Through the wringer or what !

[KICKSTART]

Hemo day today  Ive written before about fluid overload , but machine says NO. So i ask the nurse whats going on ? (im nosey like that !) Oh we have alsorts in store for you today he says, including 5 hours on the machine !! It seems that my symptoms are also a sign of low hemoglobin , breathlessness because the body hasnt enough blood in it to carry oxygen around it and fluid signs on the body because its not being carried away by the blood for dialysis , instead its just sitting in the tissue , hence machine says NO. Sooooooooooo what do they do to me today , 5 hours of dialysis  a blood transfusion , iron and aransep (epo)  wow they dont hang about at that place ! My HB was 6    . Home now with the usual stinking headache , washed out and ready for my bed ! . Oh also starving hungry ..does anyone else get really hungry ?

[Melissa]

Ugh. what a way to start the day!
You seem to be reacting to dialysis similarly to how I did in the beginning.  I think I posted before that I had really bad headaches in the beginning, but those went away.  Still feel washed out and I am ravenous after dialysis - I think it is a great sign that I'm getting good dialysis because when I am overloaded on fluid or toxins I do not have an appetite.  I really enjoy that post dialysis meal!
Also, is your center using a "crit-line"?  My old center used something called that which measured the hemoglobin as fluid was taken off, but it was not fool-proof for me because of already low hemoglobin.  Once my HB came back up though I really liked that crit-line, it became a really good measure of how much I could get off and still feel good.
Oh - I hope you are teasing about being nosey - you have to be!  Ask them everything!
Hope you get a good nap in!

[jbeany]

The epo will help a lot - once you get your hemoglobin back up, you will feel a lot better!  Being hungry is normal after a hemo session.  I think it's partly because the process strips protein out of you, so your body is craving protein to replace what is gone.

Once you get some energy back with the higher hemoglobin, do whatever exercise you can manage.  It helps shift the fluid from your tissue back into your blood stream, so the machine can take it off easier.

[Inara]

Crit-lines are WONDERFUL!  Of course, everyone responds differently, but at least it gives you (literally!) a picture of the fluid vs. hemoglobin/body weight.  I've been thinking of you lately, KS! 

[willieandwinnie]

  Inara. KS, hope they get you sorted out soon. Len had a headache after every treatment. 

[RichardMEL]

Your hb won't come up over night but it will start to raise with the iron and the aranesp. 6 is bloody low so I'm not surprised they put you on a longer session (also a longer session of hemo with ultrafiltration will take the fluid out more gently and give your body more time to "refill" - ie: get the fluid from the tissue to the blood where it can be taken out). I do 5 hours each and every session so I know the deal!!

Hang in there.. hopefully your hb can come up soon!

[Rerun]

I can't believe they let your HB get down to 6.  You have monthly labs!  Doesn't anyone watch that?

Well, now you know!  Your HB needs to be at least 11 but no higher then 13.

                             

[kimcanada]

My hemo has been 6 before, its never high its always lowish...  I think its like  bp everyones runs abit differently.

KS I am so hungry on my way home from dialysis , that I am just about sick

[del]

It is normal to feel hungry after a "good" dialysis treatment.  Hubby's dialysis nurse told him it was a sign he was getting good dialysis.  When you come off the dialysis most things are back to normal or below.  Being hungry is your bodies way of telling you that you need protein etc. My husband does 7 hours on nocturnal and he is starving when he gets off the machine in the morning - not only the morning -it's all day long LOL!!!  He has gained about 10 lbs of body weight in the past couple of months!!

KS once they get the fluid off and the hemoglobin back up you will feel so much better. My husband was really sick too when PD stopped working and he had to start hemo.  Took at least a month before he was even close to be back to himself.  He had the headaches and everything else that you say you have.He rarely has a headache now unless he has too much fluid on - 2.5 or 3 kg is too much for him even over 7 hours.  He usually has less than 1.5 on.  Feel free to pm me if you want to!!  Take care.