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Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: billydunwood on December 22, 2013, 05:54:28 PM

Title: What to do to feel better? Very weak
Post by: billydunwood on December 22, 2013, 05:54:28 PM
Hello there,
my father is on hemodialysis 3x per week 3.5hrs each session. He feels fine during dialysis, but after and even on his off days he still feels fairly weak and a little tired. If he sits down it gets much better, but when he stands and walks he feels weak. He also has type 2 diabetes and anemia, which he is taking iron 2x daily for. Is there anything he can do or any supplements he can take to feel less weak and tired? He just started dailysis last week, so is it something that his body just has to get used to? Thanks in advance
Title: Re: What to do to feel better? Very weak
Post by: obsidianom on December 23, 2013, 02:09:46 AM
One possibilty is the anemia. That can cause fatigue like this. I would ask his doctors about EPO and IV iron. Oral iron is poorly absorbed in renal patients and many require IV iron. Epo would boost the red cells and increase hemoblobin. I dont know anything about his anemia but these are worth looking into at least.
Title: Re: What to do to feel better? Very weak
Post by: billydunwood on December 23, 2013, 05:39:33 AM
One possibilty is the anemia. That can cause fatigue like this. I would ask his doctors about EPO and IV iron. Oral iron is poorly absorbed in renal patients and many require IV iron. Epo would boost the red cells and increase hemoblobin. I dont know anything about his anemia but these are worth looking into at least.
I will ask his doctor at his next appointment. In the meantime, I have done some research and found that L-Cartinine is good for energy and has been studied in hemodialysis patients. He has started it 2x per day and says he feels a lot better