Acute anxiety issues during dialysis

[WimWalther]

Has anyone here experienced acute, physiological anxiety symptoms during dialysis - symptoms which appear suddenly as if from nowhere about 20-60 minutes into session, and do not seem linked to emotional / mental state? Symptoms so intense and distressing that they may require modifying or even immediately ending the session?

The symptoms run the full gamut of acute anixety / panic attack like butterflies in the stomach, chest pain & tightness, feeling excessively hot, trembling, feeling that the whole body is buzzing or humming and of course the need to immediately take physical action - strong compulsion to get out of & away from the current situation.

Usually, the symptoms reside within 30 min after ending the session - but it can take a day or even several days if the anxiety is allowed to become very intense or prolonged.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. Thanks.

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador]

Yes, I've had same and after recording thoughts, symptoms, bp, temp and weight I felt it was due to being below target weight. I would increase tw by one half kilo and rarely one kilo which resolved my issues. Blessings

[Rtbird]

Sorry to hear your experience is very unpleasant. When I was on Doxazosin, my feelings would be like I'm dissasociated from myself. It got so bad my Dr changed me over to Hydralazine 25 mg, Wasn't sure at first if it was the BP meds, but after being on the new med it went away. Hope you are able to figure out a solution to your problem soon. Take Care!

[WimWalther in reply to Rtbird]

So here's the kicker.

I've had these symptoms at various times and in various intensities since starting dialysis 3 yrs ago. But recently, they became so overwhelming that I wasn't able to reliably finish sessions or meet fluid targets. Things reached a crisis where i was overloaded with fluid and breathing became difficult. Bad. But then..

So you'll never guess what appears to have completely eliminated the issue.. This I had to figure out all on my own, trial and error, without any help from my nephrologist. Now its been such grief for so long I'm afraid to say it's all figured out (because it's not..) but I've been symptom-free for 3 weeks.

Hint: the solution is a common OTC product, available almost anywhere.. even your local Kwik-e-mart.

Oh, and I'm FIRING MY NEPHROLOGIST.

[Nowornever44 in reply to WimWalther]

Well, will you share the solution that helped you?

[WimWalther in reply to Nowornever44]

Well, I thought you'd never ask!

Now I don't understand exactly why it works, but so far it seems to work like a charm. Ultra-strength TUMS.. or in my case, Wal-Marts generic equivalent (Equate brand).

Take two with every meal the day before, and two again at night. Then two more the next morning before treatment. Depending on how you feel after, you may want more.. But based on your results, play with the dosing until you find the minimum working dose pattern.

So TUMS supplies two things, calcium and bicarb. I don't know if my symptoms are due to low calcium or low bicarb / excess metabolic acidity - or both. But my bloodwork always shows that both factors are well within the desired ranges... you'd never know either were a problem by reading my labs!

Someone who understands biochemistry (not I) needs to figure this out. Hope this helps someone.

[WimWalther]

So today marks one month of symptom-free treatments.. and I'm actually uncomfortable saying that, after all of the previous letdowns. But so far, this seems to be the real fix.

But I'd be a lot more comfortable if someone who understands biochem could explain what's going on.

Here's another interesting fact: despite all of this extra calcium intake, my blood calcium levels have only risen marginally. Like, I'm seeing a rise of maybe 0.1_0.2 points..

Something tells me that those numbers aren't correct..

[SaucySymone]

This is exactly what I go through. I haven’t been able to describe it in words, but you explained the way I’m feeling completely. I thought it was me. Especially, feeling like I want to snatch the needle out and go home. The butterfly feeling in my stomach and tingling in my feet. I had to stop dialysis the last two times I was this because of it.

[WimWalther in reply to SaucySymone]

Ok.. get some TUMS Ultra strength or the Walmart / Target / etc. generic equivalent. I believe these are just 1000mg calcium carbonate tablets.

Take two the night before your session, then two more in the AM prior to the session. If you still have symptoms, be ready to take two or even four more during session.

The stuff acts fast - if I begin to have symptoms mid-session, I take two and start feeling better in 5-10 minutes. Though when I was really bad off, it could take 30 min. If this is the case for you, take two more.

Please let us know!