Confused about dry weight?!?

[Angiepkd]

Because of the time I have to do my dialysis, I usually end up eating dinner during treatment.  My nurse told me to take off an extra 0.5 to make up for eating.  I have had a hard time getting down to my dry weight, even with this extra, so I keep adding to the amount.  I probably eat way too much, but it keeps me from going crazy while stuck in a chair for those hours.  By taking off more fluid, I have started having problems getting through treatment without feeling bad and my BP dropping. I guess my question is, do you account for eating when deciding on how much fluid to remove?  Not sure why I didn't think of this before, but what I eat shouldn't contribute much to my fluid.  I have no kidneys, so I am already severely restricting my liquid intake, and include foods like soup, etc. in that restricted amount.  Any help would be appreciated!  Thanks in advance!   

[obsidianom]

I would just go with your dry weight before you eat and not take off the extra .5 , especially if its dry food. You obviously are taking off too much water if you feel bad anyway. Since you do it at home you can control this. Try not taking off the extra .5 and see how you feel. That is way more important then the number itself. If you feel better with less water taking off then you are in the right direction. If you start to swell or increase blood pressure or have lung issues , then you should consider taking off more fluid. Do it by feel rather than number.

[amanda100wilson]

That seems like strange advice.  I weigh myself before I eat, otherwise I go below dry weight and run into problems during treatment. 
 Eating during dialysis can also have the effect of dropping your BP because blood diverts to your stomach.  I do sometimes eat during treatment but try to keep it to the amount that staves off hunger pangs.  Don't forget that if you start to feel unwell, you can elevate your legs above your head level, or have your chair put into Trendelenburg if it has this function, you can stop UF, slow UF, and/or give yourself a saline bolus.

[cassandra]

Also don't forget that you can eat way more now, so you are bouned to gain 'meat' weight like a 'normal person. My 'dry weight' is between 66.3 and 66.9 kilo's now. Like  Obsi says: make the amount of liquid dependent on your bp, and how you feel.

Good luck, and love, Cas

[amanda100wilson]

what I meant was your nurse's not  Obsidianom's.

[Speedy1wrc]

I sometimes eat lunch or dinner on treatment. I always have some sort of snack to keep my blood sugar up. Dialysis can drop it around 100 mg/dl. I just note it on my flow sheet. My Dr. and nurse understand and don't worry about it. They will just mentally subtract it from my final weight for that day and it will be in line with days that I don't eat.

I will set my goal in accordance with my starting BP and how far I am from my dry weight. Sort of a sliding scale. If my BP is starting low I trim back how much I can pull off safely. I've had my BP drop and it's no fun as I'm sure you know.