Prevention of muscle cramps

[Sandi1313]

Does anyone have any suggestions on HOW to PREVENT those dang muscle cramps from happening during dialysis sessions.I've been limiting my amount of fluids intake the day before I have my dialysis sessions.Yet toward the end of my dialysis sessions I get those dang painful muscle cramps .I had a painfull muscle cramps happened yesterday 20 minutes before I was suppose to get off of the machine.Luckily the team leader(head nurse) came by & allow me to sit up.Then 10 minutes later,a tech came by & try to herlp me.By allowing me to place my left leg that was cramping against him.I thought I was going to kick him through a wall.Good thing he is a strong person.My boyfriend have tried to tell the staff that they are taking TOO much fluid off of me.PLEASE HELP!!

[cattlekid]

Ask if you can use profiling (NOT sodium profiling) so that they pull more fluid off at the beginning of your treatment than at the end.

ALWAYS double-check to ensure that they are calculating your fluid gain correctly based on the weight you came in at vs. your dry weight.  I've had techs who can't do mental math and screw it up entirely.

ALWAYS double-check to ensure that they are entering the correct UF goal on your machine.  I've had techs enter it wrong on the machine.

Finally, YOU get to choose how much you take off.  They will cry and they will complain that you are not getting to dry weight but that is just hocus-pocus anyhow.  If you are consistently cramping, your dry weight may be too low.  Has your appetite or bowel habits changed?  I know that once I started home hemo, my appetite went through the roof and I had to up my dry weight almost two kilos over time. 

When I was in-center, I knew that my limit was 2.5 kilos.  That was it.  Anything over that and I was sure to cramp or crash.  I would rather have left a half-kilo over "dry weight" than crash out.  Since the techs really don't want to have to babysit you when you are crashing, tell them what your limit is and refuse to go over it.  It is your life and your privilege to choose the amount of fluid to take off each session.

[Arcticat2000]

Here's what i do and it works for me, ive been on dialysis for 9 years. I hold in my hand a water bottle when i step on the scale to weigh in at my clinic. About a litre or quart. i drink the water during dialysis to rehydrate my tissues. The only time i cramp is if i fall asleep and dont drink. Give it a try.

[Sandi1313]

Just want to say THANKS for those that have given me some HELPFUL isuggestions. : .2day I tried drinking some water when I felt any muscle cramps trying to happen during my dialysis session.IT WORK plus  I would HIGHLY recommend this to my friends at dialysis.I slowly sipped on some water.Along with some iced coffee that I had brought with me.I'll start bringing to my dialysis 2 small bottles of fluids with me.Now the ONLY problem that I've with dialysis is those dang uncomfortable recliners that we have to sit in.Guess I'll be bringing a cushion to sit on during dialysis.Hooray!! :cheer:2morrow & Monday I can sleep in late .Thanks once again for the great suggestions.

[bansix]

That's an awesome suggestion! Glad someone asked!

[SteveK87]

Yup, cramping is usually caused by taking off too much fluid at one time.  Same thing happens to my wife but usually occurs after she gets off the machine.  Sometimes it would be so bad she would be in tears and all it really takes is half a bottle of cold water and shes fine 5 minutes later.

[Sandi1313]

Whenever I had those muscle cramps during my dialysis session,I had been in tears.Along with using my squeeze balls that I would use when the tech insert the needles into my fistula.Belive me I had felt like doing alot of screaming but I kept quite.Cause I did not want to alarm the othe patients.Planning to ask if the staff if they knew of this WONDERFUL suggestion.If not I'll pass this suggestion along to other patients that are having muscle cramps.Thanks once again.

[MomoMcSleepy]

Are you doing the first thing he suggested by holding that water bottle as you are weighed?  Also, they let you have iced coffee?  I have not had dialysis yet,  I thought I couldn't have coffee, so I only have very weak coffee with rice milk and non-dairy creamer once in a great while, and the less than once monthly cup of tea.  Then I allow myself a little more cheese and chocolate, though those are special, special treats, too.  I was achy and cranky, and it was cause I was still indulging in pop or tea too often (my neph suggested my phosphorus was causing me trouble).

so I was surprised about the coffee, and also I read your other post where the tech was scolding.

[Whamo]

The worst cramps come after you leave the machine sometimes.  Keep water available for the ride home. 

[MommyChick]

Just want to say THANKS for those that have given me some HELPFUL isuggestions. : .2day I tried drinking some water when I felt any muscle cramps trying to happen during my dialysis session.IT WORK plus  I would HIGHLY recommend this to my friends at dialysis.I slowly sipped on some water.Along with some iced coffee that I had brought with me.I'll start bringing to my dialysis 2 small bottles of fluids with me.Now the ONLY problem that I've with dialysis is those dang uncomfortable recliners that we have to sit in.Guess I'll be bringing a cushion to sit on during dialysis.Hooray!! :cheer:2morrow & Monday I can sleep in late .Thanks once again for the great suggestions.

Iv told my clinic many times we all need massaging chairs if they expect us to sit there for hours on end  So far no luck   
Glad the cramping has gotten better for you. I'v never had to deal with that, I just always get dizzy before anything else if they pull to much fluid off.
Good Luck & God Bless

[YLGuy]

Here's what i do and it works for me, ive been on dialysis for 9 years. I hold in my hand a water bottle when i step on the scale to weigh in at my clinic. About a litre or quart. i drink the water during dialysis to rehydrate my tissues. The only time i cramp is if i fall asleep and dont drink. Give it a try.

Never thought about holding the amount I plan on drinking during D when I weigh in.  Genius! It has been over 3 years for me reading every day and I learn something new way more often than you think.   

[Sandi1313]

I do try to save part of my second bottle of fluids for the ride home.Except sometime,we usually have errands to handle.During this hot sunny weather that we're having in the  Pacific Northwest.I'm making sure that I've some bottles of iced cold fruit juice to drink.Since I've found out that the staff expect those with muscle cramps to YEll & Scream for help.I've found a small bell to ring whenever I may have those painful muscle cramps.