Need info on weight gain and PD

[Bassetmommer]

I am learning about different dialysis methods. My nephrologist is leaning toward PD when the time comes. However, I am hearing that PD can put on weight very easily. How do people deal with that? And how, if your diabetic, do you deal with the glucose solution?

[RonZone]

Hey, I've not been on here for a while, but saw this post and decided to respond. When I found out in March 2020 that I was going to be needing dialysis, and that people on dialysis gain wait, I changed my eating habits. Simple as that. I dropped 35 lbs from then to now in anticipation of gaining weight once I go on PD (not sure when that will be but probably not too far in the future at this point). I simply cut back on the amount of food I ate from three meals a day to two, which I had read that other people do. Eat a good healthy breakfast, and an early dinner (around 4pm). Now sometimes I have some fruit or watermelon at 8pm just to tide me over, but a small portion. I eat based on the new low sodium, low potassium diet suggestions I got from people on this forum. So this ain't rocket science. It's just plain life style change, discipline, self control and yeah, a little hunger goes along with it, but a little hunger ain't that bad, better than some of the other things folks deal with on here, that's for sure. (Oh I do allow myself a cheat meal every friday evening where I eat whatever I want, within reason-Example: Two slices of supreme pizza---not the whole pizza . You've been on this forum for a long time, so nothing I'm telling you here is new, and doing it is not "fun", but it is doable if a person sets their mind to it, just like any other goal. I think I'm ready for PD once it happens. I'm lucky that I've had this much time to prepare. I know others do not. Let me know if you decide to do this. Cause it is a decision for the most part, every day, to make the change or not make the change.

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador]

Firstly, this is YOUR dialysis thus YOUR choice. You will need his input of course. Check out this

homedialysis.org/news-and-r...

[Bassetmommer in reply to KidneyCoach]

Boy this was great Thanks for sharing.

[Darlenia]

Hi! You shouldn't have much of a problem controlling your diabetes while on Peritoneal Dialysis (PD). My husband, a DT2, actually managed to continue to lose weight and got off all diabetes meds while on PD. Dialysis helped significantly in this area by eliminating his water retention. Moreover, hubby had made a habit of staying away from sugar and carb heavy foods so that undoubtedly helped drive the weight and diabetes down too. You're right about dextrose being used in PD. There are three solutions that are dextrose based: Yellow (1.5% dextrose), Green (2.5% dextrose) and Red (4.25% dextrose). I asked my husband's nephrologist about this and he mentioned most diabetics do okay on it and added that he expected my husband to do fine on it too since my husband diabetes was "controllable". He then mentioned that should his diabetes numbers become a major concern, then there is another solution without dextrose one can use: Purple (7.5 is icodextrin). While on the PD journey, my husband sampled all four. As for your nephrologist recommending PD, ours did that as well. He specifically mentioned that since PD doesn't involve blood vessels, it's easier on the vascular system. And for that reason, it's preferred by transplant centers. (Indeed, this was confirmed by a nearby transplant center.) Interestingly, my husband, age 71, received a transplant a few weeks ago - at the one year anniversary of his kidney failure. As you head towards dialysis, research everything and you'll achieve your goals - I sense you're well on your way. Blessings.

[MsTrice]

Omg I gained alot of weight on pd!! In a year over 20 lbs! When I was about to hit 28 lbs up I said no more. I started to do intermittent fasting and cut out sugar and starchy foods. This allowed me to drop 10 lbs in about a month then another 5 lb more which is where ive stayed. Just watch your diet. If you have trouble talk to your dietician about meal plans. Also note, the higher the strength the dialisate solution ie green and red the more sugar. So if you can stay on yellow this can help. Try not to overdue it on your fluid intake.

[RonZone]

Just wondering if anyone knows under what conditions a person would use yellow, or green or red (I know that's what the doc says to do), but just wondering what would cause one person to be on yellow and another on red or green? or alternating yellow and green?

[mieka in reply to RonZone]

It depends on how your body reacts to the solutions. Your team will start you on a certain combination & then adjust it from there according to your lab tests. I started on all greens. Way to much for me - dried me out too much. Finally ended up with 2 greens & 2 yellows. If the solution mix is too strong you will get a lot of leg/foot cramps during the night as too much fluid was pulled out. It’s a balancing act & will change as needed.

[checkman in reply to RonZone]

The colors depend on how fluid overloaded you are. Red pulls out much more fluid, yellow a little less...you get the picture.

[checkman]

I definitely gained weight. The fluid will stretch out your abdomen.