I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: 7piglets on August 15, 2008, 08:32:55 PM

Title: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: 7piglets on August 15, 2008, 08:32:55 PM
HI I throw up 10-15 mins every time after I get hooked up to hemo. They dont take out any fluid on me since I never gain ..I cant take it anymore my whole rest of day is shot because of how sick I feel.. I just dont want to go anymore...Also, I have skipped fridays 3 weeks in a row and my numbers still are good is anyone on just 2 days a week?? Is it possible.???
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: Mercurial on August 15, 2008, 10:09:54 PM
It's rare.

Is it the treatment itself making you ill, or the blood and needles part of it?

Sounds like you might need some anti-nausea prescribed.

M:>
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: 7piglets on August 15, 2008, 10:58:10 PM
it is the treatment itself.. I have permacath so definatley not the needles and blood doesnt bother me at all.
It happens right after being put on and I get almost foggy headed , hard to breathe , sweats then nauseous
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: Bajanne on August 15, 2008, 11:39:53 PM
So what is your nephrologist saying about it?  And the nurses/techs?  This sounds like something that needs checking by a professional.
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: Gram2Twinz on August 15, 2008, 11:54:41 PM
Yes, I agree. It sounds like a reaction to something- perhaps the fluid, perhaps the meds they put in prior to treatment. Have you had any allergy testing done? My husband often mentioned the sensation he gets at the beginning of treatment, but they began at a very slow flow rate and it helped him.
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: Loretta on August 16, 2008, 12:27:37 AM
  :cuddle;
Wow! I am sorry you get so sick.  I hope your Dr. can figure out what is causing it.

Loretta
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: KICKSTART on August 16, 2008, 01:39:21 AM
You have my sympathy , there is nothing worse than having to go through everything and be made to feel worse for it . I hope things get better soon  :cuddle;
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: monrein on August 16, 2008, 03:21:49 AM
Is your pressure dropping just after you hook up?  That could cause sweats and nausea.  But I agree that you need to really have your neph figure out what's happening because it shouldn't be like that ongoingly.  It could also be anxiety.  Understandable for sure but not pleasant.
Keep us updated on what happens and I'm thinking of you. :cuddle;
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: stauffenberg on August 16, 2008, 07:28:54 AM
As distressing as it may be, you really shouldn't cut back on the amount of time per week you spend on dialysis.  The normal dialysis prescription is geared only to remove 10 to 14% of the toxic waste products from your blood which the kidneys normally remove.  As such, it is really just sufficient to keep you alive, not enough to keep you healthy.  The standard dialysis dose was originally determined financially, not medically, as the amount of treatment time required so that the total cost of dialysis was still less than the cost of having to treat dialysis patients for medical complications secondary to renal failure.  You should really try to spend more time on dialysis than you have been assigned, not less, or your health will suffer over the long-term.

The parts of the dialysis equipment which come into contact with the patient's blood are not perfectly biocompatible, so all patients experience some reaction to this contact of their circulation with foreign matter.  The plastic in the dialysis tubing is made of the same substance which was recently banned from babies' toys as a carcinogen.  Patients experience cytokine release when dialysis starts, which causes a general but usually mild inflammatory state throughout the body.  Perhaps you are hypersensitive to these effects.
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: pelagia on August 16, 2008, 08:03:47 AM
Okay, but what can she do Stauff?  Would benadryl help if it is some sort of allergic reaction?
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: G-Ma on August 16, 2008, 08:15:09 AM
Monrein mentioned BP and that was my first thought.  This sweating, throwup, nausea, light headed....happened to me one time about 3 weeks ago in center, during the 1st hour of 4 hour run.  My BP was 56/20....They put oxygen on me, stopped the pull and monitored.  It was freaky but has not happened again.  Please talk to your Dr.  It's not good to skip and I do believe you can overcome this too.  We are all here for you.
Ann
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: 7piglets on August 16, 2008, 08:24:29 AM
It is not b/p as I usually run on low side it actually goes up alitltle ..It is not anxiety as I am fine then all of a sudden the symptoms start. I have mentioned to the tech/nurses (and they are there every time it happens and they said they dont know what is causing it) I called my neph dr on Wed and asked what can be done he called while I was at dialysis so I have to wait now until mon to call him back..
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: G-Ma on August 16, 2008, 08:27:56 AM
Yes, I always run low too...always under 98 over whatever and generally go up during D.  Correct me if I'm wrong but I think anxiety does act like this...fine and then bump.
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: RichardMEL on August 16, 2008, 09:43:47 AM
7piglets - I'm concerned when you say you "skip" Fridays... is this your choice (ie you just don't go?) or what? If you skip a lot of sessions you might be considered non compliant with your dialysis, which could get in the way of a transplant.... plus as Staufenberg said you really need as much of it as you can get - even if the labs are OK.

I am surprised the staff are not offering anything in terms of you throwing up (which would account for the lack of fluid "gain" if you're throwing up enough of it)... poor thing that is pretty yuky... I hope whatever is causing it can be resolved. I've never thrown up on Hemo... touch wood....

 :cuddle;
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: willieandwinnie on August 16, 2008, 10:01:03 AM
HEPARIN! Len went through the same thing when he was on dialysis. There are 2 types of heparin, I remember one had something to do with pork, and for the life of me I can't remember the other. Len had the same reaction to the pork type and once they switch him, that seemed to do the trick. Ask the nurse at your clinic. Len also had a reaction to the dialyzer if they did not rinse the machine enough. Hope you get to the bottom of things. 7piglets, When Len first came home from the hospital in 2001, he only went 2 times a week and only ran for 2 hours, he got fluids, never any taken off. He had labs drawn each treatment to keep an eye on things. Keep us posted.  :cuddle;
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: Mercurial on August 16, 2008, 12:02:50 PM
It is not b/p as I usually run on low side it actually goes up alitltle ..It is not anxiety as I am fine then all of a sudden the symptoms start. I have mentioned to the tech/nurses (and they are there every time it happens and they said they dont know what is causing it) I called my neph dr on Wed and asked what can be done he called while I was at dialysis so I have to wait now until mon to call him back..

Do they have you on a reuse filter?  If you are, switching it to 'one use' would be the first thing I'd do.  The chemicals they use to clean the reused filters leave a residue that can definitely provoke an allergic reaction.
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: pelagia on August 16, 2008, 05:06:55 PM
Sounds like you need to make a list of things they should explore and rule out.  If the blood pressure isn't an issue, then everything else that has been suggested relates to allergic reactions:

dialysis tubing
type of heparin (porcine vs. ???)
reuse of filter/chemicals used to clean the filters

I sure hope they can figure this out soon.

Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: Ang on August 16, 2008, 08:17:51 PM
7 piglets  very  strange  that  you  do  not  gain  fluid  and  have  none  removed,  i  was  ubder  the  opinion  that  the  machines  will  not  operate  if  fluid  is  not  removed,they  have  to  allow  for  washback etc  any  drinks  ,food  you  consume  during  dialysis,you  must  spend  all  day  on  thetoilet  if  you've  got  no  fluid gains.

its  matter  of  trial  by  deduction.

make  a  list  of  when  you  get  on  the  machine  up  to  the  point  you  start  feeling  bad
1.is  it  the  heparin
2. what  is  the  pump speed  you  start  feeling  bad.
3. etc  etc  etc

please   do  not  miss  any  sessions  as  the  limited  dialysis  only  removes  a  small   %  of  toxins,it  will  just  accumulate  to  a  dangerous  level  then  trouble.
good  luck  hope  you  work  it  all  out.
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: 7piglets on August 16, 2008, 11:04:32 PM
As for fluid gain no I dont gain and I am told they are not removing anything.. I do know when I weight myself getting there and weigh myself leaving I am usually just a little over start( but not much at all)
As for heparin they dont give me heparin until the end of the session so that wouldnt be it since I get the reaction 10-15mins after starting.
I am curious if they are using a reuse filter and will ask...I dont know the rate and will ask that also on Mon
As for skipping Fridays...It is not like i say oh today I am not going so I am going to skip...My 39 yr old brother died and was buried on friday , I have cancer for 3rd time and had surgery and was discharged from hospital after tumor removed from chest wall and was in so much pain from it couldnt drive on another friday and had a couple of more serious situations that caused the miss .(I believe 4 since I started )
As for uncompliant so cant get a kidney doesn't matter because they wont give me one anyway with cancer
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: Jess21 on August 16, 2008, 11:53:19 PM
They dont give heparin til the end? I was under the impression they gave it towards the beginning since its short lasting and only lasts for the dialysis session.  Am I wrong on this?
You use a cath don't you?  Maybe it's a reaction to the stuff they "push" before connecting you to the machine? Just a thought.
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: circleNthedrain on August 17, 2008, 12:46:02 AM
Heparin is given to me right at the very beginning and then the machine gives it automatically during the treatment.  It is discontinued during the last hour.
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: monrein on August 17, 2008, 01:28:56 AM
exactly the same for me, except that when I used my permacath it wasn't discontinued the last hour.
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: 7piglets on August 17, 2008, 07:03:41 AM
I could be wrong however, near end of my treatment they put 2 filled syringes by the machine and when I asked what it was they told me my heparin...
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: bowie on August 17, 2008, 07:13:10 AM
The 2 syringes filled with heparin are for your catheter ports.  To help prevent blood clots forming between treatments.  It is a more concentrated dose than you get during your treatment.
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: monrein on August 17, 2008, 01:16:29 PM
They no longer use heparin here in the catheter ports.  They use a citrate flush but I remember back a long time ago that they used to use a heparin flush.
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: 7piglets on August 17, 2008, 03:30:44 PM
Thanks everyone maybe then it is heparin..
I am going to go tomorrow and ask them to write everything down from what meds are being given . to flow rate to single use filter or not.. Maybe I can post here and you guys can help me figure it out..
My concern is when I first started hemo a couple of months ago this didnt happen they they must have switched something that I am having a reaction too and I can't believe no one has a concern about it and once again I have to take the iniative to try and figure out how to fix
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: Kitsune on August 18, 2008, 12:13:24 PM
HI I throw up 10-15 mins every time after I get hooked up to hemo. They dont take out any fluid on me since I never gain ..I cant take it anymore my whole rest of day is shot because of how sick I feel.. I just dont want to go anymore...Also, I have skipped fridays 3 weeks in a row and my numbers still are good is anyone on just 2 days a week?? Is it possible.???

I'm on 2 days a week due to the the fact that my labs are excellent and I still make urine adequately. Also when I was on 3 day a week hemo, I was always sick, weak, tired and bloated. They were overdialyzing me!! The idiot doctor (who read me someone else's charts last week) still claimed for about 6 months after that that I needed one more day a week (could it be for the extra smackers and not anything else?). So do your research and don't let the neph (who goes by his precious little textbooks) tell that you don't know your own body, because you most certainly do.
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: 7piglets on August 18, 2008, 12:36:07 PM
Kitsune
thanks I really think it is the 3 days or too long a time that is doing it to me..at first I felt fine but now even on my off days I dont feel right ..I make adequate urine also and I never gain any fluids my labs have been great (and that was with missing a few fridays in a row which means the 2 days would most likely be good) I am still waiting to hear from dr hopefully he will be there on Wed.

As for everything else..I found out yes I get heparin in beggining but they havent changed the type so it really can't be reaction since the first few months I was ok with it.. I also found out the filter is a one time use filter and my rate is 200 at first then they move it to 400 (so could it be the rate change that is making me sick??)  WEll I have come to conclusion I should have gone to medical school so I could be my own dr ..:)
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: qwerty on August 18, 2008, 02:45:35 PM
Heparin is given 3-5 min prior to hooking you up for treatment. Then you may be getting an hourly maintenance dose. Heparin is in 2 forms- Pork and Beef. My clinic only uses Pork as we found too many people had allergic reactions to the beef type. Also the Heparin they use post dialysis in the cath is a "dwell" and should be limited to only the amount to fill that cath line to keep it from clotting and NOT into your system. If they are using reuse then it could be they are not ensuring all the Renalin is cleared from the dialyzer. My clinic uses dry packs so we dont have that issue but I do have patients who are sensitive to dry packs and we rinse 1-2 liters of saline through them prior to putting you on. If your concerned it may be the heparin they can pre-treat your dialyzer with heparin just before recirculation and when they dump the prime most is out of the dialzyer by then and we dont give them pre or maintenance heparin. I do this frequently with my catheter patients.  I have patients who become nauseated soon as we hook them up and usually I have Phenergan IV ready for them which seems to relieve most of it and does help them relax abit. Also if itching is accompanied then we give IV Benedryl. I have a couple that no matter what I give them they still feel ill soon as the machine is up and running. Remember also that it's 250-300ml of blood being outside of your body almost immediately and takes time to adjust to that sudden change. 
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: 7piglets on August 18, 2008, 04:18:01 PM
gwerty
thanks but as I posted I dont think it is the heparin since this is a new thing and did not happen when I first began dialysis. It is definately not anxiety and as I mentioned above they use only one time
I think it has to do with rate but again I still have not spoken to the dr so I have no idea really
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: Ang on August 18, 2008, 08:49:08 PM
7 piglets

with  the  pump  speed/rate,why  not  try  gradual  increases  in  the  rate  every  15/30  minutes,see  how  you  feel  ,  the  higher  the  rate  the  better  the  clearance  of  toxins  wil  be

if  at  any  time  you  get  pain  in  your fistula / catheter  usually  an  indication  your  runing  to  fast
hope  you  figure  it  out.
Title: Re: Getting sick on hemo
Post by: 7piglets on August 18, 2008, 09:38:27 PM
Ang
thank you ..i will definately ask them on Wed.. heck at this point I will try anything .:)