Getting the right amount of dialysis

[Lillupie]

FIRST of all I am on PD. I am starting to freak out a little. My center makes us do Kt/v 4 times a year! If it comes back less then 1.7, then they make you redo it over to see if it was a bad reading, and if it is then you will have to change your prescription.
 Well for me, i have had to do it over a few times, which i hate. So far nothing has changed.The last Kt/v i had to retake. It was a 1.5 and second time around it was 2.0. No changes. Now this month it is 1.73, so I am right at the border line of having to redo it again, and probably this time getting my prescription changed.
The thing is I am on cycler. I am on for 8 hours, do 4 cycles of 2000ml with a last bag fill of 1800ml. I am very busy, trying to write my book, pick up my mother on a daily basis from work (she does not have a drivers license), do most of the cooking, remodeling the house, exercise class 3 times a week, and dealing with my 3 year old daughter, along with going to church on Sundays, and on Saturdays taking my mother and grandmother for their 4-6 hour shopping trip (yes it really does take them this long to buy groceries).
 with my busy lifestyle, I am scared that they are going to  either make me do an exchange during the day, or stay on the machine longer, which 8 hours is kind of hard for me. Not only that, but I am usually using all 1.5 (Baxter bags with the yellow) with a 2.5 (green) as a last bag fill. I dont want to do more 2.25s with the big bags on the machine because my blood pressure has been pretty low.
 For the exception of my road trip in May, Since then i have not missed a night treatment, my blood pressure has been on the low side, so its not like i am not getting rid of the fluid. my labs are pretty good! So I dont know what to do.


Lisa

[billybags]

My you do have a busy life, how to you find time to dialysis. (Only joking!) My husband did 7 hours a night , he was on 3 X 5000 bags and finished off with a 2000 extraneal. He had to also do a manual at about 6pm which was no hard ship. I think they try to juggle things about so you get the best from what you are doing. My husband has just had a new tube in, he should start CAPD again next week and he has told his nurse he prefers doing  this to being on  the cycler. Unlike you we have a more relaxed day as we are retired, so the cycler is for you.

[calypso]

Sounds like you might not be adequately dialyzed. How do you feel? Do you feel tired and sick? Then again nevermind that, you get used to the feeling and you don't realize how sick you are, I've been there.

Just for reference, I used to do six 2500ml fills a night on the cycler 10 hours per night, and one 2500ml daytime exchange. I'm 5'7" tall and weigh 150lbs. So I'm not a big guy. A lot of it depends on your diet. My albumin was high around 4.5-5.0 because I ate a lot of protien (which is good for you) And I felt great. Let them change your prescription if need be and don't fight it! Also give your body time to adjust if you need to go to larger fills. Maybe they can step you up slowly. Like add 100ml every 2 weeks or something. Talk to them about it.

[Rerun]

Do you have a sibling to help out with family?  You may have to cut something, but you sound like a very organized lady.  You will adjust.

I know..... YOU DON'T WANT to adjust!  You want dialysis to go away so you can live your life!

                 

[peleroja]

Sorry, Lillupie, but if you don't do the right amount of dialysis, you will be too sick to do all the things you "need" to do.  Your health has got to come first.  Although we usually are told to give up salt, if your BP is so low, you may need to add some sodium to your diet.  Talk with your dietician.