electrolytes

[jambo101]

First week of dialysis complete, i find after each session i'm drained of energy, my brother says dialysis drains the body of electrolytes and i should drink something to repenish my electrolytes after each session, if this is the case what recommendations are there for a drink that has electrolytes?

thanks

[Michael Murphy]

Most electrolytes drinks contain phosphorus and potassium not good for a renal diet their is on drink I know of nephro but it’s kind of pricey.  On diet advise I would recommend a renal dietician or google for the content of various foods and drinks.

[GA_DAWG]

Most drinks containing electrolytes are also high in sodium. There are reasons certain things are removed during dialysis, though others are just innocent bystanders.

[jambo101]

 I asked the dialysis tech about the issue and she said the machine automatically renews lost electrolyte levels.

[PrimeTimer]

Your neph and a dietician will or should go over your lab results with you every month. My husband's neph goes over it with him during treatment once a month at the center. They will tell you what range all your labs should be in and how to improve your numbers (what to eat/not eat and drink, etc). After awhile you'll become a pro at it, especially if you cook for yourself or have someone cook for you. But they also tell you which fast food items are allowed too.

To combat dry mouth and limit his fluid intake, my husband likes to suck on Outshine Frozen Lime Bars or popsicles. Tart lemon drops help too as do ice cubes. For a pick-me-up he will eat a good protein bar.   

[Riki]

If you are just in the first week, your body is still adjusting to the treatment.  Dialysis is hard on the body.  I was told that it is the equivalent to a 10 mile run.  It takes a few weeks for the body to get used to the change, just like it would a new exercise routine.  After a month or so, you'll probably see a change in the energy level and you may just need a pick me up afterwards.  I find that after dialysis, my body is tired, but my brain is on overdrive.  I'm also usually so hungry I could eat the south end of a low flying duck. *L*  I usually stop at the local Tim Horton's coffee shop to get an iced cappuccino on the way home, and Mom and I have a late supper.

[KatieV]

I find that after dialysis, my body is tired, but my brain is on overdrive. 

It's not every session for me, but regularly I experience this too!  Since we finish dialysis about midnight (NxStage), we go to bed directly after.  My husband has joked (I hope!) about smothering me when I won't shut up and he's trying to sleep!

[rcjordan]

>But they also tell you which fast food items are allowed too.

Oh, that's easy. **None** (heh)

Some of us seem to need to be on the high end of the electrolyte allowance.  I had frequent, violent nocturnal leg cramps decades before ESRD and took 200-400 mg potassium daily, along with the occasional calcium & magnesium supplements.  As you might guess, cramps hit me hard when I was put on dialysis.  I do much, much better when I keep my potassium in the upper range and try to take in around 2000 mg / day.  All supplements were initially banned by my neph, but he did approve an occasional emergency use of magnesium powder when the nocturnal cramps get bad.

[Charlie B53]

I need to ask my Neph about my magnesium as I cramp often while sleeping.

I never had a problem the years on PD but Hemo is totally different.  Two years already, I have to stay careful to keep my take-offs well under 3 L or I cramp.  But even much over 2 and I can cramp during sleep.

Potassium while on PD I had to take massive amounts of daily supplements,  Hemo I can rarely have but a bit of most all potassium rich items.

But I've never paid any attention to Mag.

As for the electrolytes, I am wondering if I should start thinking about having one beer after treatments.  Beer may be an enjoyable boost to electrolytes.  Maybe I can lie on my weight in so to trick them into takes and extra couple of tenths off so the liquid of the beer will bring me back to weight balance?

[rcjordan]

I forgot that the neph also increased me to the 2-K dialysate (304 Sak), that helped.  I also drink 36 oz of black coffee daily.

>Neph about my magnesium as I cramp often while sleeping.

Neph likely won't know jack about it, Charlie.  The cause of nocturnal leg cramps are still a medical mystery. One company, Flex Pharma, was working on a drug "FLX-787" that was showing (mostly over-hyped)  help for cramps. They just shut research down due to tolerability issues.

The best info I've been able to piece together over a decade of my layman's research is that cramps -nocturnal or otherwise- are caused by a mis-balance in one or more of the 4 'iums' --sodium, potassium, magnesium, & calcium. And the balancing point seems to be personal.  Personally, I need to be on the high renal diet allowance for potassium and sodium and only occasionally take a dose of magnesium. Before ESRD, I took a calcium supplement a couple of times a week but I get that now with binders.  It's trial-and-error and your results may vary.

<added>
Oh yeah, you have to throw hydration in the mix, too!  Even slight dehydration can set off cramps.