Cramping

[FindingNeverland]

Has anyone had problems with cramping? It seems that once I get down to the last hour or so my legs and my hands start cramping really bad. I didn't have this problem while I was in the hospital, then again when I was in the hospital I had problems with nausea and vomiting which I'm glad I got over. My nurses have tried many things to help like switching my profile, giving me hypertonic solution... which helps at first but the cramping always comes back later, one nurse even suggested eating something salty like pretzels.   

 

[Rerun]

Does your Blood Pressure drop too?  If so they may need to increase your dry weight.  Can't suck water from a dried up prune!

If it is just cramps go to the grocery store and buy some Tonic Water that contains Quinine.  Quinine is a muscle relaxer.  It helps with cramps.  They use to give dialysis patients Quinine tablets but have stopped.  But, you can drink a cup of quinine during dialysis (I put it in a small water bottle). 

Tonic water also contains potassium, so don't drink it on your off time.  Maybe a sip or two before you leave for dialysis also to get it into your system.

This is just my 

Hope it helps!

[FindingNeverland]

Nope, my blood pressure remains the same the whole time. That's the odd part, I'm over what my dry weight should be. Interesting, I'll have to look for that when I go shopping this weekend, thanks!

[monrein]

Could you have gained any real weight so that your dry weight is a bit under?  The other thing is, how much salt are you taking in.  Salt can hold the fluid in the tissues so that it's not in the bloodstream to be easily removed and this can result in cramps.

[FindingNeverland]

Right now I have quite bit of extra fluid on, so much so my legs are swollen and we've been trying really hard to get it off, in fact I've gone in for extra treatments just to get more fluid off. I really don't eat a lot of salt to be honest.

[Rerun]

If you get a chance to do Nocturnal where you have 8 slow hours to get the fluid off it is a miracle.

[RichardMEL]

hmm what sorts of weight do you need to take off during a treatment? if it's quite a bit (like say 3-4+ liters) maybe you need to think about that. If it's under say 2.5 then that's odd.

Maybe turning down the pump speed in the last hour might help a bit? have they tried that?

You mentioned profiles, have they tried one of the UF profiles (like 3 or 6) that allow for "rest" periods during taking UF off, so you can refill better? Those can sometimes be good when doing D. I also sometimes like a UF profile that takes off more initially then winds up taking off not much in the last hour so you take more off when you can tolerate it.

Lately here the nurses have been suggesting Vegemite to cure cramps(not sure if it's the salt or what). LOL

[FindingNeverland]

They want to take off at least 3-4 liters but I can't seem to tolerate more than two, if that. They've tried turning down my pump speed, they've tried different uf profiles, I had one day where I did really good on profile 2 and got a little over 2 liters off but the next time we tried it I didn't make it through it. Vegemite huh, time to visit google, lol.

[dyannalw]

My doctor has given me flexoril to take before I come into treatment.  That has helped a lot. 

[MooseMom]

Vegemite can't possibly be a cure for ANYTHING!

[FindingNeverland]

My doctor has given me flexoril to take before I come into treatment.  That has helped a lot.

That's a muscle relaxer, correct? I asked my nurse about taking a muscle relaxer because I already have a prescription for it and she said it wouldn't help. Perhaps I could just try it anyway, my only qualm is that it usually makes me very drowsy...

[RichardMEL]

I'd ask to get your dry weight reassessed. Get them to do a BVM ("crit line") to see how you are refilling and if you're still too wet or not. Even if your BP doesn't drop you may be getting too dry during treatment.

I'm sorry this is so frustrating for you

[FindingNeverland]

I did really good today, I got three liters off! 

I took my muscle relaxer before I went in and I really had no problems, my legs got a little twitchy but nothing that interfered with my treatment. This probably sounds silly to be excited about but since I've started dialysis I've not been able to get 2 liters off.

[RichardMEL]

That is VERY exciting for sure!!! I get those twitches too and they really annoy me... I wonder if it's my body saying "about to cramp!" or it's something else...

I'm so glad you go so much off!!! 

[iketchum]

I have diabetes and it has caused problems with circulation. I use to cramp terribley untill the doc decided to do sodium modelling on me. It takes allot of fluid to start then they go to a weaker sodium then to an even weaker one for the last hour. They do adjust the uf some, but can still get the flow they want. I also point my toes up. That sounds odd but if I keep them up I dont cramp as bad.