What are the side effects of dialysis?

[Dragonfly]

I have been having diarrhea and the only thing it can be that I can think of is the dialysis treatment. None of my meds cause it and nothing I eat is different. Does anyone else have this problem? How do I control it? What can I do?

[Desert Dancer]

My first few months on nocturnal I had diarrhea every single day. In my case, it's because I have an allergy to uncured pork, and heparin is made from pork intestines, so once I started getting a syringe full of heparin every night... bang.  It eventually went away.

[Dragonfly]

I never thought about the heparin they also give me vitamin D, can't remember what they call it... venofer? I know I am allergic to sulfa drugs, but I don't take them, not unless one of these is a sulfa drug. I guess some research would be good.

[MooseMom]

There is this brilliant website Home Dialysis Central

www.homedialysis.org

They have a discussion forum headed by professionals, including Dr. Agar who is an Australian nephrologist who specializes in dialysis.  He is very much an advocate for home/frequent dialysis, but even if you are in center, he can answer questions about how the process of dialysis affects the body.  He is extremely good at explaining complicated topics in every day language.  Why not pop over there and ask him?  (I've seen several IHD members posting their questions to Dr. Agar.) 

[Dragonfly]

Thank you I wil check that out

[okarol]

I have been having diarrhea and the only thing it can be that I can think of is the dialysis treatment. None of my meds cause it and nothing I eat is different. Does anyone else have this problem? How do I control it? What can I do?

What does the dialysis center say? How about your doctor, any insight?

[PatDowns]

I never thought about the heparin they also give me vitamin D, can't remember what they call it... venofer? I know I am allergic to sulfa drugs, but I don't take them, not unless one of these is a sulfa drug. I guess some research would be good.

None of the usually prescribed medications while receiving hemodialysis are sulfa drugs.

The most widely used IV Vitamin D preparations are Zemplar, Calcijex and Hectorol.   Due to the new bundling method of payment, most dialysis centers have cut back on IV Vitamin D therapy and greatly increased prescriptions for oral active vitamin D formulations.   
http://www.bio-trends.com/news/413-may-25-2011

Venofer (iron sucrose) is used to treat iron deficiency  and one of the side effects is diarrhea.
http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-20109-Venofer+IV.aspx?drugid=20109&drugname=Venofer+IV

[Dragonfly]

Thank You

[CebuShan]

   I have to do some research into this because I have had the same problem. So bad that sometimes at night I will have an accident!   

I was hospitalized and they did all kinds of tests but could find nothing. That's for the link, moosemom.

[texasstyle]

The first thing that comes to mind for me is that maybe right now you are retaining a lot of water. High potassium sometimes can do this as the body is trying to rid it. Being tired and run down can also do this. My husband gets it from time to time. for him, I notice it's when he's pushed himself physcially too much the day before , plus the other 2 things I suggested. Talk with the dieitican at your clinic. You may think you're eating well, but there may be something your over looking.

[mcclane]

i've not encountered diarrhea, but one thing i've noticed is that i've stopped snoring since doing home hemo.