Dealing with the Tenckhoff Catheter Insertion

A few weeks ago, I went in for my Tenckhoff catheter insertion surgery. For those that don't know, a catheter is the tube that gets surgically inserted in to your peritoneal cavity and sits in your tummy and pelvis area, and the other half of the tube sticks out of your body. The outer tube is where you can insert and drain fluid to remove toxins from your body (you could think of it as a manual kidney). This process is formally known at peritoneal dialysis (PD).

One more thing to get used to

The tube is half way up the right side of my tummy. You kind of get to choose where you want it but the the doctors have the last say so that it doesn't hit any other organs. I asked for it low and they put it high.

Anyway, not going to lie, looking at this hole in my tummy with no blood coming out just a tube, is pretty horrific for the first time. If you want to see what it looks like, check out my instagram miss__ckd. I felt sick and wanted to cry.

Two weeks into me having this catheter in, I am still having pain occasionally where the tube sits in my pelvis. Since it is slim, it has more places to rub in my body internally. I wasn't feeling very normal or happy about this tube. Another thing I was trying to wrap my head around, was that I typically wear tops that show my tummy and high waisted pants. I went from having 30 outfits to 3.

Accepting my new normal

Each new piece of information I was finding out that I couldn't do with PD made me upset. It's true as time goes on, you become more accepting and live with what you have, but I want to make the most of the situation and not feeling sorry for myself all the time. I have started finding ways to fill my time and work around the things I can and can't do.

I'm getting out of my comfort zone and trying new things like candle making, coloring, walks, writing. I'm still figuring out what I like to do. But so far I have been liking:

• I know I love water, SO, I am going to take up kayaking. I'm not 100% underwater but I can still get a bit wet and I am allowed in the ocean.
• Dog walking, taking my partners dog for walks a couple times per week if I'm up to it.
• Make and sell candles to locals, turning my hobbies into a business!!
• Volunteering for a kidney support network.
• SHOPPING! I know spending money is counter active right now as I don't have a job, but I have brought new outfits (dresses) that completely cover my PD tube and makes me feel 100% better. I'd say ITS WORTH IT!

Pretty much, what I am trying to say is that, it is good to keep yourself busy. It is a lot we kidney people have to go through, we need outlets as well.