What causes low albumin thus fluid not coming off?

[lynnrlpd1]

I just started pd manuals a couple of weeks ago and started the machine a week ago.  First everything was going good.  Taking off fluid with yellow bags but recently not taking off fluid.  Negative uf.  I was reading low albumin could be a problem with this and sure enough my albumin was low which it's never low.  So what cause low albumin

[lmunchkin]

I do not know of a sole who does not have low albumin.  It goes with this disease.  They will probably start you on EPO, but first, ask what your Iron levels are.  Epo is fine, only if your iron is up where it should be.  It, to my knowledge, has nothing to do with your fluid coming off.  You may need to use a stronger strenght (4.5), but consult your clinic about it.  They can help!

God Bless,
lmunchkin

[MaryD]

When I started PD I had a lot of trouble with low albumin.  PD takes a lot of albumin (protein) out of your bloodstream.  You will have to up your protein intake.  I was stuffing myself with protein (yuk! yuk! yuk! for someone who wasn't a large meat eater) and it didn't seem to be making much of a difference.  The PD nurses would tut tut and say I was malnourished.  No-one else would look at me and see me as malnourished.  I eventually invested in some whey isolate powder and had an enhanced drink/shake every day in addition to stuffing myself with meat.  It takes a matter of weeks or months to get your albumin up, but now I can eat what is almost normal amounts of protein and stay within the required range.

The whey isolate powder (unflavoured) is practically pure protein and a heaped spoonful in a drink or a bowl of porridge each day made a big difference for me.

[lmunchkin]

Sorry, I had Hemoglobin on my brain.  Albumin is protein.  Sorry, my bad!!!!
Mary is right, Protein is definately a problem for those doing PD.  Its just the nature of the beast.  Not so much with hemo though, but PD did use alot of Protein up. We could never get enough when John did PD. 

Can you say "Whey"?

lmunchkin

[MaryD]

PS    I don't know of any connection between low blood albumin and low fluid removal, but thinking back my fluid removal improved dramatically when my albumin was OK.  I'll check if there is any connection at my next visit to the clinic.

[noahvale]

^

[JLM]

Mayhaps you don't have a lot of excess fluid to start with.  I was doing CCPD with one green bag (on the heater) and 2 yellows and was having leg cramps plus cramps in my rib area.  There were nights that I was up half the night working out cramps by walking, drinking water and eating pickles. (The cramps on the front of the legs in the shins are the worse.)   I was told to use just yellows and now I have very little cramping.  I urinate a lot  during the day and up 2 - 3 times a night.  When I asked about my low UF, my nurse said the some people just don't carry a lot of extra fluid.  BTW - My nurse told me about eating pickles for cramping.

[billybags]

Noahvale, you are so right    malnutrition - albumin levels that are below normal due to loss of appetite, poor protein and calorie intake. My husbands have been low for a while but his appetite is getting a bit  better and  his albumin has just gone up a tad. he has to take 2 protein drinks a day, the dietitian has told him to eat what ever he likes. It is funny how you lose your appetite when you are on dialysis.

[M3Riddler]

I just started pd manuals a couple of weeks ago and started the machine a week ago.  First everything was going good.  Taking off fluid with yellow bags but recently not taking off fluid.  Negative uf.  I was reading low albumin could be a problem with this and sure enough my albumin was low which it's never low.  So what cause low albumin

If your albumen is low, then you may need to eat more protein. Protein is taken off during dialysis. I would ask your dietitian as to how much you should eat.   Albumen helps you heal as well as helps the tissues realiease fluid in order for you to dialyze it off during dialysis. If it is on the low side, then the fluids will hold the fluid in.   There are also many suppliements you can take for protein. Again, ask your dietitian for specifics..