Cant take the headaches!!

[7piglets]

After each treatment a 1/2 before they end I start to get headache and then it gets progressively worse through the day.. I now take tylenol before the end which helps alittle and at least helps me drive home but my day is shot..The staff and dr knows about them but doesnt seem too concerned..
I also have another issue ..I never had highbp and never retained water now they switched me from Renegels to Renvella and my bp is high after treatment (which was always low) and now retaining water (prior I was not having fluids taken out and I was alwasy same weight going in )
any ideas..

[Romona]

This will sound cray, but are you getting dehydrated. Your body may be trying to hold on to the fluid for that reason. That could be why your BP is going up. With warmer weather you might need a different fluid restriction. I was on a 32 oz a day restriction and was getting severe headaches. My doctor changed it to drink when you are thirsty. I wasn't on dialysis though. Sorry I am probably not much help. Good Luck I hope someone can help more.

[jbeany]

It is possible that you are dehydrated after each session.  Take a good look at your dry weight, and make sure they aren't draining you too dry.

[okarol]

I agree about the fluid. Jenna got monster headaches due to too much fluid coming off. Be sure they adjust your dry weight. If you're still urinating and not gaining to much during off days, they need to override the default settings so no fluid (or a minimum) is removed. We always had to request this and most techs didn't want to bother, so I had to ask the charge nurse to adjust it.

[Trikkechickk]

I also had the same problem.  When I started dialysis, my estimated dry weight was 52 Kg.  I  also would go into muscle cramps about the last 1/2 of big D.  When I said I was having headaches, my tech upped my dry weight to 52.5 Kg.  Still was having cramps the last 1/2 hr so now the dry weight is 53 Kg.  All problems solved.  Fortunately I have a good team that listens to me.

[7piglets]

thanks
They did adjust my dry weight but still not helping.. I will talk to them again tomorrow because my day is so shot and coming home to care for the kids with this headache is so hard..

[Ang]

hey  7 piglets


unless  you  spend  plenty  of  time  in  the  toilet,  they  should  be  taking  some  fluid  off,with  the  headaches  sounds  like  your  drying  out,  keep  at  them  , tell  them  your  not  happy,  your  dry  weight  can  be  a  bit  hit  and  miss  till  you  get  it  where  you  happy.
keep  at  them  till  you  get  what  you  want.

[Bill Peckham]

I would look at your sodium intake and the conductivity settings on the machine - I get wicked headaches sometimes when I run on the K machines at a unit by my Mom's house. I know it is the settings because I don't get them when I dialyze on any other machine. I have found that changing the conductivity - mostly by changing the sodium helps a lot. The K machines have all sorts of menus to change different settings - I'm not very familiar with them, I only dialyze on the K's in Evanston once ever year or two. Something about the conductivity is off with these Ks but I don't know how to make the change - I would prefer my conductivity to be around 14.2 usually the conductivity is 13.5 - 13.7.

I generally eat a low sodium diet but when I travel it can get out of whack, for instance when I am visiting my mom.

[napala turki]

Hi 7 piglets,

What is your pump flowrate?

On my case previously the pump was set to 350 ml/min, and on the 3 event (Friday) I mostly will be weak, a leg, stomach and neck cramp.

Now I request to change the flowrate style: Monday 350 ml/min, Wednesday 280 ml/min and Friday 250 ml/min.... it has improve alot on my energy and less cramps too.

good luck