Feeling like crap after dialysis

[DaisyKelsch]

I'm 18 and I've been on dialysis since April. After every dialysis treatment I feel like crap the entire day. Doctors and the internet say I should feel better after dialysis but I don't. Does anyone know why that is?

[Hidden]

What type of dialysis treatment are you on? If you are on hemo dialysis then you should have your doctor do blood work on you and make sure your iron and hemoglobin are steady. I know when I was on hemo dialysis I had issues with my iron and hemoglobin levels and needed some transfusions. Also if you really feel no effect or difference you should let your doctor know and maybe they can try another treatment. I am now currently on Pd dialysis and I love it, much nicer and less invasive. Also it might take a few treatments before you feel any difference. It all depends on how low your kidney levels are. I know also when I had no energy my thyroid was low. Like I said before have your doctor do blood work cause most of the time that will give them an idea of what might be going on. Best of luck to you and blessings.

[DaisyKelsch in reply to Hidden]

I am on hemo dialysis and they have taken my blood and my numbers and they normally come back normal. I have also talked to my doctors about it and they haven't done anything to change it. However thank you for your response I'll keep those things in mind.

[mieka in reply to Hidden]

Good advice here. She needs to talk with her nephrologist doctor about doing peritoneal dialysis. As young as she is it would give her the daily freedom to do what she wants, plus she shouldl feel better on PD. Plus she will be able to eat more protein that will support her physically.

[DaisyKelsch in reply to mieka]

I was going to change to PD a couple months ago but one of the dialysis nurses said I kills your kidneys faster then hemo and I want to heal my kidneys, I don't want to get a transplant. I also don't do the renal diet, I eat and do whatever I want and all my numbers (except my BUN and creatinine) are where the doctors say they should be.

[Hidden in reply to DaisyKelsch]

Be careful with your diet because if you just eat whatever you want, at some point that will catch up to you and also it is most likely not helping your kidneys stay at least semi healthy. Watch your sodium intake the most because that can do the most damage in the long term. Also when I went on Pd dialysis my nurse told me that it is like therapy for your kidneys and basically takes the stress of working all of the time off of your kidneys. I have been on Pd dialysis for now almost a year and my numbers are great and my kidney function ( even though it’s low ) has been steady, so I am not sure why the nurse would say it kills your kidneys. Also most of the time when you have kidney failure there is very little chance that they are going to come back, so unfortunately you are more then likely going to need a transplant at some point. I hope this helps. Blessings.

[DaisyKelsch in reply to Hidden]

I don't eat sugar and I generally eat healthy. There are actually studies that show that kidneys can regain their function. My cousin got brain cancer and doctors told her she would die, shes alive and cancer free to this day. If she beat the odds so can I.

[Hidden in reply to DaisyKelsch]

I applaud your positive attitude and that is half of the battle right there and you are right, there is always a chance even as small as it might be, I encourage you to fight the odds and show people who don’t think you can, wrong. My mother had cancer for 28 yrs which is a lot longer then anyone ever thought. I survived without kidneys for ten yrs before getting a transplant and the kidneys I got where such a perfect match that they lasted almost 30 yrs and 20 of those yrs I didn’t need to take my anti rejection meds, yet I NEVER suggest anyone do this. Yet just those as examples I am right with you, defy the odds and be a walking miracle. I pray and hope this comes to fruition for you. Blessings.

[DaisyKelsch in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much that really means a lot! I've been getting a lot of negative replies so this really helps. I'll try to keep y'all updated on how things go.

[Darlenia in reply to DaisyKelsch]

My husband is on peritoneal dialysis and is doing well. For those of us in end stage renal disease with little to no function recovery (cancer, diabetes, cystic kidneys, etc.) peritoneal or home hemodialysis is best over the long term as it more closely mimics normal body processing; and is thus more gentle on the cardiovascular system, etc. But for a variety of other reasons, such as ease of administration and no need for training and receiving/storing of supplies, many do prefer in-center hemodialysis. They all have advantages and disadvantages.

[Jayhawker in reply to DaisyKelsch]

My nephrologist has told me just the opposite, PD sustains remaining renal function longer than HD. I’d suggest that you talk with your nephrologist about this issue.

Jayhawker

[Sephora in reply to DaisyKelsch]

I would talk to your nephrologist. My understanding is PD dialysis helps to maintain residual kidney function. I have been doing PD for about a year and that has proved true for me. There is also more flexibility with diet if done correctly.

[Hidden]

So sorry to hear you’re feeling bad post-treatment. I wish I had more of an encouraging reply, but if anything I wanted to let you know that this definitely isn’t abnormal and you’re not alone. My husband has been on hemo dialysis for almost 11 years and treatments still kick his butt every now and then. He most always has a hit of a “dialysis hangover” as he calls it, feeling really tired and sometimes sick after treatments. His best remedy was ultimately switching to nocturnal where he could simply sleep it off once he got home. Other than that, we try to make sure he has a nourishing meal and some coffee throughout the day afterwards! Wishing you the very best.

[DaisyKelsch in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much! I'll have to try some off those remedies see if they help. I can't really eat anything on dialysis days because I feel so bad.

I'm sorry to here your husband has been on hemo dialysis for that long. However are you 100% sure he needs it. Because when I don't go to dialysis I feel great. I went almost a week without it with no side affects. I've been slowly going less to dialysis and it's making me feel better. I've been trying to heal my kidneys and dialysis won't help with that.

[Hidden in reply to DaisyKelsch]

My husband had complete kidney failure and has no kidneys, so unfortunately skipping is detrimental for him. Best of luck to you as you continue moving forward with everything! And happy holidays

[cs65 NKF Ambassador]

Dear Daisy, I believe your nephrologists are telling you the truth - you should feel better the day after dialysis. This is because the hemodialysis process removes a significant amount of urea in your blood, the waste product that makes you feel sick and tired. Also, the reason you are on dialysis is that you are at stage 5 of chronic kidney disease also known as end stage renal disease. Without treatment such as dialysis or transplant, you would eventually die. You sound like you are in denial about needing dialysis, which is a common reaction that a lot of people go through on the road to acceptance of their disease. I would encourage you to educate yourself by going to kidney.org ( The National Kidney Foundation) - they have kidney school topics you can read through at your own convenience. There are also people on Health Unlocked who do home hemodialysis - this is a gentler form of dialysis that they do about 5 days a week for 2 hour sessions at their own convenience. When you think about hemodialysis it is a process that mimics the work that normal kidneys do 24 hours a day condensed into three 3-4 hour sessions a week. It is hard on the body, but the end result is that it is a part-time job that has the end result of prolonging your life! Please think about this - we care about you!

[Hidden]

Dear Daisy, I would highly suggest you talk to your nephrologist about your options, I understand your scared and you want to do everything to avoid dialysis and like I said there is always that slim chance you can bounce back, but it would be a huge shame if you ignored this and became even more sick down the road. I know hemodialysis takes longer and takes away time for you to be active and do stuff but the lasting effects of not doing it can be deadly. I would also suggest peritoneal dialysis because at first you might be doing the twin bag method ( which takes around 30 minutes ) but then you could go to a cycler and do it at night and then be free the whole next day. It gives you your freedom but yet also keeps you alive and healthy. And once you are doing it for awhile you should start feeling like your kidneys are working just fine. Like I said I would talk to you nephrologist about your options and see if Pd dialysis is one for you. Because it sounds like just like me you don’t want to lose your freedom. Best of luck and blessings.

[Vacuumnerd]

Dialysis effects everyone different, when my mom was on it she would be so drained of energy she would just come home and sleep majority of the time and always be cold. Myself on the other hand (25) most times used feel fine after but am now getting side effects where I can feel so tired or cold with no energy or if i lose weight or gain weight and the staff is not paying attention to detail they will take too much out or too little. When they take to much out i get dizzy and have loud ringing in my ear which is leading to hearing loss

[DaisyKelsch in reply to Vacuumnerd]

I am having the same experience with my doctors and nurses. They dont pay attention to the little details that go on.

[Vacuumnerd in reply to DaisyKelsch]

Sometimes you have to put your foot Down with your Medical team because them little things can turn big and they aren't the one's who have to live with what can happen