# Frequent low drain alerts from Baxter Machine **URL:** \ **Category:** Discussions for Patients, Family, and Friends\ **Created:** [November 13, 2023, 1:11pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/frequent-low-drain-alerts-from-baxter-machine/9168 "2023-11-13T13:11:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rhona](https://forumcdn.homedialysis.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@rhona](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/rhona)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2023, 1:11pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/frequent-low-drain-alerts-from-baxter-machine/9168/1 "2023-11-13T13:11:15Z")
PD is going quite well, except for two or three low drain alerts a night. Any suggestions on how to correct this annoying problem? ---
**Author:** ![joshdipzinski](https://forumcdn.homedialysis.org/user_avatar/forums.homedialysis.org/joshdipzinski/32/573_2.png) [@joshdipzinski](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/joshdipzinski)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2023, 8:01pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/frequent-low-drain-alerts-from-baxter-machine/9168/2 "2023-11-13T20:01:15Z")
Your PD nurse should log in and review the alarm records in order to help modify your treatment. Low drain alerts are typically because the machine is set to a 70% minimum. Meaning it expects 70% of what you put in to come out. This is a setting your nurse can possibly adjust as well. ---
**Author:** ![Lisarevia](https://forumcdn.homedialysis.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/6de8d8/32.png) [@Lisarevia](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/Lisarevia)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/frequent-low-drain-alerts-from-baxter-machine/9168/3 "2023-11-15T19:41:26Z")
My husband has had this problem ever since he stated. We are so sick of this. No one has a soltuion. I don’t know what to do. But when he goes to the hospital it does not do this. And no one can explain that to me. Any help would be appricated. ---
**Author:** ![Beth\_Witten\_MSW](https://forumcdn.homedialysis.org/user_avatar/forums.homedialysis.org/beth_witten_msw/32/541_2.png) [@Beth\_Witten\_MSW](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/Beth_Witten_MSW)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2023, 8:03pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/frequent-low-drain-alerts-from-baxter-machine/9168/4 "2023-11-15T20:03:42Z")
Thinking about when he’s in the hospital, he’s in a hospital bed that has the option to adjust the head and feet. Does he sleep flat there or with any part of his body elevated? How is the machine height next to him? Is it higher, lower or at the same height as his belly? How close or far away from him is the machine in the hospital compared to at home? Does he sleep in a certain position in the hospital that’s different from how he sleeps at home? Is the hospital bed at a different height from the bed at home? Is the nurse in the hospital doing his set up or is he (or you) doing it just like at home? Are the settings on the machine in the hospital exactly the same as at home? Do his bowels move better in the hospital than at home? One of the most common causes of drain problems is constipation. Other causes include fibrin clogging the pores in the catheter, the catheter is not in the correct position to remove as much of the wastes as possible, or the tip is up against something blocking the flow. Just some things to think about… ---
**Author:** ![Pattypkd](https://forumcdn.homedialysis.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/4491bb/32.png) [@Pattypkd](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/Pattypkd)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2023, 2:33pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/frequent-low-drain-alerts-from-baxter-machine/9168/5 "2023-11-16T14:33:53Z")
I been on pd since February make sure you take a stool softener every day that will help if constipated and that can cause low drain pain I put in heaprin in my one bag every night for some reason my body make a lot of fibrin that can cause it too . On my claria machince I have just learn to bypass it when it get to low drain and let it go to fill . ---
**Author:** ![joshdipzinski](https://forumcdn.homedialysis.org/user_avatar/forums.homedialysis.org/joshdipzinski/32/573_2.png) [@joshdipzinski](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/joshdipzinski)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 3:26am UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/frequent-low-drain-alerts-from-baxter-machine/9168/6 "2023-11-21T03:26:22Z")
The problem is a lack of experience/knowledge from your nurse. Notice I didn’t mention the nephrologist. That’s because home programs are generally run first and foremost by the nurse. If your nurse isn’t strong, then your treatment won’t reach its max potential. This fix is incredibly simple. Review the alarms, when they occur, why they occur then fix the machine settings. Whether it’s “tidal” or changing the advanced settings: it’s simple and easy with the right skills of the nurse. If you’re nurse can’t fix it? Ask them to reach out to their clinical Baxter or Fresneius rep to help. No one should live with alarms ---
**Author:** ![Firered](https://forumcdn.homedialysis.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@Firered](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/Firered)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2024, 8:00pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/frequent-low-drain-alerts-from-baxter-machine/9168/7 "2024-02-14T20:00:56Z")
Do you have someway to up the angle on way you lay down ---
**Author:** ![Dori\_Schatell](https://forumcdn.homedialysis.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@Dori\_Schatell](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/Dori_Schatell)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2024, 9:15pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/frequent-low-drain-alerts-from-baxter-machine/9168/8 "2024-02-14T21:15:57Z")
Welcome to the Forums, Firered! There are wedge pillows that you may find helpful. Folks who have acid reflux often use these. ---
**Author:** ![Zebrobert](https://forumcdn.homedialysis.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/z/4da419/32.png) [@Zebrobert](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/Zebrobert)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 5:15pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/frequent-low-drain-alerts-from-baxter-machine/9168/9 "2024-02-15T17:15:40Z")
I too have experienced the low drainage problem and in talking to my nurse it is common among all patients. Today was my final appointment with the Surgeon that installed the catheter. I ask him why that was so common among users? His response was I don’t know, but I will find out. I will provide you his finding when he makes them available Zebrobert ---
**Author:** ![Dori\_Schatell](https://forumcdn.homedialysis.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@Dori\_Schatell](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/Dori_Schatell)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 7:23pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/frequent-low-drain-alerts-from-baxter-machine/9168/10 "2024-02-15T19:23:09Z")
Thank you, Zebrobert! ---
**Author:** ![Firered](https://forumcdn.homedialysis.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@Firered](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/Firered)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2024, 3:00pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/frequent-low-drain-alerts-from-baxter-machine/9168/11 "2024-03-08T15:00:39Z")
I have been using the machine for 6 months and have the same problem sometimes i have an adjustable bed and found if you have about 30 degree of tilt which is about 2 thick pillows to 3 it took me a long time to find the right height but once you find the right position it stopes alarming.the reason it goes off is how the liquid flows to machine and the float in the tube.I hope it helps. ---
**Author:** ![Iris](https://forumcdn.homedialysis.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/a5b964/32.png) [@Iris](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/Iris)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2024, 6:37pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/frequent-low-drain-alerts-from-baxter-machine/9168/12 "2024-08-08T18:37:21Z")
What is the maximum drain percentage? Nurses have set Mine (amia machine) at 80% and will finally alarm after 10 minutes if there has been no draining. Is this A body position or height of machine issue.? Can anything be done. ? ---
**Author:** ![Warmewabreeze](https://forumcdn.homedialysis.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/a88e57/32.png) [@Warmewabreeze](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/Warmewabreeze)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 7:07pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/frequent-low-drain-alerts-from-baxter-machine/9168/13 "2024-12-24T19:07:23Z")
I don’t know if I should be writing this post, but I have gone through hell and back with this situation, I told my nurse and she told me not to do this that it was something different, elevating himself, fibros or constipation couldn’t figure this out, night after night I got both were woke up, several times. it became exhausted, I finally figured it out, what’s good for us. After you have troubleshooted all other fixes… This has worked, the only thing that is work When you close the case to your cassette separate those tubes. Problem solved. I understand that the danger of this would be contamination, if it caused a hole or crimped the tube, however the machine will tell you if it’s contaminated and not let you continue, so for me it was a win-win situation and I haven’t had another problem with it since I’ve been doing this. Good luck- I know how frustrating this can be, first hand. Dawn ---
**Author:** ![Warmewabreeze](https://forumcdn.homedialysis.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/a88e57/32.png) [@Warmewabreeze](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/Warmewabreeze)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2024, 7:12pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/frequent-low-drain-alerts-from-baxter-machine/9168/14 "2024-12-24T19:12:10Z")
don’t know if I should be writing this post, but I have gone through hell and back with this situation, I told my nurse and she told me not to do this that it was something different, elevating himself, fibros or constipation couldn’t figure this out, night after night I got both were woke up, several times. it became exhausted, I finally figured it out, what’s good for us. After you have troubleshooted all other fixes… This has worked, the only thing that is work When you close the case to your cassette separate those tubes. Problem solved. I understand that the danger of this would be contamination, if it caused a hole or crimped the tube, however the machine will tell you if it’s contaminated and not let you continue, so for me it was a win-win situation and I haven’t had another problem with it since I’ve been doing this. Good luck- I know how frustrating this can be, first hand. Dawn ---
**Author:** ![Jhoven](https://forumcdn.homedialysis.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@Jhoven](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/Jhoven)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2025, 7:34pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/frequent-low-drain-alerts-from-baxter-machine/9168/15 "2025-02-22T19:34:22Z")
Your solution: “When you close the case to your cassette separate those tubes.” Please explain “separate those tubes” ---
**Author:** ![Jhoven](https://forumcdn.homedialysis.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@Jhoven](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/Jhoven)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2025, 8:12pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/frequent-low-drain-alerts-from-baxter-machine/9168/16 "2025-02-22T20:12:02Z")
Why doesn’t the machine simply keep draining until it reaches the 70% minimum? If it is below 70%, why does it stop and give an alarm until I give it permission to keep draining (by pressing the red and green buttons)? ---
**Author:** ![Vwerner72](https://forumcdn.homedialysis.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/b3f665/32.png) [@Vwerner72](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/Vwerner72)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 11:03pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/frequent-low-drain-alerts-from-baxter-machine/9168/17 "2025-10-03T23:03:03Z")
Been fighting kidney viruses (3) & taking antibiotics for the past three weeks. Have problems with the slow drain no idea why since I walk around my room to keep it going. Losing sleep since I get up by 3 & that’s when the 3 & 4 drain giving me problems. I just had the machine for three months. Thanks for your help. ---
**Author:** ![JJTRN](https://forumcdn.homedialysis.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@JJTRN](https://forums.homedialysis.org/u/JJTRN)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 1:14pm UTC](https://forums.homedialysis.org/t/frequent-low-drain-alerts-from-baxter-machine/9168/18 "2025-10-07T13:14:59Z")
Do you mean you have peritonitis and are on antibiotics because of that? If that is what is going on, peritonitis can cause you to make fibrin that blocks the catheter. Also, when there is a peritonitis, the membrane gets inflamed and doesn’t remove as much water. It could be other things too–constipation is always worth mentioning. There are adjustments to the machine settings your nurse can make so the machine “looks for” less fluid, or leaves a little bit left between cycles, but if there is also a peritonitis, the drain alarm problem could be temporary. Anyway, my advice is to talk to your nurse about it. Sleep is important.