Fluid Dilemma

[Whamo]

During my monthly checkup at the PD center, the nurse told me to use red bags to take off fluid.  I'm 5 kilos over my dry weight.  I did a red bag, and I cramped all night.  It was horrible.  Mr. Pain was giving me cramps in the hands and the legs.  I ate TUMS (calcium).  I drank OJ (potassium).  I ate tangerines.  At the end of the treatment I'd taken off 2276 ml. of fluid.  Yesterday I limited myself to about 25 oz. of fluid and a half-dozen "cutie" tangerines.  My initial drain was 784, and I wound up at the same weight this morning as I ended yesterday.   This, using green bags instead of a red/green combo.  I'm also taking 80 mg. of lasix in the morning.  So, I am faced with the dilemma.  Should I use a red bag or a green bag tonight?  My doctor said to try lasix for a week, first, but my nurse told me to use the red bag.  I think I'll stick with the doctor's advice because I hate pain.

[billybags]

Have they got your dry weight right?  Can you see any fluid in your legs, face ect. Are you constipated, Is your appetite getting better, are you eating more? We go through the same thing. When weight goes up, they say IT IS FLUID or is it, that is the question.

[Joe]

When you go up that much that fast, it's fluid. Are you constipated? I find that this is what really messes up my drains, and I can certainly tell. If you think that's the problem, double up on your laxative and see if that gets you draining more regularly. The last time this happened to me, I doubled up on my laxative, had to use an enema, and even took Mylanta. After all that, it worked without having to resort to the red bags.

Good luck!

[jeannea]

Joe's advice is what my nurse always told me. She said even if you don't think you're constipated you could be. She advised laxatives until you had diarrhea so that you would get a good drain. Now this is awkward advice depending on when the diarrhea happens. Luckily with my setup I could just reach the bathroom without disconnecting. If you can't reach, take the laxatives before you go to bed so they'll work the next day. Or whatever works for you. You know your body.

[Whamo]

Thanks for the advice.