Don't need to take fluid off

[lynnrlpd1]

I've had a lot of questions as I'm in my fourth week of PD.  I decided to just do the manuals for a awhile and I'm confused about something.  I still urinate/regulate my fluids but of course the solution 1.5 is taking off some fluid.  So obviously this is affecting me as my blood pressure is low and my heart rate high and I wake up with headache and filling wiped out sometimes/alot.  When I talk to nurse about it she just says drink some water to make up for it.  What do others do that still regulate their fluids by urinating do with the fluid coming off.   Should the extraneal be used sometimes.  Should I just not drain as much off but then what happens to it if I leave it in.  Don't I just reabsorb it and thus am I reabsorbing the toxins.  So is that what is happening at night when I leave the fluid in because in the morning after leaving the fluid in all night, there is always less than I put in.  More fluid coming off during the day manuals.  It doesn't quite even out as more is coming off during the day.   See the nurse tomorrow and wanted to get some answers before I ask her more.

[Joe]

Hi there Lynn, and welcome to IHD. I'm also on PD and do still have some urinary function, though not much. My PD team told me when I experience low BP to drink fluids and take in something salty, and that has typically helped take care of the problem. As for absorption, when you leave your diasalyte fluid in for extended periods of time, the specific gravity of the fluid eventually equalizes with the fluid in your body (the difference in SGs is how PD works). Once that happens, your body doesn't know the difference between the two and starts absorbing the dialysalite. And yes, you are re-absorbing the toxins your system has sluffed off during the early stages of your dwell. That's why you take off less than you put in. As long as you have the difference, you will take off more than you have put in.

HTH

[adairpete]

I know the feeling you're describing quite well.  It really helps to eat salty stuff and drink water and about 30 minutes later I perk back up.  If you're pulling too much fluid off even with 1.5's (I did, too, when I peed more) try to compensate by drinking more water or shorter dwell times (you'll still pull off toxin, but not as much fluid).  That's what I had to do to keep from my bp dipping too much.  When your bp drops below a certain point, you really feel like crap.  Salt helps ALOT with that, though (I usually eat a pickle).

[papacat]

I found I could reduce my blood pressure medicine once I started PD. If my BP drops to about 80/50, I get light headed and move slow slow until I get some food and liquid so I don't pass out. I have adjusted the medication so my BP is about 115/65 after dialysis.

When I was doing manual PD I found I would have a UF of about 300 - 400 ml at 2 to 3 hours dwell. If I went 4 to 5 hours dwell my UF was 0 or less.

papacat

[tito]

After almost 4 years on PD, I still have problems regulating fluid. I don't urinate much, and the PD tends to do a very good job taking off fluid - even the 1.5%. I have cut back my BP medication, and on some days (warm weather) I drink lots of water or sip on broth. It's always a problem - just one more function of the kidney that's hard to replace.