Hello, I’ve recently started PD dialysis about 1 Mo ago. It now looks like I have a inguinal hernia. I’m pretty sure that I’ve had it for some time (years) before starting PD but it never bothered me and I was not aware that it was a hernia. My PD nurse is talking about probably needing to correct the hernia and go to hemodialysis for some time while the hernia surgery heals. I did read the article on this site “hernias-and-peritoneal-dialysis” and see that it is possible to continue PD while a hernia heals. I was wondering if anyone can share that experience and also anyone that had to switch to Hemo and what were the conditions that caused that decision.
It depends on the area of the hernia repair, but we do typically give an additional two weeks to let it heal. You can do low volume 500cc. We typically have our home patients go home and we come to their house and perform staff assisted home hemodialysis for a couple weeks at 2 times a week. We are able to do two times a week because we encourage patients to urinate as much as possible. Why utilize dialysis to remove fluid if your body still maintains this function? Less can be more. Just always make sure you speak up for yourself and do not allow techs or nurses to remove too much fluid during your respite time as that can hurt any residual renal function remaining
I did pd a year and half I have polycystic kidney so I didn’t have lots of room but I had to stop as I got a rare fungal infection they said it was from the pd catheter. The surgeon said once you get that type infection he will not put a new catheter in. Anyway I was really scarce to switch to hemo but I did in June with a chest port I still have cause fistula in arm did not work they a graft in arm this month didn’t happen cause my heart went in v-tech after the anesthesia was given to me so right now monitoring my heart they don’t like you to keep chest port long more chance of infection. But I do keep my very clean I cover every time I take a bath I don’t take showers cause afraid I might get it wet. But you know what I feel better on hemo then I did on pd and I had a hard time passing the kt/v on pd and in hemo I pass it all the time and you don’t have to do anything they get it from your Machince. . On of I had drain pain all the time and never look rested . Everyone tell me I look so much better on hemo now if they take off to much fluid I get cramps but I have learn what fluid I can tolerate off . Some people even do hemo at home also I just prefer to be at the clinic cause as my nephrologist tell me I don’t do an simple if it one in a million with a certain problem I am the one. Best of luck to you if you continue pd or have to go to hemodialysis.
Hi Pattypkd,
Thank you for sharing your experience with switching from PD to HD, especially how you were afraid of the change. I was happy to read that the switch worked out you and that you’re getting better dialysis and feeling better.
You mentioned that you are doing HD in a clinic and when the staff remove too much fluid, you have cramps. It’s good that you’re aware of the need to limit fluid when doing dialysis in a clinic. But are you aware of the ultrafiltration rate calculator that Medical Education Institute developed? With this calculator, you enter how much fluid you want to take off, what your weight (kilograms), how many hours your dialysis session is, and if you have heart problems. The calculator result from that info will tell you if you can safely take off the amount of fluid you want to take off during a dialysis session that long. UFR results in the green are safe. Those in the yellow or orange are iffy. But those in the red indicate taking off that much fluid that quickly can stun your organs. When kidneys are stunned, that can reduce how much kidney function you have left. If your heart is stunned, it can cause heart damage and even a heart attack. Stunning your brain can cause confusion. As you said, taking off too much fluid can be a reason for cramps. You might want to read this blog post by Dr. John Agar, with a response by Jennifer Ravert, RN, Medical Education Institute’s program manager who is a former home dialysis training nurse. Ultrafiltration Rates in Hemodialysis and a Reply to John Agar - Home Dialysis Central
Check out the calculator and show it to the staff at your clinic. Patients who use it can make sure they’re not trying to take off too much fluid too fast and have found it helps them feel better during and after HD treatments.