I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Home Dialysis - NxStage Users => Topic started by: Aldente on October 25, 2007, 05:44:09 PM

Title: Scale Accuracy
Post by: Aldente on October 25, 2007, 05:44:09 PM
When I weigh myself before dialysis I get my weight.  If I wait several minutes and get back on the scale the reading will be different.  The readings have been as much as one and a half pound different.  I'm right at my dry weight and taking an extra pound and a half of fluid off makes me feel miserable.  I would like to know what kind of scales other members of this community are using and how you feel about their accuracy.
Title: Re: Scale Accuracy
Post by: Black on October 25, 2007, 06:15:08 PM
Mike's scale has "Health O Meter" (edit: left out the "O" first time) on the label at the top, but he says the "guts" in yours has to be the same as his, as it does the same thing. >:(

Usually he weighs again, and again, until he gets the same weight twice and then goes from there.  Often he just takes off what he thinks he needs to take off (.6 or .7, plus .3 for the prime and rinseback), and ignores the scale numbers.  The weights get entered on his dialysis flow sheet but the dry weight changes and the end weight usually doesn't add up either.  He has to do the same thing at the end, weigh again, and again, until he gets the same number twice.
Title: Re: Scale Accuracy
Post by: Adam_W on October 25, 2007, 07:06:38 PM
I have a Health O Meter, and I think it should be called a Crap O Meter. I usually have to pretty much guess on how much to take off, because the scale is so unreliable. Usually I get it right, but sometimes I don't and end up taking a little too much off, or not enough. I think I may save up and try to get a really good scale that I can trust.

Adam
Title: Re: Scale Accuracy
Post by: Black on October 25, 2007, 09:45:56 PM
... I think I may save up and try to get a really good scale that I can trust.

Adam

Don't spend your money.  Mike has been bitching to the clinic and they say when they find a new scale that is more accurate they will buy it and he can give back the "Crap O Meter".  (I like that name.  ;D  )
Title: Re: Scale Accuracy
Post by: jbeany on October 29, 2007, 08:30:35 PM
Yup, got another Crap-o-Meter here.  Got the digital version now, which is some small improvment over the regular  Crap-o-Meter I had at first- which was nearly impossible to read.  At least this one I can see.

I weigh myself 3 times both before and after.  I use the highest weight I get before treatment to set the UF.  I watch the UF pull when I get close to the last half hour, and check my bp frequently and adjust accordingly.  Today I added to the goal.  Yesterday I took some off.
After treatment, I tend to average my 3 weights.  If the first two are the same, I go with that.

Make sure the floor under the scale is as level as possible - it helps.