The goal of fluid restriction is to help you feel comfortable before, during and after your dialysis sessions. Even though dialysis gets rid of excess fluid and waste in the body, it is not as effective as healthy kidneys. Why? Healthy kidneys work all the time—24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Most people on hemodialysis get treatments three times a week for about three or more hours at a time. This means, in the days between your dialysis treatments, your body holds on to excess fluid and waste your kidneys cannot remove.
Going over your recommended fluid allowance can lead to too much fluid building up in your body between treatments. This build up causes swelling and increases your blood pressure, which makes your heart work harder. Too much fluid can build up in the lungs, making it difficult for you to breathe.
Hemodialysis removes fluid as the blood is filtered through the dialysis machine. However, there is a limit on how much fluid can be safely removed during a dialysis session. If you exceed your fluid allowance, more fluid must be removed. Your body may not be used to having so much fluid removed at once. Some people experience muscle cramping during dialysis when they gain too much fluid weight. Taking out a lot of fluid can also cause a drop in blood pressure, which can leave you feeling nauseated, dizzy and weak after the treatment. Sometimes, an extra dialysis session may be required to remove all the extra fluid.
by Jody Gardener-Jones (from davita.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment