Getting Boring - PD four times a day

Ho hum, four times a day and getting really boring. But now I've got it down to a fine art.

Quick How To:

Prepare fluid bag (use heater and timer to get it right)
Reveal catheter
Wash Hands with antibacterial scrub
Dry with paper towel
Avagard bench area
Use avagard on hands
Open fluid bag
Prepare the lines
Mix solution
Avagard hands again
Take off plastic seal
Open line
Take off own catheter cap
Make the connection
Open white clamp
Open own clamp
Drain for 10ish min
Close own clamp
Open blue clamp for 5 secs/Close white clamp (clears the line of air bubbles)
Check for air
Open own clamp
Drain in for 10ish mins
Close blue clamp
Close own clamp
Avagard again
Disconnect from line
Open PD cap
Replace PD cap
Weigh everything
Do paperwork
Clean up (lots of mess and rubbish generated)
Done!!!

The whole process takes about 30ish minutes and will depend on how much fluid I have to drain out. I usually ultrafiltrate, which means I produce more fluid out than was put in. One time while doing this I forgot to mix in the glucose. On that occasion I absorbed heaps of the fluid. I'm not sure what it means, I'll ask the nurse when she calls.

So much plastic rubbish is generated at each exchange but at least the waste fluids can go onto the garden. Speaking of which...time to go and do some bag slashing. :)

Training for Peritoneal Dialysis

I had my first session around doing Peritoneal Dialysis (PD). It seems like a lot to do but once I've done it heaps it shouldn't take too long to get the hang of.

The big thing is contamination. I have to be ultra careful not to touch my catheter cap while doing 'exchanges'. An exchange is what we call the process of taking out fluid and putting it back in.

Towards the end of a drain it gets a little uncomfortable for me. Apparently as I am young, this is common. You kind of feel a little bloated when the fluid is in. The fluid can come out with a tinge of yellow or it can even be darker. A cloudy fluid indicates infection. Peritonitis is something i really don't want to get.

I have anti bacterial hand wash and some avaguard lotion. Before connecting and disconnecting I need to use the avaguard.

I have plenty of PD supplies, they take up a lot of space at our house. Each fluid bag is 2L. I think I am shipped supplies on a two week basis. I am using the Gambro solution.

I'm planning on writing up a PD how-to, I'll post it here when I am done. I receive more training tomorrow so should have it down pat by then.

Asus eee PC sold out in Australia ... a sign of better things to come

This is most certainly a positive thing for the free and open source community in Australia. A laptop for $500 and it is running a streamlined version of GNU/Linux. Not that I have used one, but It seems to include all the basics and appears really simple to use. Reports also confirm this.

I've always thought simplicity over complexity would mean greater uptake of GNU/Linux on the desktop. Computerbank's own distribution tries to incorporate this aspect. If people are happy and don't encounter problems or set up issues they are more likely to stay with what works. I feel that another area where GNU/Linux excels is reduced virus risk which means less time is required for system maintenance. The same applies to threats of malware and spyware. It makes perfect sense for GNU/Linux to be the 'safe family computer.'

The eee PC includes a range of software, some of which we include in the Computerbank distribution. There is the super fun kid magnet "Tux Paint." I hear many schools are now using this. It is perfect for teaching young kids (and adults) basic computer skills. Potato Guy has also been included, Computerbank uses this to teach mouse skills. Everyone can relate to it.

For more information see this link to the Australian Age news item - 'Australia's cheapest laptop sells out'
or visit the eee PC website at http://eeepc.asus.com/

Forgot to mention - I have lupus SLE

Oh. I guess by now you are wondering what could be wrong with me and my kidneys? I haven't mentioned that yet. Or have i?

I have Systemic Lupus Ereythemotosus...it is an autoimmune disease where my body attacks itself. In my case it is my kidneys. I also have a blood disorder, antiphospholipid syndrome.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupus_erythematosus and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiphospholipid_syndrome for more information.

I have been diagnosed with this condition since 1996 but have probably had it longer than that. It results in weird symptoms. I have had a minor stroke from the blood condition and a retinal occlusion. I have been in hospital over 14 times. It seems we just can't get the lupus to stop attacking so now it has nearly destroyed my kidney function.

I am down to less than 10% now hence the preparation for dialysis. Eventually I will have a transplant, we are unsure if the new kidney will also be attacked by lupus. At the moment there is no cure for Lupus but people are working on it.

Tenchoff update

Well it has been over a week now and I am on the mend. I have had my dressings removed and my wound is healing up nicely.

I was shown how to clean the exit site so as to keep it free from infection. Eventually i will learn the art of taping things nicely, I'm trying all sorts of different configurations.

The hospital in the home folks 'discharged' me today, although I'll still need to do blood tests to keep on top of my INR. I have a whole heap of medical supplies for cleaning my wounds and exit site, the hospital provides everything I need, all for gratis. This is also the case for the dialysis equipment and fluid. St V's have been really great. I am so glad I live in a country that still provides free medical care.

I found another cool link on Peritoneal Dialysis - see http://www.kidneypatientguide.org.uk/site/pdanim.html - you'll need flash installed to see this one as it is an animation of the process. I'm still not 100% on how I will do my PD - overnight or 4 times a day, I might have to give both a go.

Sometimes the catheter causes discomfort, I can feel it inside me. Hopefully I will get used to it and eventually won't notice at all.

Photos? Yep, soon I'll upload.

Extra Info:
INR: See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prothrombin_time

Tenchoff catheter ready to go

Last week I had a tenchoff catheter put in so I can start dialysis in a few weeks.

I spent two days in hospital and was quite sick. I was also mostly out of it. My blood pressure hit the roof, people were worried I was going to have a heart attack.

I'm still not feeling that great and I have limited mobility. Now I am at home my blood pressure has mostly settled. I have the 'hospital in the home' service visit me for a week. That has been great...not having to travel around for tests and so forth. St V's Hospital was a great place to recover, the nursing staff and doctors looked after me well.

Next week i go to get my dressings attended to. I think they also flush my lines as well. I don't start dialysis for about two-three weeks. The area where they put the catheter in needs time to heal.

For those who want to know more see these links:

Cute baby with tenchoff catheter

Wikipedia info on peritoneal dialysis

I'll post a picture of my tenchoff catheter in the next few days.

The dialysis is for the short term, in the longer term I am looking to have a kidney transplant. Members of my family (mum) are having tests to see if they will be a suitable living donor.

I'll try and keep people posted via my blog.