A Weight Question

[BobT1939]

I just registered on the site a couple of days ago, and will be beginniing dialysis soon(?). My nephrologist had me get an  access graft and is now in no hurry to begin dialysis and I'm not going to argue with him, but I wonder why the hurry to get a graft, since a fistula was out of the question.

O.K., my question: on dialysis, and on a dialysis diet is it likely that a person will lose weight, gain weight, or stay at the same weight?/bobt

[Black]

Hi Bob, and welcome.

The weight question is difficult to answer because there are so many variables.  Some people feel so much better after starting dialysis that they move around more and they lose weight.  Some feel better - no toxic nausea - so they eat more and gain weight.  During the first few weeks when the "dry weight" is being determined, some feel pretty lousy most of the time and don't eat well.  Some are loaded with extra fluid when they start and quickly lose a lot of "water weight".  Some people are on terribly unhealthy diets and when they start dialysis they correct the bad habits and it can affect weight either way.  So, as I said, so many variables it's hard to say.

[goofynina]

Great explanations Black    and just to add another problem with your weight (well it was a major issue with mine)  is your fluid intake.  If you keep consuming more than allowed, they will eventually have to keep increasing your dry weight due to the fact that they only take so much off each session.  Let's say you go in 5 - 6 kilo's over and they only can remove 3 -4 max, well, then you put on 5- 6 kilo's again, and again they only remove the 3 -4, that will eventually take affect on your dry weight and they will have to increase it (that's what happend to me ALL the time)   

[jbeany]

I think Black about covered it.  I lost about 5 pounds the first week - purely fluid loss.  I felt really lousy the first couple months on dialysis, and continued to lose weight during that time.  They finally got my dry weight figured, and I got into the routine, and my appetite came back.  I gained a few pounds then.  I got even more energy back as time went on, started to exercise more, and lost weight.  I'm kind of holding steady at the moment - I''m losing only a pound or so every couple of months.  (That's good for me, I need to lose it!)

Most docs want the fistula or graft put in early.  There are frequently complications with the access, so it's best to have it done before you need it.  I had mine for more than a year before I started dialysis.  This way, there's no need to an emergency catheter insertion when you do have to start.

[Lucinda]

Hey Bob

As all know on the site I had my graft access about a year ago.  It blocked six times over the first niine months and now it has been stable and matured over the past couple of months. It is good to have it ready to go when you need it.  I have to say, I am putting off starting as long as I can.  My creatnine is still around 450 so I probably have a bit more time in me yet.  I have been a whole lot better since they got on top of my anenemia.  I am just taking it a month at a time now and as long as I get to Vegas in October, I will be happy and will have no regrets starting.  Hope everything goes well for you and you can stay off it for a while.  Cheers, Cindy.

[keefer51]

I don't remember anything about my weight the first time i was on dialysis. This time i don't really gain too much. Only on weekends! When i first started this crap three years ago i was 75.5 kilos. I would always throw up anything i was eating so i stayed at that weight for a long time. Then i noticed that the binder they were giving me was getting me ill. I changed and in the next year or so put on 10 more kilos. My dry weight is 85.5. It seems to take a while to get used to all that is involved.

[BigSky]

I just registered on the site a couple of days ago, and will be beginniing dialysis soon(?). My nephrologist had me get an  access graft and is now in no hurry to begin dialysis and I'm not going to argue with him, but I wonder why the hurry to get a graft, since a fistula was out of the question.

O.K., my question: on dialysis, and on a dialysis diet is it likely that a person will lose weight, gain weight, or stay at the same weight?/bobt

It all depends on the person.

Many people feel tired and do relatively little so their weight may go up.

Also even though some will eat little and lose weight it is more likely they are gaining bodyfat and losing muscle.  Dialysis uses up a lot of protein and if they are not eating enough protein the body will steal the protein it needs from the muscle which then gets replaced with fat as there is not enough protein coming in to maintain the muscle or build it back up.