capd/apd

[catwoman0005]

Hi has anyone been on capd/apd ,if so I would like to hear your reviews as I am currently on haemodialysis and I am thinking of changing to the above ,any comments would be greatly appreciated as I am in a bit of a turmoil as what to do as I have heard good and bad reports on both ,but mostly a lot of bad reports on capd/apd

[Mungo]

Hello. Yes, I was on it for some time prior to my transplant. I had the choice of CAPD or Haemodialysis, and plumped for this as it gave me more freedom, and didn't want to be tied down to 3 days per week in hospital. I never had any problems, and I think that people who do, it's down to possible hygiene issues and infections. The worst part was having the catheter installed under a local ( a bit painful), and the subsequent healing around the entry point. Once healed I then went for a training session on the process and most importantly on the hygiene and handling issues. Once they were satisfied I could be trusted (!!) I was then OK to to do it at home. It was four times a day: first thing in the morning, lunch time, tea time and bed time. My Consultant told me not to let it rule my life and a bit of flexibility on timing to fit in with me was best. I got weekly visits at home from a nurse, to check everything was OK, and to check my weight and blood pressure results (which you have to record every day. The weight being the most important, to ensure no fluid retension). I even went on holiday twice with all the kit. Once to Scotland in a caravan (no problem), and secondly on a holiday to Corfu. All medical supplies were sent to the hotel prior to flying and completely free. We were also allowed an extra suitcase for ancilliary equipment free of charge by the tour operator without any weight penalties. All in all it was a great success, and two weeks after getting back from Corfu I had the phone call I had been waiting 5 years for - New Kidney!!

[Higster]

I started my dialysis life on CAPD, but it wasn't hugely successful. I only have a small frame and couldn't take a full 2l bag, only a 1.5l, so removing the water was a bit of a problem. The other thing that may have worked against it was I had a very low blood count (3.5 in the measurements of the day) In the 9 months I was on it I never had peritonitis, but I did have a lung infection which wasn't picked up, as they kept diagnosing it as water and putting me on IPD overnight.

They then put me on Haemo for a while and I improved greatly so stayed with it. This was in the early 90s, so things have changed a lot since then.

I did travel a little, to Pembroke taking everything with me in the car, also to Eurodisney (as it was then) staying in one of the resort hotels and having all the boxes sent ahead of me. Can't fault either method and had good times!

Purely personally I'd go haemo every time, I found CAPD quite a lonely experience, as I was new to it all, not having people to talk to about it felt quite isolating. Heamo does depend a lot on the atmosphere of your unit, we were quite a mad bunch and helped each other through all sorts of things.

If you go for CAPD and find it's not for you, haemo will still be there for you.

I hope this helps you make the best decision for you.

Best wishes.