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PD dialysis life experience'

Posted , 5 users are following.

terry06351
terry06351

**hi all living with PD Dialysis. been told pd dialysis will be for me in pref to hemo. woyld appreciate any life experience overviews particularly regards eating with dialysate in abdomen. sleeping and cycler issues.many thanks for any advice that can be offered. thanks Terry

1 like, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • ayerhs
    ayerhs terry06351

    Posted

    Hi some tips from an individual who has an identical twin on Automatic Peritoneal Dialysis (4 years and going) and myself (4 months). Two types of dialysis -One where you do exchanges throughout the day and a machine one (Fresenius and Baxter). I was on Fresenius Automatic Peritoneal Dialysis and currently my sister is on that too.

    • You will be eating considerably less if you have dialysate in your peritoneum during the day for that your tummy will feel 'full' and tight. This tight/full feeling can also happen during the night when on the machine.
    • Eat less in the evening when you connect to the machine otherwise you will get loads of alarms- if you value your sleep you will eat less! Avoid carby/fatty food- try eat light/salads in the evenings otherwise you will feel uncomfortable and tight throughout the night when connected.
    • You may feel sick in the mornings, it will pass and just to try to eat a full breakfast for energy like porridge/brown bread-high fibre.
    • Set up at least an hour before you plan to link up to the machine just for any errors or the machine plays up! That happens on the day you plan to go out or have somewhere important to go to !!
    • Eat no salt or next to no salt. Eating out is a treat and always ask if they can add no salt to the food- sounds silly but some do sprinkle salt on their dishes ...
    • Stay active- the glucose in your tummy will make you gain empty calories over time so you want to be exercising regularly or some sort of activity!! This is extending your life so don't be a potato couch!!!
    • The surgery itself is very much straightforward, recovery will take 2 weeks or so.
    • You may take EPO injections if you are anemic when you start PD dialysis.
    • Hygiene is very important, wash your hands thoroughly (they will teach you how to) and keep the area where you do your dialysis CLEAN. Otherwise infection can occur and you don't want that!
    • Do not panic when the machine plays up or doesn't want to co-operate with you- remain calm! It has its stroppy days when you least expect it.
    • If you are in pain whilst trying to sleep which you shouldn't be but if you are in any case I have found music to be quite therapeutic. You only feel drain pain when you connect and at the end of the while dialysis - just before you disconnect.

    Feel free to Pm if you have any questions and I hope I made sense to you!! Good luck in your journey 😃

    • terry06351
      terry06351 ayerhs

      Posted

      thank you so much for taking time to send your detailed and practicable advice. i will take all onboard when i start pd.

      Thank you once again and good luck with your treatment

      Terry

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