I have had it.

[kitkatz]

I am having low blood pressure halfway through dialysis.  The doc comes by and raises my dry weight and I put on a few pounds.  They never think that maybe I need some medication adjusted and changed.  I even cramped tonight and the tech is hollering at me about fluid gain and my dry weight.  Well shit do you not know I do work at this stuff?  I feel like they are trying to kill me.

[flip]

PM me Kitkatz and I'll give you a remedy. I won't post it on here because it won't work for everyone.

[KICKSTART]

Thats one thing that really annoys me ..WHY wont they listen to you !! I would love to put all these people through what we go through in a week and then ask their opinions !!

[twirl]

flip I'd like to know the remedy--- you must have some remedy , you do not go over your fluid
kitkatz, they should never yell at you, and cramping hurts like holy hell.
let the freakin' tech go on fluid restriction and see how real thirst feels
and getting low blood pressure during dialysis is no picnic
please complain about being yelled at, you are a highly educated person and screw them
I always tell them I treat you with respect and I expect the same consideration from you, Bitch ( but I do not say bitch)

you enjoy your students and have a most wonderful day

[2_DallasCowboys]

Kit,

Sorry you are having this problem.  Why not get out your big stick and
give them a nice crack upside the head?

No one should be yelling or talking down to you at the center, the next time
it happens I would politely remind them of this.

I would insist to have a discussion with the charge nurse, if that does not
work go rite to your neph and insist on a review of your meds, I bet you
do need to get something adjusted.

Good luck,

Anne

[Romona]

 

[Sluff]

You should never be belittled, I would go over that techs head     Hell you probably have more experience then the Tech does.

[paris]

You deserve better treatment.  I am sorry this is happening.

[kitkatz]

I am just really afraid something is wrong and no one wants to look at it.  The doc will not change any blood pressure meds and that is the problem. This morning I feel like I have fluid on me.  If I cramped last night I should not have fluid on me, right? I am calling my primary care physician to see if I can get an appointment.  Now remember I am dealing with Kaiser.
 

[Sluff]

Please do what you can to get to the bottom of this. We love you Kit and want only the best for you. 

[willieandwinnie]

kitkatz, Do you take your blood pressure medication on dialysis days? When Len was doing dialysis we withheld 2 of his blood pressure pills on dialysis days and that seemed to helped. I hope you get this figured out. I'd be using your   if I were you and there is NO excuse for them yelling at you. What do they think that is accomplishing? I'd be telling all of them to kiss my   Keep us updated.  

[The Wife]

I am just really afraid something is wrong and no one wants to look at it.  The doc will not change any blood pressure meds and that is the problem. This morning I feel like I have fluid on me.  If I cramped last night I should not have fluid on me, right? I am calling my primary care physician to see if I can get an appointment.  Now remember I am dealing with Kaiser.
 

LL was having the same problem a few days ago...too much fluid and cramping at the same time.  We never did figure it out so I can't tell you anythng about that but in regards them yelling at you, ummm....I'd be reminding them that they're not paid to abuse you.  And then I'd talk to the person in charge. 

[Zach]

 If I cramped last night I should not have fluid on me, right?
 

What is your weight gain between treatments?

Cramping can also be caused by setting the dialysis machine at too low a conductivity.

I have found that if the conductivity is less than 13.7 I'll cramp near the end of treatment.  And if the conductivity is above 14.0 I'll be thirsty just a few hours after treatment.

Dialysis machines need to be checked with a manual conductivity meter prior to each treatment to assure a correct reading.  Yes, machines do falter now and then.

 

[willieandwinnie]

 If I cramped last night I should not have fluid on me, right?
 

What is your weight gain between treatments?

Cramping can also be caused by setting the dialysis machine at too low a conductivity.

I have found that if the conductivity is less than 13.7 I'll cramp near the end of treatment.  And if the conductivity is above 14.0 I'll be thirsty just a few hours after treatment.

Dialysis machines need to be checked with a manual conductivity meter prior to each treatment to assure a correct reading.  Yes, machines do falter now and then.

Damn Zach, I didn't know that. When Len was doing dialysis I always tested the conductivity and was suppose to call techs if the conductivity was over 14. Len's machine seemed to always read 13.8 - 13.9 the whole time we had it and he always cramped about 45 minutes from the end. I would turn the UF off for 10 minutes and then would finish treatment and he would be alright. Just my 

[The Wife]

 If I cramped last night I should not have fluid on me, right?
 

What is your weight gain between treatments?

Cramping can also be caused by setting the dialysis machine at too low a conductivity.

I have found that if the conductivity is less than 13.7 I'll cramp near the end of treatment.  And if the conductivity is above 14.0 I'll be thirsty just a few hours after treatment.

Dialysis machines need to be checked with a manual conductivity meter prior to each treatment to assure a correct reading.  Yes, machines do falter now and then.

 

We're never heard of conductivity.  Is this just on certain machines?

[jbeany]

Have you got a meter at home to check your bp?  What is it running when you are off the machine? 

Hope you get this fixed soon - and tell the darn tech to stuff it!

[Zach]

We're never heard of conductivity.  Is this just on certain machines?

Yes, I believe it is on all hemodialysis machines.  On many machines there is also a sodium variance adjustment for cramping--which usually needs a Doctor's order to change the settings.

[The Wife]

Ah, that would explain.  LL is on PD so this doesn't apply to him.  Thanks Zach.

Hope you get this solved soon kitkatz.

[Hawkeye]

I have found that if the conductivity is less than 13.7 I'll cramp near the end of treatment.  And if the conductivity is above 14.0 I'll be thirsty just a few hours after treatment.
Dialysis machines need to be checked with a manual conductivity meter prior to each treatment to assure a correct reading.  Yes, machines do falter now and then.

The conductivity on your machine will vary from machine manufacturer to manufacturer and bath to bath.  For instance a Fresenius machine (H or K) on a 4000 series 2K bath (standard bath at most clinics) with a setting of 140 Base Na+ and 35 Bicarbonate has an ideal conductivity of 13.5 but anywhere between 13.0 to 14.0 could be seen and be acceptable (.5 +or-).  The 140 Base Na+ and 35 Bicarbonate are both perscribed by your Neph or clinics Medical Director.  The Equipment/Machine Technician (Biomed person) should be checking and calibrating the conductivity during the machines scheduled preventive maintenance and if your dialyzing at a Fresenius clinic the tech that hooks you up should be verifying with a handheld meter that the conductivity on the screen is in fact the correct reading before hooking you up.  Also on the Fresenius K machines there are Sodium settings (SVS) that your Neph can perscribed and UF profiling that can be done so your machine pulls off more or less fluid during different times of the treatment that may help with cramping as well.  Unfortunately I only know the Fresenius machines and can't help with suggestions for any others that may be in use.

[kevno]

I'm on a Fresenius 5008. On Uf profiling so the machine take more fluid off at the beginning of dialysis. I have a doctors prescription for my sodium to be set at 138 (UK) 13.8 (US).

Anyway  Kit forget about that. Tell them what YOU want kit. Wheres that kit I used to know! Take no SH*T of them. You know your own body and what makes you fell ill or not as much ill. I know you have gone through a lot, plus still a lot to go through. All patients have on this site. You need that fire back, don't just roll over and let the unit do what they want with you.

In your words  and I know how much thats hurts

[kitkatz]

I have not felt good for a week and last night I was just plain feeling crappy. I came off a half and hour early.  Funny thing is I feel better today.  I am thinking about trying a four day a week dialysis regime.  I have asked about nocturnal but so far I have been told no nocturnal dialysis is being offered in the Inland Empire.  Home hemo is still holding me off because of scheduling problems. Sometime I just get so frustrated.
I know I need to watch my fluids.  I now I shouldn't be cramping. I know I should not come off early. I am about ready to go back to my old unit and screw these people at the new unit. 
*Grumble grumble grumble*

[thegrammalady]

        i'll help you bonk heads.

[kitkatz]

So here is my dilemma
 
I take blood pressure pills in the morning Monday.
I go to work
I go to dialysis- blood pressure is kind of high when I get there 150/85
Halfway through treatment blood pressure drops to 70/"".
They turn me off or down and I do not take off all of the fluid gain.
So off I go with 1 kilo still on me.
I do my usual.
Take my blood pressure pills as ususal. Do my thing.
Go to work Tuesday.
Do my thing.
Wednesday- I take the blood pressure pills
Go to work.
Come back to dialysis with 3 kilos on plus the kilo I already had on.
4 kilos over.
Start dialysis, blood pressure crashes halfway through treatment, turn me off or down.
Get off dialysis two kilos over now.
Repeat, rinse, repeat.


Now they want two blood pressure pills in morning and two in the evening.
If my blood pressure is dropping when I sleep, why would I take two pills right before bedtime?
Especially after alow blood pressure run at dialysis.

God help me. I really think they are trying to kill me!

[thegrammalady]

maybe your dry weight isn't correct and you really don't have that much fluid on.

[kitkatz]

I have gained thirty pounds because of this crazy blood pressure thing over eight months.  I am not eating anymore than usual either.