Queen in work done mode.

[HipHopQueen]

Had a rough night of sleeping including some cramping and numbness in both arms. I’m a side sleeper so I might have to try something else. Might have to try my back or stomach. I’m not on dialysis but lower back cramping has been a thing, and it hasn’t hit me in a while. Also my neck is still feeling pinched. Feeling a little flustered. Also might be this paper I have to write for school. Really not feeling motivated. I have my last couple tests for the centers I’m trying to list with this Wednesday. I’m glad to have it all done for now. I’m trying to loose some weight as well. Losing overall 50 would put me at a great weight. So I have a bunch of stuff in my head. All in all I’m doing fine but with a side of a few complaints. So the get things done list is growing but I was listening to two things today.

1. Love yourself and show yourself grace

2. Provide yourself with structure and ask God or whoever you look to for the rest.

Peace

The Queen

[Bassetmommer]

Hang in there. You are doing great. Talk to you doctors about the cramping. It might be an electrolyte imbalance.

[TaffyTwoshoes27 in reply to Bassetmommer]

My Nephrologist and PD Nurse usually blamed cramping on eating too many foods containing high amounts of Phosphorus. I hated when my feet and toes cramped. Ouch! Not comfortable! Are you on phosphorus binders? That helped me. I took Fosrenol. It’s a chewable tablet like Tums. Sure doesn’t taste like a Tums though!My low back starts bothering me when I sit too much!

Go to the Davila or Fresenius websites and look at the foods high in phosphorus. I think dairy (cheese, milk, etc., except cottage cheese - for some reason) and cereals are the worst culprits for phosphorus. Too bad the FDA doesn’t require food manufacturers to list Phosphorus content on the ingredient label.

YouTube is a great source for exercises if your neck continues to bother you.

I received “the gift” on Jan 25 this year! Every time I start to eat cheese, I look for the Fosrenol (but don’t need it anymore!).

Good luck on you journey!

[HipHopQueen in reply to TaffyTwoshoes27]

Thanks. I’ll have to see what foods have phosphorous. I haven’t been paying attention to that because I’m not on dialysis just yet. You take care.

[Blackmidnight in reply to TaffyTwoshoes27]

Last month was the first time I had to order supplies. Let’s say the count was off for this month. I ended up having to use 2,5s and 1.5s. I have found my body doesn’t like the 2.5s. I have cramping in my hand, fingers, toes, shins, calves and thighs. I am allergic to all the binders we have tried. However, my lab results are good (because of what I choose to eat) that they said this month that I dneed a binder. Now, to work on make a better order and staying away from the 2.5s. A Dietitan or nutritionist should be able to help with the phosphorus foods. But I am constantly reading food labels and searching the web for nutrition facts about food. It helps.

[TaffyTwoshoes27 in reply to Blackmidnight]

Good for you for being your own best advocate by researching things on your own! That’s how I learned probably 60% of my knowledge about my kidney disease. I was blessed to have a fabulous Nephrologist, but sadly had to be reassigned to another Neph when I changed dialysis facilities. In 2020, I changed to a facility that only saw home PD patients and therefore cut down my exposure to in-center hemo patients, their family member plus all the ambulance and transport drivers that were coming in and out of the waiting area where I had to sit until my renal nurse called me into her exam room.BTW: I have been wanting to tell you about a product I used that was so effective for cramps (esp. on legs, calves, feet) when I had them (esp in bed) that I couldn’t live without it! It is called “Theraworx” and the type I bought is a pump type bottle that when pumped produces a foam that you rub on your legs, feet, etc. and the cramps go away almost immediately! Great stuff! They now sell it in Walgreens, Walmart and other retailers.

Keep up the research. My dialysis facility (FMC) had a dietitian on staff.

Theraworx for cramps.

[Blackmidnight in reply to TaffyTwoshoes27]

Thank you for the suggestion. My body must not like the 2.5s because I am back to the 1.5s and the cramping has stopped.

[TaffyTwoshoes27 in reply to Blackmidnight]

Great! Keep your labs in range so they won't switch you back to 2.5s!

[cs65 NKF Ambassador]

Hi again! I would just add that sleeping all night on your fistula arm is not good - it can go numb. I now sleep with 2 soft pillows and end up sleeping on my other side. Your neck can feel stress, so try doing some gentle neck exercises (be careful not to do them to the point where it hurts). Sitting up straight, look up slowly, then down slowly. Repeat 3 times. Return to center and look right slowly, then left slowly another 3 times. Turn head to right, then do a downward half circle to left, circle back to right another 3 times. Following up with some shoulder circles is good, too. I used to do these in my dialysis chair, too! (not the shoulder circles!) Have a great day!

[HipHopQueen in reply to cs65]

Thanks cs65. I will try them. My neck got a little better. But I need to stay sleep on my non fistula arm. I just automatically roll when I toss and turn. Ughhhggggggg

[cs65 NKF Ambassador]

I have another idea I used - put a bed pillow lengthwise under your fistula arm to cushion it. Even if you roll over onto it it will help with the pressure of your body.