Peritoneal Dialysis - The First Try

 Well, so the day the PD nurse came to visit me at home to guide me through all this stuff the first time. I was all excited and nervous, and he tried to make things easier. By the way, he is a very nice guy, and all the time from the catheter inserting and then twice per week training washing in the hospital he always called me every day and asked how it's going.

Unfortunately, it didn't go well. Standard cycler (APD Machine) cycles are the first Initial drain, then four cycles Fill - Dwell - Drain. It in my case has to take exactly 8 hours with 10 liters of dialysis solution going through. Your time and solution amount can differ, of course.

When we connect all bags, claps and connectors and turn the machine on i felt unbearable pain. It was like someone insert red hot stick and turn it around. We had to stop it and he decided to invite me next day to the hospital to try to find solution to this problem. The machine can be programmed and then your nurse or doctor send it via machine's modem online and program is changing. 

If it will be impossible to continue peritoneal dialysis due to pain or other problems, only way would be changing to hemodialysis, that i of course didn't want at all. Next time i'll write about new program and one of problems people meet the most - initial drain pain. 

Peritoneal dialysis - supplies and preparing

 Now, before you begin your therapy, you have to plan where you can put all those bags with dialysis solution and all other medical supplies. They are heavy; and there are a lot of them.

I'm lucky enough to live in country where all expanses for therapy, APD (automatic peritoneal dialysis) machine and all supplies are covered by National Insurance; but when i saw all this stuff the first time they sent it, i was choked. My place is on the forth floor without an elevator; so i'm always getting troubles with delivery guys.

Solution bags are on the right side, each pack has 2 bags with 5 liters, so 10 kg each pack. And you (at least my prescription is) have to use 2 each night, it means i had to find place for 15 packs (one spare) for two weeks of use. 

On the left side there are medical supplies - drainage bags, removable cassettes, alcohol antiseptic solutions, soup, pads etc. Here they send dialysis solution packs every 2 weeks, and all other supplies once per month.

The first time i got APD machine, in a big VERY heavy trolley case, BAXTER Homechoice Claria, with a really big and fat instruction manual.

It's on Hebrew; you sure will get it on your own language:)

Next time i will write about the first PD nurse visit and first try (the big spoiler - it was a fail big time), and some thoughts about how to be prepared for it.