my intoduction and a question

[kitty927]

Hi my name is cathy (kitty927) live in Michigan Home of the world famous Detroit Tigers.  I have been on dialysis for 2 weeks and get really dizzy towards the end.  Any ideas on how not to pass out?  I am also diabetic and the nurses at the center tell me not to take any medicine in the am. so i dont, So I try to have a cup of coffee and some cereal in the morning before i go to dialysis.  I have a 37 yr old bi polar child who lives with me (right now he is staying at a place about 40 miles from home.  I lost my 23 yr old son 5 years ago in a car accident.  I believe God helps us the through the tough times, except I never would have thought I could handle all this.  Any help with the dizziness would be appreicated.  thanks, cathy

[Rerun]

Welcome to the site Kitty.  I hope you take some time to read some of the posts.  We have covered many topics during the 14 months we have been up and running.  This section is for introductions only.  You can ask your questions in General Discussion.  But, I will answer this one question.  You have fluid in your tissue and blood stream that you kidneys normally would take off if they were working.  Towards the end of dialysis you are approaching what they call your "Dry Weight".  This is what you weigh with little or no extra fluid in your system.  This is why you weigh when you come in to dialysis and you weigh when you leave.  TELL them when you feel dizzy and make them take your Blood Pressure.  If it is really LOW 100/60  or 90/70 (something like that) then have them turn off your UF (Ultrafultration) that is the negative pressure that pulls off fluid.  There is more to this, but that is it in a nut shell.  There is more on this in other sections of this site.  Read On My Friend...........

 

[goofynina]

Hello Kitty, and Welcome to our fabulous website and support group.  I am sorry to hear you are feeling dizzy when you get off, what is your blood pressure like?  The only time i would get dizzy was when my blood pressure had gotten too low,  they just give me broth and let me sit there until i feel better.  Are you driving yourself to and from?  Please do be careful and let us know what is going on ok.  Looking forward to hearing more from you...

[Black]

  You have come to the right place for straight talk and good information.  After what you have been through you need a good support system -- and the people here are great at supporting at each other.

[Sluff]

 

[Joe Paul]

Welcome Kitty, good to have you aboard.

[angieskidney]

Welcome Kitty! 

You are right across the river from me!! Woohoo!! 

If your blood pressure is dropping try to lay back more. That will help (unless you are already laying down) and if that still doesn't help maybe a sodium solution or they need to adjust your sodium modelling or UF profile on the machine. Make sure you eat before dialysis as some units won't let you eat during and it effects how well the fluid can be pulled off anyway. Make sure you mention the problems you are having to the Nephrologist. Rerun is very smart! Listen to her advice!

Welcome again! And this would be a great topic for you to start a new thread! 

[Zach]

Welcome to the community.   

[Russ]

Welcome Kitty.  They may be pulling too much fluid off in an effort to find your real dry weight.  I get dizzy when they pull off too much fluid even if I'm not close to my "dry weight".  How are your blood sugars at the end of treatment?  Is the clinic taking your blood sugar?  My clinic tests me around lunch time each treatment.  Low blood sugar or low BP can make you dizzy.  Make sure you eat something  before treatment.  I dialyze for 5 hours and I would never get through treatment without eating before treatment.  My clinic doesn't allow eating during treatment but I take a pack of crackers or hard candy just in case my sugar drops too low.

[angieskidney]

or hard candy just in case my sugar drops too low.

Just make sure you don't 'crash' and choke on that hard candy

[Russ]

I've never crashed, knock wood.  Okay, okay no more jaw breakers while on DX. 

[jbeany]

 

Hello from another Michigander!  I'm also diabetic, and due to start dialysis very soon.  There's lots of good advice on here - whatever problems you have, someone on here has already been there and done that!

[Bajanne]

Welcome to our wonderful community.  As you have seen, there are a lot of concerned people here who have been through what you are going through and are willing to share.  YOu have been given a lot of good advice already. HOpe you are feeling better.  PLease let us know how it is going with you.