When is BP too low?

[lulu836]

I wanted to reply to an old post but was encouraged to start a new topic so I just used the old topic.  Anyhow I  feel that dry weight is a big deal and feel that it is not discussed enough.  My center is extremely good with me and my desire to lower my dry weight.  They let me tell them what I want the scales to "say" when treatment is over and don't really bug me about changing it to a particular number that must be adhered to.  A fellow patient spent almost a year of being woozy and sick after treatment because too much fluid was being removed each treatment.  She thought that she had to go along with what weight was assigned to her and was miserable.  She has since spoken up and had her dry weight raised which has solved that problem.

Patients who come into the center and are sincerely interested in their health (shown by good monthly reports, completing each treatment, and being compliant) get better feedback and cooperation from staff than those who come in 3 or 4L heavy every treatment day and show disdain for staff.  I hate dialysis but I sure am glad it exists.

A nurse told me recently that BP drops and passing out are a person's body telling them that it has no more to give.  I have also discovered that I can influence my BP by 20 or 30 points by raising or lowering my feet.  Feet down = pressure down.  Feet up = pressure up.  I ask the nurse to turn the machine around so I can see the front of it during treatment.  That enables me to see the vital statistics pertaining to my treatment.  Since discovering the ability to influence my BP I have not had any problems with too low BP.

Also a couple of "glugs" of pickle juice will raise BP significantly for a quick fix.   




EDITED: Removed color in post. No color posts please- kitkatz,Admin

[Paul]

my desire to lower my dry weight.

I can understand why you might disagree with their calculations of your correct dry weight, but why would you want to lower it? Get it too low and you will have a heart attack!

BTW, please don't post all bold, all red ink. Use bold or red (or both) to emphasize important parts of your post, but don't do the entire thing in either, it is not polite.

[PrimeTimer]

lulu836:   I applaud your efforts for choosing to be an active participant in your own health care! What you say about dry weight is right on. My husband did home-hemo for about 3 years and whenever his BP would start creeping up he learned to "challenge" his dry weight. And just when he felt he had no more to give, he'd make note of it and adjust his dry weight and lower it next treatment. Blood pressure lowered too and was more normal instead of too high or too low. He felt better. He goes to the center now but because he learned a lot just from doing home-hemo (and this site of course), they let him more or less "call the shots" for his treatments. If he wants to challenge his dry weight, they let him. And you're right, they like a patient who is what they call "aware". They love him for it because it makes their job easier but he likes it too because it's a win-win for everybody. Mainly himself. 

Keep posting and sharing! People like you are a big help! Thanks!

[lulu836]

my desire to lower my dry weight.

I can understand why you might disagree with their calculations of your correct dry weight, but why would you want to lower it? Get it too low and you will have a heart attack!

BTW, please don't post all bold, all red ink. Use bold or red (or both) to emphasize important parts of your post, but don't do the entire thing in either, it is not polite.

When I began this journey I was fat.  3 years later, not so much.  Ergo, lose the fat......lower the dry weight thereby preventing a heart attack, not causing one.

Posting in ALL CAPS is bad "netiquette".  Color plus typeface, not so much. 

[lulu836]

PrimeTimer Thank you.  That is my plan.

EDITED: Site rules- no colors please- kitkatz, Admin

[Charlie B53]

I started Hemo only a year ago.  My Clinic was adamant about getting my weight down claiming I had much more water swelling about my ankles.  I wasn't so sure as years before started PD my legs ballooned faily, weeping terribly.  Having lost all that water years ago 'I' thought )like a Man, WRONG) that there wasn't any more water to give up.  Clinic kept taking off a bunch at each treatment.  I was breaking into a sweat, shortly followed by massive cramping of both calves.

I had long talks with the Nurses daily, finally Dr made rounds and we talked, decided to start raising my dry weight.

NO MORE CRAMPING!!!!!!

Over the last year as I have been active outside while the weather was decent, my weight has slowly dropped.  Nurse and I have gradually reduced my dry weight as I lost even more 'fat'.  I am finally at the number they initially attempted to get me to, but now I don't cramp.

Hopefully next Summer I will take off another 10 or 15 pounds getting busy outside.  It's a slow process, but paying attention to how you respond makes a huge difference.

[lulu836]

 

Nurse and I have gradually reduced my dry weight as I lost even more 'fat'.  I am finally at the number they initially attempted to get me to, but now I don't cramp.

Hopefully next Summer I will take off another 10 or 15 pounds getting busy outside.  It's a slow process, but paying attention to how you respond makes a huge difference.

Outstanding!!  It's a real morale booster for me to be able to participate in my treatment instead of flopping down in a recliner and having nurses and techs decide what would be good for me on any given day.

[kitkatz]

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