Does Anyone Else Experience This?

[Annig83]

So I've been on Hemodialysis now for 3 months. I am set at 4 hours and they usually take 2.5 Kg-3.0 Kg off including rinse-back.  I've posted before, how my blood pressure is good usually between 120/80 or lower, but my pulse is always between 145-180! This only happens on dialysis days and right after they take me off the machine.  I had them put me on for 3 hours the last two times this week and noticed that I wasn't nearly as tired, sick, and my pulse was only at 100.  My clearance was not good yesterday having my kt/v at only 1.33.  They want it at minimum at 1.4.  So... I guess my question is... what can I do, or ask my doctor to do in this case?  I get my fistula January 16th but obviously I won't be able to use it for a few months (they told me kt/v gets better with a fistula rather than my perma-cath). 

I feel so much better doing 3 hours, I dread going back to 4 on Thursday!

[Riki]

my pulse is always high, and always has been... I'm not really sure.. I always blamed it on my  stature, as my height to width ratio is about 3 to 1.. *L*

[gothiclovemonkey]

I feel better doing 3 hours instead of 4 too... but in the long run, im not getting clean enough, and end up feeling really sick...
i have been told that d is really hard on your body, so maybe in some ways it is "too much" for us, but the alternative is not good either...
i had a doctor tell me that at my age group, and being on dialysis, our life expectancy is only 12 yrs on the machine... because it is so hard on the body.

[CebuShan]

I'm on home hemo and I've noticed that I feel so much better dialyzing almost everyday than I did when I was 3X/week in-center. I run about 2.25 each time. Have you thought about doing home hemo?

[katieking1981]

I second home hemo. John felt really crummy after dialysis in-center. He described the feeling as like a "hang over". He has been much better at home. We started home hemo about 2 1/2 months after his fistula surgery. We wanted to start right away as I was pregnant and wanted him home with me after the baby was born. The doctors and staff at Davida were very supportive and really helped move things along.

I really wish that it made sence for centers to offer in center treatment on a home hemo schedule. It seems that there are so many physical benefits and mental benefits to the 2 1/2 hours, 5 days a week treatment schedule.

[kennedy56]

My husband did not like in the dialysis center because of those same reasons. My husband told me to tell you that they could be because they are taking off too much fluid;that is why your pulse is too high.

[Annig83]

I plan on doing home-hemo after I get my fistula in on the 16th.  I'll obviously have to wait for a bit in order to get things started, but I definitely want to do it that way.  I hate being in-center.  The problem with leaving on any fluid is that I get vertigo from it!?  So strange, but if they get me overly dry, I feel great, minus the pulse problem.  I don't know... it's just a strange problem.  I've talked to my doctor and she wants me to go to a cardiologist.  I only get the high pulse at Hemo, not at home, and my BP jumps all over the place on days I have Hemo, but not on days I don't.  I don't get it!

[gothiclovemonkey]

i honestly believe that my body sort of... rejects? dialysis, in a way... it hates it.
of course i have to have it but sometimes i really do believe that.

[kit78]

My Cardiologist has me on meds for high heart rate which I have had for years before dialysis.  It does come down during treatment but then goes back up the next day.  My body does not like dialysis at all. I have to come home, eat and then sleep all afternoon and feel like sh*t the rest of the day till late at night. Next day I always, for the most part, feel normal again.  I still have memory problems but that happened right after my first transplant.  Even friends noticed the difference in me.  I just figured since I got a Male kidney was why my brains went to sh*t! lol

[Cowdog]

My pulse rate goes up to the 125 - 135 range at the end of my treatment. Went through the cardio tests, multiple trips to see the cardiologist for him to finally decide the high rate is my body's response tp low vascular volume or in our terms I'm at my dry weight. To satisify the nurses we tried meds to lower my pulse rate but I could not function while taking them. At the end of treatment when i stood for a standing BP my lights would go out for a second and I felt like #%&%. Stopped the meds and told them high pulse at end of treatment is how I roll. No problems since.
BTW - I keep a "Dialysis Journal". Record key treatment info of every treatment. Document discussions with Dr and Nurse Pratc for future reference. It has come in handy several times. As the nurses say "When he goes to his book you cant argue with him".