Crashing while on hemo

[Peter]

I moved to a new dialysis centre today, and they talked about people who crash while on dialysis. Does this happen often?

[livecam]

It can happen.  I think you are referring to a blood pressure crash which does happen in some patients.  With frequent bp monitoring which just about every patient gets this shouldn't be a problem.  Low BP during treatment is pretty easy to correct by adding saline to the lines.  I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about it.

[keefer51]

If they take off too much fluid my pressure will drop allot. I also will crash. I bring a bag of pretzels with me and suck the salt from a couple of them. This will usually bring my pressure up a little. If i keep the fluid under what it should be I don't have a problem.

[thegrammalady]

taking too much fluid off will cause you to "crash" my neph is very careful with my dry weight because he doesn't want to dehydrate me. the one really bad crash i had was when the nurse "pushed" my dry weight, ie. took off more fluid than was called for. the neph has put a stop to that. i control my fluids very well. weight gain for me doesn't necessarily mean fluid gain. i have solved the problem by never letting them take off more than 2 kilos, no matter what i weigh.

[RichardMEL]

Pretty much as others have said it's about the fluid issue. Too much being taken off over the dry weight, or if your dey weight is too low then yeah you can "crash" (low BP).

I've managed to sort this out mostly by using jelly beans in the last 2-2.5 hours of my treatment to raise the BP. Haven't had a crash or cramp for months (woo hoo!)...

A "crash" usually results in you feeling faint, sweating etc... it's not pleasant but a cramp is worse in my opinion though I gather serious crashes can lead to people fainting which is no good. I've never had it that bad.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. The key is to keep the fluid intake down (<2 kilo between sessions works for me) and watch the dry weight - a clue is that if over several sessions the average BP when measured is low for you then you MAY have put on dry weight and should get it moved up a bit. A higher average BP during sessions can usually mean a loss of dry weight. Hopefully the techs/nurses can monitor this too and make the appropriate recomendations/changes.

[Peter]

Thanks for those answers. I had wondered what they meant.

[del]

Keeping your fluid intake down really helps.  Hubby has had very few crashes in the 7 years on hemo.  Usually had no more than 2 kg on. Always knew when he gained or lost weight by his BP.  Nurses always changed his weight when he told them. If they didn't he would either put in something to drink and not drink it or he would drink fluids during dialysis that weren't added into the weight to come off.

[talker]

Hello IHD World,

Shucks, this is another topic that needs revival.   

I do the pretzel bit, and grab the bits of salt at the bags bottom. 
Have been known to slop in some sea salt.   

So between a        and a        

talker