel was the biggest concern. Not being able to do things on the fly was hard but once I got a rhythm it was not life altering bad. I did things as normal. Keep the faith and it is hard mentally but take the attitude that you will live to the fullest and your body will follow. Good luck hope you get a kidney soon! Oh and salt water swimming I was told was ok if the site was covered. I never went but was told I could. Just not bathing but I liked being in control so I did gravity bags 4 times a day.I tried the machine overnight and hated it.

[Minyminuskidney in reply to Porter20]

Yes! I love swiming too and had anadominal port. And 9 hours on the cucler. I remember many hospital trips dealing with peritoneal infections and port infections.the cucler was soooo painful when the machine it sucks fluids from the area around your bladder. With all of those sensitive nerves . Itge cAtheter was easy to hide. I was told that hotubs are dangerous but pools and ocean are safe. I did PD for 4 years.. i learned sterile technique from xray schoolz i used gloves and a mask. Ok i dont want to say anuthing that would scare. Anyone. Every night if i had to detach from the cycler and re-cap with beta-dine, i would freak out about getting an infection. And they hurt! I ended up back on the port and hemodialysis. I got encapsulating peritonitis where your body responds and attacks your peritoneum. . I almost died age 29! I had a living doner ready to do our surgery. At cal pacific medical center. Miraculously i didnt die! It cured my encapsulating peritonitis.. but all the pain, and weekly. Problens was tooo much. Fyou will get no rest on the cycler. Oh yes no playing with kids. Or construction politics. But a looser diet

[Slcallat]

Thank You! Same for you too😊

[mtwskk]

Pd for me was a God send. It saved my life. I could do hemp I hate needles and didn’t have a vein big enough for a fistula. I went on PD back in 2012, and like you I missed showering and swimming until I found some waterproof bandages. Yes I bout them in size 8x 8 and put two of those puppies on and went in the shower anyway my father would stay dry and I’d just be gentle and that was that. When I’d want to go swimming I’d do the same thing. I didn’t go often but I was in heaven when I did. They told me the ocean was best, followed by lakes and then pools. So if I went into a pool I just asked the maintenance crew when they cleaned the pool and went as soon as I could go after it was cleaned. I never got an infection but I was careful to go in swim and get out and clean off really good. PD was so good I could eat anything do what I wanted including traveling with work, I’d send my supplies to the hotel I’d work then watch tv from 7 pm fall asleep get up at 7 am and be to work by 8. It worked most people had no idea what I was doing. I will tell you the only downside is your stomach muscles do give out later in life, but that’s a small price to pay. Good luck. If I have to do it again It’s PD all the way if I can. Hope this helps.

[Weimarador]

Hi, you can soak in the bath and shower and even swim- I did . In the UK we are given shower ' pouches' which are little plastic bags in which you place your pd tube . It has a circular sticky seal which seals around your tube entrance/ exit site . They are great and I never had a single one leak at all.