Dry weight but still urinating

[lynnrlpd1]

I just started dialysis a month and a half a go and am still urinating a lot.  I've had problems with cramping when they take off too much fluid and problems when they put too much fluid on.  Because I am regulating my fluids my self by urinating I don't understand why my dry weight cannot be whatever  weight I come in at.  It does fluctuate depending on ow much eat or drink.  Usually on Monday's after the weeken my weight Is073 because we eat out a lot but during the week it usually around 72..  Anyway with all the problems of too much fluid taken off and too much fluid put on I would like my dry weight to be whatever it is that I come in at but n y neph wants a dry weight to target?    Does that make sense when one is still urinating normally

[jbeany]

Well, there's normal, and then there's what looks like normal when you are on D.  Have you ever measured input and output for a couple of days?  Plenty of people on D do urinate - but not as much as they did before their kidneys went.  If you are coming in at a heavier weight after the weekend, you may be putting on fluid that wouldn't come off without the machine, even if it's not much.

But....before you think I'm jumping on the bandwagon with your doc.

Some people never need fluid removed.  Their kidneys continue to clear fluids, just not toxins.  Okarol's daughter had that problem, and constantly dealt with idiots trying to pull off fluid that wasn't there.

And....

Even if you do need fluid removed, if you are crashing, then you might want to take charge of setting your own goals and targets.  What you eat can change your weight temporarily.  What you wear can make a difference, too.  (Women can have fluid that won't shift off with the machine at that time of the month, too.  Lucky us.)  You can insist upon setting your own fluid removal goals.  It's harder to do at some centers than others.  Some are more willing to work with patients to individualize their treatment.  You might have to try a bit to get a system worked out where they let you weigh yourself and determine your own goal weight and fluid removal.  Mine were reluctant to work with me at first.  but, when I showed them that I had educated myself on the process, and had good reasons for picking the weight and fluid removals amounts that I did, they let me set my own. 

Also...
You have to work with the limitations of the technology.  Most machines remove small amounts of fluid, even when they are set to take off none.  Some machines can't be set to zero because of the programming.  Plus, you are going to gain fluid during the rinseback - a necessity, or you lose all the blood in the lines - and also during set up, when they have to fill the lines with saline to remove the air.  So if you set the machine to remove 0, you will be heavier at the end of the run. 

[Hazmat35]

I would work with your center and your nurses.  It is up to YOU, how much fluid they take off.  The Dr. can set a goal for a dry weight, and they staff will follow it, but if you say it is too much, then they have to go by YOUR request. 

That is very true, about the clothes you wear also.  You might be surprised how much one pair of pants weighgs compared to another.  Same with shoes.   I try to be consistant with the clothing that I wear.  Also, if you eat or drink just before Dialysis, that will bring your weight UP, and if they try to come down to your dry weight, it might be too much and then you would start to cramp. 

Just remember, that YOU ARE IN CHARGE of your treatment.