At-Home Dialysis
One month supply of dialysate & supplies
At the beginning of August Baxter Medical delivered a month’s worth of dialysis supplies. In order to be prepared for any and all situations, we received dialysate for both automated and manual treatments.
On August 22nd Dylan started Peritoneal Dialysis (PD). This is an over-night procedure that takes 9 hours to complete 4 cycles of treatment. Once his abdominal catheter is connected to the dialyzer (machine) each cycle is “drain,” “fill,” then “dwell.” Each 6,000mL bag of dialysate contains dextrose, sodium, magnesium and other electrolytes (basically a sugar water solution.) The dextrose comes in three strengths - 1.5%, 2.5% and 4.25% - and can be used in various combinations depending on your prescription. The high concentration of toxins in the body are attracted to the dextrose in the dialysate, so the higher the strength the more toxins are removed. Currently Dylan is using 1 bag of 1.5% and 1 bag of 2.5% of dialysate for a total of 9,000mL per night. There is always leftover solution in the second bag come morning.
The nephrologist determines the prescription and the dialyzer, which is connected to the Network via cell towers, is pre-programed by the dialysis nurse at the DaVita center.
We trained at the center prior to starting the at-home treatments and were given step-by-step written procedures to follow. The machine will also prompt you on which button to select along the way.
Weight and blood pressure are taken at the beginning of each set-up and entered into the machine. Approximately 2000mL are in each fill cycle and it takes about 10 min to fill Dylan’s abdominal cavity. The toxins transfer into the dialysate during the 1 hour and 40 min dwell cycle. At this point the contaminated liquid is drained into the 15L drainage bag in the blue tub on the floor next to the cart. The fill, dwell, drain process is repeated 3 more times during the night and the drain bag is just about filled to capacity. The final step is a 1000mL fill that will work throughout the day removing toxins and be drained during the first step of the next treatment. In the morning the machine will display “End of therapy” and the disconnect process begins. Again, the machine will prompt us on what steps to take and the leftover treatment bags are removed and disposed of.
If you feel inspired to donate, please call the Yale transplant referral line at 1-866-925-3897 and mention you are calling for Dylan McBeth.
We would appreciate it if you will continue to share our posts on your social media accounts. The more eyes reading this, the sooner we can find a living donor.
