I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: MomInDialysis on October 15, 2009, 10:10:59 AM

Title: Home Test Kit for Potassium???
Post by: MomInDialysis on October 15, 2009, 10:10:59 AM

Is there a way to test your potassium other than the blood draw they do once a month at the center.  They are beginning to adjust Mom's potassium bath to attempt to stop the reaction she is having and it makes me nervous.  I know how important it is to not mess with the bath and her nephs are doing it.  She tries hard to control her intake of potassium, but as we all have done, her favorite words are, "well this once won't hurt".  Is there a home test kit? :pray;

Title: Re: Home Test Kit for Potassium???
Post by: *kana* on October 16, 2009, 05:45:44 PM

No, sorry.....I wish they had a home kit like diabetics use but for PHOS and Potassium.  Someday they will.

Title: Re: Home Test Kit for Potassium???
Post by: Restorer on October 17, 2009, 12:27:00 AM

I don't know of one for potassium, but I've been looking for a home test kit for hemoglobin. I've seen something that could work at my old dialysis clinic - every time the nurse took my blood for labs, she used a drop of it on a test strip and put it into a small machine - about the size of a book - which gave an estimate of my hemoglobin in 15 seconds or so.

Title: Re: Home Test Kit for Potassium???
Post by: girliekick on October 17, 2009, 02:06:57 AM

i agree. We need a way to monitor our levels in a quick way. I mean who is going to follow all the rules all the time. I suggested this to my clinic last month. Dont we all want more independence. And control.They  do have a  small machine to check creatine levels in the radiology dept. At my hospital.  takes appx 2 min. And glucose meters take only  seconds. And!!! There are DVD players that play VHS tapes. If there is one out there lets get it some use. If not someone smarter than me, patent the dual kidney checker, tell medicare it will save money on bidders baths and hospital stays.
Girl

Title: Re: Home Test Kit for Potassium???
Post by: Chris on October 17, 2009, 11:39:15 PM

Actually I would write the companies that make glucose meters or the home HbA1c test and home drug kits. My best bet would be the glucose monitor manufactures because maybe that would be easier to modify the programing  and or sensor.

Title: Re: Home Test Kit for Potassium???
Post by: Rerun on October 18, 2009, 04:10:28 AM

What potassium bath is she on?  1K, 2K or 3K??

Title: Re: Home Test Kit for Potassium???
Post by: Goofy on October 18, 2009, 07:02:10 AM

What is a potassium bath???

Title: Re: Home Test Kit for Potassium???
Post by: MomInDialysis on October 26, 2009, 09:15:39 AM

She was on a 3K, but when she went in the hospital for fluid overload (congestive heart failure), her potassium was at 3.5 (she had just finished dialysis 4 hrs prior to going to emergency for symptoms) and they changed her bath to 2K.  I am really worried today, because her potasium was 6 when we went into dialysis and 4.7 when we left, which is high for "leaving dialysis".  I told her to be very careful until next dialysis on Tuesday.