Gaining weight on cycler for the first time. Why?

[Tissybell]

After a hospital visit for a fungal infection, and walking pneumonia, I had a new PD catheter inserted, and went from pre-hospital manual PD to 4 month's of center hemodialysiso to using a Baxter Amia (which I love). In the last month my weight went from 140 to 155 months with the same healthy diet as before. I have been dealing with foot neuropathy and an infected callus since February. Why did I gain so much weight, and how do I get it back down?

[Frankie24]

The weight gain is due to the dialycite fluid used. It is made up of sugar. This is most likely why you have gained weight. It is not uncommon. Try to manage the best you can ! I was on the cycler doing peritoneal dialysis and loved it until it stopped working. I have grieved the loss of freedom this has created as I am forced to go in center for hemodialysis.

[Tissybell in reply to Frankie24]

I am sorry you have to go to the Center. I did the same for 4 months-120 miles a day since my hubby and I had to share the car due to gas prices. It broke us. WHat I don't understand is that since I started PD in Sept 2019, I was losing weight, not gaining. Weight gain was just recently. Yes, there is a non-glucose solution, but. you have to let it dwell all day, which is a bummer. I am taking extra insulin now, which adds a few lbs to offset the glucose in the solution. Are you able to do hemo at home?

[Frankie24 in reply to Tissybell]

Unfortunately my doctor requires that you have a partner available while performing at home hemodialysis. I do not have a partner nor can I afford to hire one. I have checked with all the home agencies and none of them perform this service.

Have you checked with your peritoneal nurse to see if she might be able to help you figure out the weight gain ? I was only on it for a little over two years and had done hemodialysis before. No one ever bothered to mention there were alternatives 😠 Anyway over the period of time I was on peritoneal I definitely added a few pounds. Not a lot but I noticed in how my clothing fit and my belly was much bigger. I hope you get some answers. Wishing you the best.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

There is glucose/sugar in the dialysate fluid. I was told it can be equivalent to an extra 500 calories per dose. This is a lot. I have been told that are different, less sugar and less calories products out there. This is the main reason I will not go with PD. Let your team know you are gaining weight and see if they can find a different dialysate. I was told that I could eat less.... well gee, when you only eat 1200 calories a day in food, that doesn't leave much when your caloric intake from the solution could be 1500 calories.

[Tissybell in reply to Bassetmommer]

Hmmm, that makes sense now. I went from one 2500 ml bag per day to 5000 ml on a cycle. That does add the calories. It must be hard for you to get your protein quota at 1200 calories a day. It seems there are drawbacks to both types of dialysis.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador in reply to Tissybell]

I purposedly eat very low protein anyways. I was eating that amount of calories to lose weight which I did until I got to the point where nothing was working. Very frustrating.

[RhenDutchess123]

It may be water weight....are you still urinating the same amount ?....If not. You may need to reduce fluids more and let your Cycler catch up...be super careful with salt...which is hard because it is in everything

[Tissybell in reply to RhenDutchess123]

I don't feel bloated,and I do not have edema. I think it is the calories and sugar in the extra solution.

[RhenDutchess123]

You may need to reduce the calories you eat then...Have your Clinics Dietician help with a diet so you still get the nutrition you need

[Tissybell in reply to RhenDutchess123]

YEs, sadly now I am not only counting protein, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus, but also calories, carbs, and sugar. This disheartening and time-consuming...aS a T2 diabetic, I am taking more insulin, especially at bedtime to offset the sugar in solution.

[RhenDutchess123]

Sad to hear your frustration...I have not gained any weight...but more belly now, but I think that is because of losing abdominal muscle...I am also not Diabetic....I just keep praying for the Implanted Artificial Kidney to come available...it would be a blessing for so many...not much advancement in the Kidney World in decades, even though Dialysis is the most costly disease to fund...

[Tissybell in reply to RhenDutchess123]

I'm looking forward to that, too. I have 1 1/2 years to go go before I'm eligible. Artificial kidney would eliminate the need for immunosuppressants.

[Hidden]

Have you by any chance recently started taking prednisone for any reason?

[Tissybell in reply to Hidden]

No

[RonZone]

We need to start a Baxter Amia users group. I just started using one two weeks ago. Still working out the kinks!

[Tissybell in reply to RonZone]

I am ready to join. I started with it 2 months ago. I kept opening up my transfer set slightly instead of all the way the first week. I love it now. It does not alarm often. I can wrap myself around with the tubing a couple of times with no problem. The only thing is that my solution bag of 6000 ml is way too heavy. I have contacted my nurse about getting 2-3000 ml bags.

[RhenDutchess123 in reply to RonZone]

Let's do it...

One thing I realized the hard way : On the drain tubing, there is a "shoot off" with a clip to open and shut...make sure that clip is closed or the drains will be excruciatingly painful