Anemia on dialysis?

[texasstyle]

My husband has been very cold the last few weeks. Even on warm days, under a winter robe and or blanket. The tempature in my home is around 80 which I think is very hot. Anyway, he looks pale and has a number of episodes of nothing breathing well. (has CHF too) I believe there is some kind of anemia going on & I've read a little that not producing EPO you can get this way. A dialysis patient gets that EPO in with the dialysis treatment right? Is this very common? How do they treat it? I JUST WANT SOME NORMALACY!!!! Whew, had to get that part out, thanks. (as always)

[sullidog]

Yes it's common, you may wanna do a hemoglobin drawl.

[Riki]

they usually give iron suppletments and/or epo injections during treatments.

I get venefer and aranesp every 2 weeks, and that keeps my hemoglobin high enough that I"m not anemic. 

[KICKSTART]

Yes its common , get them to check his iron and Hb levels. I have had 3 blood transfusions and now im on weekly epo and venofer to keep my levels up !

[Stoday]

I get an EPO injection twice a week. The tech gives it to me in the stomach half way through a session.

[galvo]

Stoday, why don't they put it in your line rather than sticking you?

[Stoday]

I asked but I've forgotten the answer. Seemed plausible when I asked.

[pdpatty]

I get EPO and another med inline EVERY treatment. If my iron gets a little low ,they give me a slow shot of iron in the line. Mean by slow ,the nurse gradually pushes it during the treatment.

I have got the greatest neph ,he really works with us,watches out for our health. We normally see him on Mondays every two weeks and the other Doctor on Wed ,every two weeks.

Like I said,this team cares. Guess they meet ever so often with the techs and discuss our treatments.

That is why I am so shocked at the  things some on here have to endure.

[casper2636]

I am always anemic. I'm allergic to the epo and have to get blood transfusions every month. Just last week I just started to get Aranesp (Ricki, could you please tell me about the side effects of it?). But, yes with the anemia I am always freezing and walking around with 3-4 layers of clothing even in the summer. I'm never warm. My family thinks I'm crazy, but I just can't get warm. It's miserable. A blood test will shed a lot of light on whats going on. If a blood transfusion is required, a hospital stay may also be nesassary because of the CHF. That happens to me when I get blood...it floods my lungs and I get CHF quickly. But they give me the blood and give me dialysis at the same time. It seems to work. The only problem is that the more transfusions you get, the harder it is to get a kidney match.