Well, I’ve had 4 days training on the unit and the machine was installed yesterday. Sits in my office perfectly and was installed in a very short time. I primed the first PAK so that I can make my first batch of dialysate on Sunday ready for dialysis on Monday morning. Then I can set to work on working and dialysing at the same time. Achieved pump speed of 500 with good pressures yesterday, and total dialysis time was 3 hours and 8 minutes. Blood results are good. Phosphates are down and within limits, and calcium is ok, so I’ll be interested to see my PTH next week. AlkalinePhosphatase was up a bit on the second set of bloods, so this is the one to watch to be sure bone disease issues are not setting in. Bicarb is a bit low so Kimal are changing my prescription to a 45 lactate from a 40. It’s worth pointing out that Kimal have been very quick to respond to any issues, large or small so far, so top marks so far! Supplies are nearly all here although a few small items were missing such as plasters, and the tape that Kimal supply is the nasty 1/2″ thin paper rather than the wider paper tape. They sent plastic aprons too, so I believe I might look quite fetching in one of those. I think it’s just a case on thinking through a lone dialysis patient with no carer, so some of the supplies are unnecessary – no big deal and easily resolved. I am going to investigate setting up a NxStage user group for the UK as there does not appear to be one – if there is then apologies anybody involved! Can’t find anything on Google, so seems a logical next step.
This is a good time to thank the guys at Peterborough for everything they have done to get things sorted after all the issues caused by others in the last couple of weeks. They have been brilliant, and I hope they get the recognition they deserve.
See the images below, one of the machine in my office, and the other showing the minimal intrusion on the home – this is the only ‘building works’ carried out apart from a bit of plumbing in the utility room. Neat huh?
