going from pd to hemo experiencing pain inabdomen

[roxanne]

i am a 3 yr pd patient. recently i have had to go back on hemo for a month. I have pain inmy belly. I believe it is because of the air in my peritonieal cavity. What can be done to relieve that pressure. I do not have any fluids in while i do hemo. I believe that if i had fluids in my cavity it would make a difference and i would not have the pain. It is mild when i am sitting but i am unable to sleep without severe pain at night. Please help.

[Beth Witten MSW ACSW]

If you put PD solution in your peritoneal cavity and didn't plan to drain it out, your body would just absorb it.

Have you asked your PD nurse if he/she has had any other patients that experience these symptoms and what can be done to determine the cause and treatment?

You don't say why you are on hemodialysis now? Is it possible that whatever the reason that led to your having to do hemo could be also causing the pain that you're having now? Where is the pain? Does it come and go or is it constant? You say it is worse when you are lying down. On a zero to 10 scale with zero being no pain and 10 being the worst pain you can imagine, where is your pain? Do you have a fever with the pain? Is your abdomen soft or hard? Are you constipated? These are the kinds of things you might want to mention when you talk to your nurse. I'm sure you probably have other questions.

I bet your PD nurse or doctor would be happy to troubleshoot the pain with you so you are more comfortable..