a question

[angela515]

When I was on dialysis in 1999, I was never on any phosphorus binders. I was on dialysis 7 1/2 months. I'm just curious as to why wasn't I on phosphorus binders back then... but now I am? Did they know little about phosphorus in 1999, or was it just my own case? I remember starting dialysis in 2004 and they told me I needed to take phosphorus binders at each meal, and how much.. I was like, what is this and whats it for? I never took anything like this in 1999... so weird.

[Zach]

Phosphorus has been an issue with patients certainly since I started on hemodialysis in 1982.
Either you had some residual kidney function in 1999, or someone didn't do their job.

[angela515]

Thank you Zach.  I had an awesome doctor, same dr from 99-2005 when I moved. I miss him. I did pee more back then so I'm guessing my phosphorus stayed in the normal range so I didnt need the binders. I wish that was the case now, phosphorus is my hardest thing to maintain and biggest issue on dialysis. 

[Zach]

phosphorus is my hardest thing to maintain and biggest issue on dialysis. 

Same here ... always.
 

[Rerun]

They used Tums back when I started in 1987.  Were you on Tums and just didn't know what they were for?  Do you have any of your old lab sheets from 1999?  We could see from them what your P04 was. 

[angela515]

Yes Rerun, I do remember taking tums... well, I remember being told to take tums... but not as many as the amount of renegel I take... I believe i was on like 2 tums twice a day... something like that... its been awhile... I was never explained phosphorus though back then...maybe it was maintained, iduno... but i think your right,i think i took tums.. I dont have my labs tho, but i wo;; be getting them soon and ill look them over and let ya know 

[angieskidney]

I know for myself I didn't take anything back the first time on dialysis because I still had one kidney working at 10%. It was removed when I got my transplant 2 months later because it had already been so infected (that is what killed them .. due to reflux).

[angela515]

I know for myself I didn't take anything back the first time on dialysis because I still had one kidney working at 10%. It was removed when I got my transplant 2 months later because it had already been so infected (that is what killed them .. due to reflux).

Both of my kidneys were not working. At first I pee'd a little like I do now, but before my transplant I stopped urinating a few months before transplant... so I had no kidney function by that time. I do remember taking tums tho, but I was never told it was for phosphorus and I was never told to watch phosphorus high foods. The only problem I had back then as far as getting high numbers from labs was my K. I love strawberries  Luckily this time i'm on PD and my K is normal all the time or low.