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Warning-sign checks

Dialysis - peritoneal: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Seek emergency help for severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, new confusion, uncontrolled bleeding, or rapidly worsening illness.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Contact your dialysis team urgently if drained fluid is cloudy, even if you otherwise feel well.

    Also seek urgent advice for new abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, catheter damage, pus at the exit site, or fluid that will not drain.

    Keep the cloudy drainage bag if asked to bring it for testing.

    Call promptly for increasing catheter redness, repeated machine alarms, sudden swelling, rapid weight change, or blood in drained fluid that does not clear.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Dialysis - peritoneal. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.