Yesterday,

[hurlock1]

I came into dialysis with a BP of 167 over 90. I have been reduced in time from 5 hrs. to 4.5 hrs. (some weeks ago) toward the end of my session, I passed out and woke to having a bunch of caregivers around me and a oxygen mask on my face, with one of those little things that they clamp on your finger (pulse oximiter SP?) on my finger. My blood pressure was 57 over 45. ( I was almost dead) The made me keep the mask in my face (it stunk) and they brought me a cup of beef broth (it tasted like. . . ) and I had to stay for 40 min. longer. I was just wondering if there is something I can do to prevent this from happening again. It seems like this happened last year. I don't mind dying in such an unknowing state, but I would much rather just keep on going. It seems like I would much rather have made some better preparations. I used to fear death, but, not that I'm looking forward to it, I am not fearing it as much, especially if it doesn't hurt.
anyway. . .
jmz

[tyefly]

   how much fluid did they take off......   

[dwcrawford]

So the broth was yukky and the mask stunk.... come on now!  But that has happened to people near me on the unit.  Last week they refused treatment to a man with high pressure even.  Can you see your machine and watch your pressures.  I have a little "dizzie" when it starts to drop.  Do you?  If you can't see your machine, ask them a few hundred times a day what your pressure is and they will  move it so you can see.  I promise.

I don't want to die on any machine.  I want to die coming home from the bar and driving my lamborghinii  too fast --  and not until  I get on to drive home.

[cdwbrooklyn]

Did you take any BP Meds before going on dialysis?  Anytime you are on the machine and you feel yourself getting hot or feeling strange, call a tech and let him or her know how you are feeling.  If your BP is too low, the tech should lay you back so your BP can level out.  This will help your BP come back to normal.    

[billybags]

hurlock1, Daft question, do you sit or lay down when you are getting hemo? My husband had similar problems, his BP would just drop until he stared laying down on the chair. Give it ago.

[Malibu]

Yeppers, I agree.  They took too much fluid off.  Feet up, head down, stop UF.

[dwcrawford]

Definitely not a daft question, Billie... first thing they do is lay you back in chair if bp goes low... and obviously they take a final bp after treatment sitting and standing.  Don't know why, but it is valid.

[hurlock1]

I wear bib-overalls. they weigh 1.3 kilos. When I weigh, i subtract 1 kilo. Friday, my "after" weight, i didn't subtract the 1 k. It was 5.3, a lot, I know, but it was actually 6.3. They're suckin me dry!

[fc2821]

I wear bib-overalls. they weigh 1.3 kilos. When I weigh, i subtract 1 kilo. Friday, my "after" weight, i didn't subtract the 1 k. It was 5.3, a lot, I know, but it was actually 6.3. They're suckin me dry!

Dude, sounds like it!   I have to wear crow walker boots inorder to walk, they weigh 3 kg together. I MAKE sure they subtract that when they weigh more going in and going out.  But my question didn't they watch your blood presure suring treatment?   Couldn't someone notice it was dropping?  Or did it just bottom out all at once?  I've had that happen.  The other day I ended up with a 67/43 and had to get restuck to get some saline.  They adjusted my dry wight after that.  I was feeling fne and my pressures were good,  them boom.  That was suppose to be my final standing pressure too. Unlike you didn't pass out, but had to sitdown quickly.   My blood pressure runs low anyway, and maybe that's why.    Now they monitor my pressure all the time, won't pull the needles till I do a standing. 
   
Talk about it with them?  I would.  All the above advice is great too. 

[Rerun]

You can request that BP be taken every 15 minutes instead of every 1/2 hour and make sure they have the perimeters set on the machine to alarm if your BP gets below 100.  Then if it does they need to shut your UF off which will stop pulling fluid.

Some techs move the permiters for a patient and then forget to move it back. 

[hurlock1]

Did you take any BP Meds before going on dialysis?  Anytime you are on the machine and you feel yourself getting hot or feeling strange, call a tech and let him or her know how you are feeling.  If your BP is too low, the tech should lay you back so your BP can level out.  This will help your BP come back to normal.   

That's just it. As far as I remember, I was feeling as good as ever and then. . . boom!

[girliekick]

this was a constant problem for me. I just skimmed the thread, so i may repeat some stuff.

Even though u felt normal, i bet there was some something that may serve as a signifyer for you if there is a next time. You should always be able to see your bp and heart rate. If your heart rate starts to elevate (this is a tell tell sign of that bp is about to drop from being dry)  ask... TELL them to stop pulling fluid. Also if your queazy, hot, dizzy, slow reaction time, vomit, or feel like your in a tunnel. (these are personal symptoms, there may be others) if you have never had problems w them pulling a certian amount, you can tell them that is all i am going to pull off today. Ie no more than 4 kilos
O yea cold cold ice water helps bring up bp too
hope this helps
girl