Low Blood Pressure during dialysis

[patneiln]

I have a problem with my blood pressure dropping very low during dialysis. Does anyone else have this problem? What did you do to correct it?

[stumpr54]

Hello patneiln,

Low blood pressure during dialysis is most frequently attributed to the removal of too much fluid. If this occurs, IV saline is given to replace the fluid and increase blood pressure. Cramping in the legs, nausea, and dizziness are symptoms related to low blood pressure caused by low fluids (in the blood). If the case is mild, one can elevate the legs as well as drink some water to help rehydrate. In extreme cases, an IV saline bolus delivered through the arterial blood line is the fastest way to deliver fluid to the blood.

[Essence0702]

Hello Patnelin, I have a problem with low blood pressure since being on dialysis. My doctor prescribed Midodrine 5mg and that helps,but sometime my BP is still low during my dialysis treatments.

[codyedwardwilliams]

The best way to minimize low blood pressure is to keep your daily fluid intake recommendations!

[gaylefields]

I have been experiencing low blood pressure as well. I take metoprolol for heart rate and b.p., should i take it before or after treatment?

[RickyTroy]

It is a common problem due to the removal of water during dialysis. Take a healthy diet and the medications prescribed by your doctor to prevent low blood pressure.

[jadeanp]

I have the same problem with my blood pressure getting below the alarms on the machine. I was taking coreg to keep my heart relaxed while on the machine (had a heart attack while on in the beginning of my journey) But my blood pressure would drop significantly while on so stopped taking coreg. Funny thing i still have blood pressure that gats low like in the 80's this prevents me from pulling what i need to pull as they cut me offmy fluid gains are within the normal range until lately. Sometimes you will gain body weight and that will cause blood pressure to drop from pulling too much and too hard.

[Loganwon]

I have been experiencing low blood pressure as well. I take metoprolol for heart rate and b.p., should i take it before or after treatment?

After treatment, I found a can of Red Bull got my BP close to normal. You could also try Pink Cow, it is not as strong as Red Bull. Seriously though I drink a 16oz. bottle of low sugar fruit juice; that really does help get my BP back to normal. You should take all most all of your medications after dialysis, as dialysis removes them from your blood with the rest of the waste products. Good luck.

[1scaredycat]

After treatment, I found a can of Red Bull got my BP close to normal. You could also try Pink Cow, it is not as strong as Red Bull. Seriously though I drink a 16oz. bottle of low sugar fruit juice; that really does help get my BP back to normal. You should take all most all of your medications after dialysis, as dialysis removes them from your blood with the rest of the waste products. Good luck.

Loganwon are you not on fluid restriction while on dialysis? 16ounces is a lot if your fluid intake should be low. I don't know how limited your fluid intake is just wondering.

[stumpr54]

As a PKD sufferer, I still have residual kidney function some 3-1/2 years after starting home hemodialysis and that function still produces urine. While my fluid intake restrictions are minimal, I try to limit my beverage intake to under 32 oz per day. My direct feedback to the fluid that I pull during particularly nocturnal treatments is the limited need to urinate during the day. While consuming nearly 32 oz of fluid during the day, I can go for 8 to 10 hours before needing to void. This is not the case on my days off (from dialysis) when I will void with a more normal frequency. Standing up and delivering training for up to 8 hours a day, I do enjoy not having to take bathroom breaks. Regrettably, my participants do not experience a similar level of joy and they have to remind me that they need to take regular breaks.

[Loganwon]

Loganwon are you not on fluid restriction while on dialysis? 16ounces is a lot if your fluid intake should be low. I don't know how limited your fluid intake is just wondering.

Actually because I use the dry sauna and steam room a lot at my gym, I rarely have to worry about fluid intake. I usually worry more about becoming dehydrated. When I first started dialysis they wanted me to limit my fluid intake to 48 ozs.per day. I got very dehydrated. So they had me do a 24 hour urine collection and upped my fluid intake to 100 oz per day. So not quite a gallon per day.

You lose water every time you exhale, sweat, or go to the bathroom. But everyone is different, some people have more residual kidney function than others. My kidneys started working better after having a break (dialysis) for awhile and are working at 25% again. Which means between both my kidneys they take 4 times as long to filter the same amount of blood as someone with 100% kidney function. My GFR had dropped to 4 and is now back to 25.

I only have to do Peritoneal Dialysis 3 nights per week, sometimes 4 if I don't hit the gym as hard. I can tell if I am dehydrated by how tight the skin on the back of my hands get and conversely if the back of my hands become smooth then I know I am retaining water.

[Loganwon]

As a PKD sufferer, I still have residual kidney function some 3-1/2 years after starting home hemodialysis and that function still produces urine. While my fluid intake restrictions are minimal, I try to limit my beverage intake to under 32 oz per day. My direct feedback to the fluid that I pull during particularly nocturnal treatments is the limited need to urinate during the day. While consuming nearly 32 oz of fluid during the day, I can go for 8 to 10 hours before needing to void. This is not the case on my days off (from dialysis) when I will void with a more normal frequency. Standing up and delivering training for up to 8 hours a day, I do enjoy not having to take bathroom breaks. Regrettably, my participants do not experience a similar level of joy and they have to remind me that they need to take regular breaks.

Wow - that would be very hard for me, as I quite often drink 32 ozs straight at one time at the gym. I used to have to drink 1.25 gallons per day to maintain my CKD at level 3 (which I did for almost 11 years). Does PKD make you limit your fluid intake even more than CKD?

Also, if you don't mind, would you tell me how old you were when you found out you had PKD. I have heard it can be a very painful disease. Good luck in the future