Peritoneal dialysis how many times a week

When you first start to put PD fluid into your belly, you may feel very full—even stretched. After a week or two, you'll get used to the fluid and it won't bother you. If feeling too full is a big problem for you, ask the nurse if you can build up slowly to the right amount over a few days. PD is the most common type of home dialysis. You can find it in all 50 states. There are more than 5, dialysis clinics in the U.

Find a center near you. Photo courtesy of Fresenius Kidney Care. You can do PD at home, at work, or when you travel. PD exchanges take about half an hour, but you can choose when to do them. Cycler PD lets you do your treatments each night while you sleep, so your days are free.

Once you're trained, you'll only have to go to the clinic once a month to check your lab tests and treatment logs. You'll also need time to check and order supplies each month, and then receive the shipment.

A truck will bring PD supplies to your home once a month. The driver will put the boxes where you want them. You'll need to store 30 or so fluid boxes that are each about 1 by 2 feet, plus a couple of smaller boxes with other supplies. If you don't have a lot of storage space, you may be able to get half of your supplies twice a month instead. You may have to miss work to be home when the supplies come.

The boxes are heavy, since they hold bags of fluid. They have to stay dry. If you keep them in a basement, put them on shelves or a pallet—not on the floor.

A closet is great, if you have one. Some cyclers compare the amount that was put in with the amount that drains out. This feature lets you and your doctor know if the treatment is removing enough fluid from your body.

Some cyclers allow you to use a long drain line that drains directly into your toilet or bathtub. Others have a disposal container.

Your schedule will change as you work your dialysis exchanges into your routine. If you do CAPD during the day, you have some control over when you do the exchanges.

You may need to limit some physical activities when your belly is full of dialysis solution. You may still be active and play sports, but you should discuss your activities with your health care team. Adjusting to the effects of kidney failure and the time you spend on dialysis can be hard for both you and your family. You may. A counselor or social worker can answer your questions and help you cope.

Your health care team will show you how to keep your catheter clean to prevent infections. Here are some general rules:. Possible problems from peritoneal dialysis include infection, hernia , and weight gain. One of the most serious problems related to peritoneal dialysis is infection. You can get an infection of the skin around your catheter exit site or you can develop peritonitis, an infection in the fluid in your belly. Bacteria can enter your body through your catheter as you connect or disconnect it from the bags.

Signs of an exit site infection include redness, pus , swelling or bulging, and tenderness or pain at the exit site. Health care professionals treat infections at the exit site with antibiotics. Health care professionals treat peritonitis with antibiotics. Antibiotics are added to the dialysis solution that you can usually take at home. Quick treatment may prevent additional problems. Peritoneal dialysis increases your risk for a hernia for a couple of reasons.

First, you have an opening in your muscle for your catheter. Second, the weight of the dialysis solution within your belly puts pressure on your muscle. Hernias can occur near your belly button, near the exit site, or in your groin. If you have a swelling or new lump in your groin or belly, talk with your health care professional. The longer the dialysis solution remains in your belly, the more dextrose your body will absorb from the dialysis solution.

This can cause weight gain over time. With CAPD, you might have a problem with the long overnight dwell time. If your body absorbs too much fluid and dextrose overnight, you may be able to use a cycler to exchange your solution once while you sleep. This extra exchange will shorten your dwell time, keep your body from absorbing too much fluid and dextrose, and filter more wastes and extra fluid from your body.

With automated peritoneal dialysis, you may absorb too much solution during the daytime exchange, which has a long dwell time. You may need an extra exchange in the midafternoon to keep your body from absorbing too much solution and to remove more wastes and extra fluid from your body. These tests help your doctor prescribe a dialysis schedule and dose to meet your health needs.

Read about peritoneal dialysis dose and adequacy. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public.

Kidney Failure What is Kidney Failure? What are the types of peritoneal dialysis? Where can I do peritoneal dialysis? How do I prepare for peritoneal dialysis?

How do I perform an exchange? What changes will I have to make when I start peritoneal dialysis? What are the possible problems from peritoneal dialysis? How will I know if my peritoneal dialysis is working? What is peritoneal dialysis and how does it work? Peritoneal dialysis After a few hours, the solution and the wastes are drained out of your belly into the empty bag. How will I feel when the dialysis solution is inside my belly?

You do the exchanges during the day by hand. This weight gain can often be minimized with exercise and the help of your dietitian.

If you follow a healthy diet and exercise plan, it may be possible to maintain a healthy weight and keep the extra calories in the dialysate from turning into extra pounds. Work with your doctor and dietitian to develop a diet and exercise plan based on your condition. Most people who begin PD will experience an increase in energy due to the correction of uremia and anemia. However, energy levels can sometimes fall after starting PD due to not getting enough exercise, not properly managing your anemia, or if your remaining kidney function decreases.

Many of the conditions that cause low energy levels may be corrected with the help of your care team. Talk to you care team if your energy level seems low. Your care team will continue to conduct thorough assessments of your treatment records, lab tests and medicines during your monthly clinic visits. This will give your care team a picture of your physical condition and health needs and will also give you the opportunity to discuss any health concerns or questions you might have.

As you continue to adapt to life on PD, you will learn what works best and what will help you succeed. Are you interested in finding a PD program near you? Call DaVita Guest Services at or find a center with a home dialysis program nearest you.

Get an overview about different dialysis treatments and how they help people continue a productive life. From tips to helping set up treatments when you travel, DaVita has resources to keep you on the move. Download Now. Here are five things you might experience when starting PD and helpful tips for how to ease into these changes: 1. PD and training At first, you may feel uneasy about performing PD without in-home supervision from a clinical expert, but know that you will be thoroughly trained at your local dialysis center by your PD nurse to perform all aspects of your care safely before you begin treating at home.