I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: cattlekid on September 13, 2011, 02:26:26 PM

Title: How to request a dry weight review?
Post by: cattlekid on September 13, 2011, 02:26:26 PM
So for the last few weeks, I've been consistently leaving my treatments approx. 1 K above my so-called "dry weight".  I understand that "dry weight" is not an exact science and I have no outward effects of the "extra" fluid (ankle swelling, which is all they check at the clinic).  I usually gain 2 K's between treatments. 

So I am thinking that I would like to request a dry weight review as I would like to be able to have a dry weight that I can achieve without having to go into the dreaded 3.5 K pull-off, which is where I start to crash.  If I stick with 3 K's or under, I can go home from treatments and have a relatively normal evening.

Has anyone gotten their neph's to adjust their dry weights?  If so, how did you approach it? 

Thanks!   :thx;
Title: Re: How to request a dry weight review?
Post by: Pam on September 13, 2011, 04:34:03 PM
For the last week my feet and ankles have been a little puffy after treatment. I know I have lost a little weight. Yesterday when I was weighed in I was only 1.5 above my dry weight of 55. I told them to adjust it by .5 lowering my dry weight to 54.5. No more puffiness at all. My unit is really good at listening. You know your body better than they do. Tell them you want to change it, just don.t make too big of a change at once. good luck.
Pam
Title: Re: How to request a dry weight review?
Post by: thegrammalady on September 13, 2011, 05:20:11 PM
neph's and nurses lower dry weight all the time, after all it's just a wild guess. ask your nurse and tell her why you want it done. if she says she can't tell her to call your doctor!!!!!!!!!! some clinics will tell you the doctor has to do it but it's not true. by the way you should be telling them what to take off not the other way around.
Title: Re: How to request a dry weight review?
Post by: sullidog on September 13, 2011, 05:23:30 PM
just ask and tell them why
Title: Re: How to request a dry weight review?
Post by: cattlekid on September 13, 2011, 06:25:06 PM
I was worrying over nothing.  The neph stopped by, I told him that I was never making dry weight (always one kilo over) and he didn't even blink an eye to raise my DW.

Go figure.  Now I'm sure the discussion I'll be having with my dietitian on Thursday won't go as well.  I'm sure my labs won't be where she wants them to be and I'll have to explain to her AGAIN about the fact that I have two jobs - my real job and dialysis and spending my limited free time in the kitchen just isn't gonna happen.
Title: Re: How to request a dry weight review?
Post by: jbeany on September 13, 2011, 09:19:10 PM
It takes a bit of work, but you can train your staff to let you set your own dry weight goals.  I told mine exactly what weight I was aiming for each treatment.  When I was thinking I had lost weight, I would push down by small amounts each time - an extra .2 or .3.  It kept me from ever getting fluid overloaded as my weight loss efforts paid off.  If I had waited out the times between getting to see the doc, I would have been as puffy as the Stay-Puff marshmallow man most days.
Title: Re: How to request a dry weight review?
Post by: pklipe57 on October 01, 2011, 08:47:28 PM
I am losing weight (on purpose).  I talked to my nephrologist and he said I could challenge my dry weight.  When I weigh in I know if I have lost weight and we change my dry weight (they take the change to the charge nurse).  So far I have reduced my dry weight by 14 kilos.
Title: Re: How to request a dry weight review?
Post by: sullidog on October 02, 2011, 03:15:36 PM
It my former center I had the dietition who wanted the labs better then the doctor wanted them, drove me nuts, I wanted to tell her everytime she said that's ok with the doctor but I want it lower I just wanted to say well are you the doctor? I don't think so!