I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: Restorer on October 25, 2009, 03:05:05 PM

Title: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: Restorer on October 25, 2009, 03:05:05 PM
For someone on dialysis, how long might it take to turn around your lab numbers if your phosphorus is high? Obviously it differs by person and what type/how effective their dialysis is, but it does take longer than other things. Since dialysis is so efficient at removing potassium, your potassium numbers are usually back to normal after one session of hemo, or after, what, less than a day/night of PD?

I'm thinking about the situation where your phosphorus is high, but then you start eating a little better and taking enough binders. How quickly would your phosphorus come down to an acceptable level? My PD nurse is really pushing me to get my phosphorus down, and he keeps increasing my binders. I want to get down to normal levels before my next lab draw in a week. Think I can do it?
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: *kana* on October 25, 2009, 04:31:37 PM
My situation changed really quick after I had my kidneys out and I was eating the same as when I had kidneys, which got me into trouble.  I am kind of embarressed to say that last month my Phos was 8.3.   :o   I bought a renal cookbook, shopped by labels, ate more fruit, ate 4 binders a meal and I am happy to say that my most recent Phos level was 4.5.  So for me it took the next month to be under control.  Not sure if it came down in a week because I only get my labs monthly.  I did have dry itchy eyes which seemed to go away after a week on a strict diet so maybe you will be good.  My PD dietician also mentioned that some patients will be good only the week before labs.  Don't do this alot because it is only hurting yourself in the long run.     

Best of luck! 
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: RichardMEL on October 25, 2009, 05:28:57 PM
Just remember eating fruit can up your Potassium level as many fruits contain high levels of K. Just to make life more fun!!!
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: aharris2 on October 25, 2009, 07:58:35 PM
Restorer, It can be done. Prior to the next draw, be VERY strict in your phosphorus intake and aggressive in your use of binders. This will keep you from adding more phosphorus into your system. Meanwhile, the dialysis treatments will work to reduce what you've already got in you.

Question to you: What binders are you using? Perhaps they are not working for you and your doctor should consider changing them. We started on Phoslo which required massive amounts to be effective. We were then switched to Renagel when calcium became contraindicated. Alone, the Renagel wasn't very effective either. Now, we are using Fosrenal in conjunction with Renagel with excellent results.
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: Restorer on October 26, 2009, 12:34:08 PM
Right now I'm on 4 Renvela + 1 Fosrenol (1000mg) for each meal. I'm thinking of changing up the order I take them after I read about Renagel becoming ineffective when taken with antacids, and Fosrenol acts as an antacid.
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: Lillupie on October 26, 2009, 02:09:44 PM
For me, it is the opposite of what your nurse said. For me, I am "bad", cheating, right after i get my labs, so the damage is done already. You, well I only cheat the first few days after i get labs done.
Hope this helps, I wish they would come up with something to drain the phos out in our dialysis
Lisa
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: RightSide on October 28, 2009, 03:32:24 PM
You can get your phosphorus level down to a reasonable level in a single month--but you'll have to really work at it.  It means cuttiing back drastically on foods containing phosphorus--even if you have to go vegan.  It turns out that for most vegetables, only 25% or so of their phosphorus is absorbed by the body.  So even a vegetable like broccoli, which nominally has relatively high phosphorus, isn't that big of a problem because most of it isn't absorbed.

You might also inquire as to whether the particular brand of dialyzer (artificial kidney) they're using on you does a better than average job of dialyzing out phosphorus.  The dialyzer they use on me, the Baxter Xenium 210, is claimed to do nearly as good a job dialyzing out phosphorus as it does dialyzing out urea.  Improving the dialyzer can make a big difference.
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: Zach on October 28, 2009, 07:02:58 PM

You might also inquire as to whether the particular brand of dialyzer (artificial kidney) they're using on you does a better than average job of dialyzing out phosphorus. 


Adding more time to your treatment will help as well.

Phosphorus is a time-dependent solute, so the longer your treatment time, the more it is removed. 8)
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: peleroja on October 29, 2009, 07:30:04 AM
As you said, every person is different.  I took 2 Phoslo with each meal for nearly 5 years.  Then suddenly my phosphorus dropped to 2.2.  They took me off the binders, and I haven't been back on since.  My phosphorus stays right in the middle, and I still eat cheese and ice cream.  Here's hoping you lower those numbers!
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: Restorer on October 29, 2009, 11:18:51 AM
I'm on PD, so I don't have a choice of dialyzer - what I've got is what I've got :). I could definitely do more manual exchanges during the day when I'm usually dry to try and pull off more phosphorus.

But the last two months my protein has been a bit low, so while going vegan could possibly lower my phosphorus, it would also lower my protein even more.
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: *kana* on October 29, 2009, 04:22:18 PM
Just remember eating fruit can up your Potassium level as many fruits contain high levels of K. Just to make life more fun!!!
True, thank you.  I forget that I'm not always posting in the PD area of this forum. ;)  I am forced to drink a glass of OJ 4 times a day to keep my K up, so the extra fruit is ok for me. 
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: Lillupie on November 08, 2009, 09:37:17 PM
yeah on PD it is totally different.  It drastically lowers your K. Whihc is another reason why i perfer PD to hemo anytime.

 Lisa
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: HAM OP on November 08, 2009, 10:49:42 PM
My doctor said the dialysis treatment removes some K , but no phosphorus.  He says to take Renvela 800mg binders with everything you eat.  The amount he says to take is the minimum.  I take 7 to 8 with a big meal of high phosphorus food.  I am on Hemo now , I do not know about PD.
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: Lillupie on November 09, 2009, 07:20:48 AM
7 or 8 binders per meal. Holy crap that is a lot. My dietiction (sp?) says you cant take more then 4 or 5 because then it doesnt do any good. THat is what she claims. I do know of a guy on Facebook that has to take 10 per meal

Lisa

My doctor said the dialysis treatment removes some K , but no phosphorus.  He says to take Renvela 800mg binders with everything you eat.  The amount he says to take is the minimum.  I take 7 to 8 with a big meal of high phosphorus food.  I am on Hemo now , I do not know about PD.
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: Zach on November 09, 2009, 10:22:50 AM

My doctor said the dialysis treatment removes some K , but no phosphorus...


Actually, with regard to phosphorus, that's not correct.

Phosphorus removal is time-dependent.
So the longer you're hemodialysis treatment time, the more phosphorus is removed.

That's why folks on nightly nocturnal hemodialysis are generally off phosphate binders and in fact, sometimes need to add phosphorus to their diet.

 8)
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: *kana* on November 09, 2009, 04:32:04 PM
Ok, we want to know......did you get your Phos level down low in a week?
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: Bub on November 11, 2009, 10:59:38 AM
One of the results of high phophorus I am dealing with is itching.  Once I get myy phos levels down to normal or low ranges, how long before the itching subsides.  I am miserable.
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: Lillupie on November 11, 2009, 12:23:18 PM
Is this the nocturnal home hemo or the in-center nocturnal hemo?

Lisa


My doctor said the dialysis treatment removes some K , but no phosphorus...


Actually, with regard to phosphorus, that's not correct.

Phosphorus removal is time-dependent.
So the longer you're hemodialysis treatment time, the more phosphorus is removed.

That's why folks on nightly nocturnal hemodialysis are generally off phosphate binders and in fact, sometimes need to add phosphorus to their diet.

 8)
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: Zach on November 12, 2009, 08:20:19 AM

Is this the nocturnal home hemo or the in-center nocturnal hemo?


Nightly Nocturnal Hemodialysis at home.

 8)

Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: dwcrawford on November 12, 2009, 08:24:08 AM
I really hate to bring this up in here but.... I can't seem to get phosphrous levels up (try as I may).  Always down but yesterday's labs down more... Suggestions?
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: Hanify on November 12, 2009, 02:10:23 PM
Drink coke?
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: del on November 12, 2009, 02:36:24 PM
Eat more high phos foods!!!  Bring on the cheese, bakery stuff, beans, peas, etc!!!  A lot of people probably wish they had your problem dw!!!
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: RichardMEL on November 12, 2009, 07:22:54 PM
double cheeseburgers washed down with coke n ice cream should do it nicely Dan!

Wish I had your problem! :)
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: dwcrawford on November 13, 2009, 07:14:39 AM
Oh well, Richard, I'd like to be 39 too.  What'll we do?
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: HAM OP on November 15, 2009, 07:41:06 AM
Itching is a sign of high phosphors level.  You want to reduce your level quickly.  The effect of high levels is irreversible.  The damage is calcium deposits in your extremities which leads to amputation.  Use binders to drop levels.  Dialysis does not drop phosphorus levels.  I use RENVELA  which works real well.  I dropped my level from 9.0 to 4.0 in one month.  Ask your doctor about renvela,  it is expensive but should be covered by you insurance.
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: Mizar on November 15, 2009, 04:01:19 PM
Well, this is Weird. I just looked at my Husbands, Monthly, ( Report Card ) and His Phosphrous Level is so High, it's off the Chart and into the Margin of the Paper. I asked Him, If He, ever has Itching, and He said, " No "  and looked at Me, like I was Crazy. I try so hard to understand, these Symptoms, but they seem to differ, so much, from Person to Person.
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: JScott1753 on November 15, 2009, 09:35:04 PM
  When my fistula started to give up last December, my phosphorus started creeping up. They started me on calcium acetate(think that was it) for my binders. And raised treatment time from 3 hrs. to 4 hrs.
  Second month in, I was changed to Renegel, since that was what the pharmacy had changed to.
   Got a real lesson this month when, after a phos. of 7 last month, I really made sure to take the binders, including an extra one with meals if there were any high phos. foods(taking 4 instead of 3).
  Results? In my labs last week, I had gone from phos. reading of 7 to 4.6(4.5 being midpoint of "good range").
  Hopefully, keeping this up a month or two more will get treatment time back to 3 hours!
  So, a change can be made in a month.
  Jon
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: *kana* on November 16, 2009, 04:27:23 PM
Well, this is Weird. I just looked at my Husbands, Monthly, ( Report Card ) and His Phosphrous Level is so High, it's off the Chart and into the Margin of the Paper. I asked Him, If He, ever has Itching, and He said, " No "  and looked at Me, like I was Crazy. I try so hard to understand, these Symptoms, but they seem to differ, so much, from Person to Person.

Mine was 8.5 and I didnt itch at all.  I did notice my eyes were dry but thats it. 
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: Hanify on November 16, 2009, 04:29:22 PM
Mizar what was the phos level?
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: Mizar on November 16, 2009, 04:52:08 PM
Hanify, His Chart, only goes to 7.0 and His Score, was Way Beyond that, Right at the Margin of the Paper, like They, had to put down Something. I Asked Him, about the Itching, the Dry Eyes and He says " No, Nothing of the sort "  He's Symptomless! I don't know if that's a Good thing or a Bad thing.  :urcrazy;
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: galvo on November 22, 2009, 11:17:26 PM
After 3 weeks on Dialysis, and a month on a binder, my phosphorus went from 2.26 to 1.22. This is based on a range of mmol/L 0.75 to 1.40. So, bad to perfect very quickly. I nave also been following my renal diet pretty closely.
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: RichardMEL on November 23, 2009, 02:17:39 AM
great work! It does show that being good with binders and the diet can affect your labs quite dramatically. That's sensational!!!

 :bow; :bow; :bow; :bow; :bow; :bow; :bow; :bow; :bow;
Title: Re: Phosphorus Turn-Around Time
Post by: amanda100wilson on November 23, 2009, 06:58:00 AM
If your phosphate level is out of wack for a prolonged length of time, it will result in your parathyroid gland kicking out more parathyroid hormone which will also effect your phosphate level.  the long term effect of having the parathyroid gland work overtime is that it enlarges in size, which causes it to kick out more PTH which causes more abnormality in the calcium/phosphorous levels in the blood, essentially a vicious circle, alleviated either by a parathyroidectomy or taking sensipar to chemically control it.  Your situation may just be too much phosphorous in, not enough being taken out by dialysis.  My phosphorous and calcium have been high recently and it took adjustments on my dose of sensipar and on my alphicacidrol to get my PTH and also by calcium and phosphorous down.