Stage 5 kidney disease and PD surgery

@ococean09 Has your family member been evaluated for a PD catheter, yet? Conditions that might preclude someone from getting an abdominal catheter placed is scar tissue/previous surgeries, hernia. Typically an ultrasound is done as part of the evaluation.

I had my PD catheter placed on my lower right side, since I had a fistula on my right forearm. I wanted everything to be on the same side. It was a general anesthesia. Yes, the area was bandaged, and checked two days after the procedure, by my doctor. There was little pain or discomfort. There are restrictions for lifting while the area is healing. After a week, and for the next several weeks, the catheter is flushed with saline. After a week, the patient is taught how to do daily site cleaning. Usually, the training for how to do PD dialysis takes place about a month after the surgery, and the patient is released to do their dialysis at home.

Does this make sense to you? There is also information available on the websites from National Kidney Foundation, Fresenius Kidney Care, and DaVita.
Ginger

Bit confused. I have been evaluated for a fistula with no mention of an abdominal catheter. Is that the standard procedure?

Sorry, now realize PD stands for Peritoneal Dialysis. I would plan on Hemo.

@maggieinfp Some kidney patients facing dialysis choose to do hemodialysis, where a fistula or graft is placed, usually in the arm, for access to exchanging/cleaning blood. Others may choose to opt for peritoneal dialysis [PD for short], where an abdominal catheter is placed and toxins are removed via dwelling of dialysate solution that pulls toxins out across the peritoneum membrane.

For me, I had a fistula placed first, to allow it to heal. My goal was to do PD dialysis, which indeed I am on, but having the fistula also in place in case there would be an emergency situation.
Ginger

Hi Ginger. Do you find it uncomfortable having the excess fluid in you all day? Do you do exchanges during the day or overnight? My sister was told it is like having 12 lbs of excess weight in your belly.

Is there anyone in the group who is doing home dialysis who is also wheelchair bound and uses diapers? Wondering if that would be a challenge with the extra fluid in the belly?

@ckdcaregiver I do two exchanges a day. I don't use the machine, I use the manual method. I "dwell" the fluid for about 3 hrs each time, then drain it out. Basically, I dwell a 2000cc bag in my abdomen first thing in the morning, then drain it after 3 hrs. Wait about 2-3 hrs, and repeat.

@kamama may have some thoughts for you about dialysis while in a chair, but I think she was on hemodialysis.

The challenge I have is it is not very user friendly for doing much physical work while dwelling. Like pulling weeds or yardwork. Or painting.
Ginger

Thank you! That’s helpful to know it doesn’t stay in your stomach continuously. There’s so much reading and learning - trying to speed up my learning curve! This group has been great!