Usenet Newsgroups Re: Cramps after dialysis From: chris@chrisshipp.co.uk (Chris Shipp) "Jason" <Jason@nospam.com> wrote in message news:Jason-3108091026130001@67-150-0-54.lsan.mdsg-pacwest.com... In article <7ign9512e0qatb0a31qjs570ptas21j080@4ax.com>, Lookout <mrLookout@yahoo.com> wrote: Thanks I start home hemo in 2 weeks. This should become a non-issue at that point. Lookout, I hope that you are correct. Cramps can be caused by an imbalance of electrolytes. You should consider talking to your nephrologist about this subject. He or she will probably arrange for you to have a blood test. Electrolyte imbalances are common in patients that have kidney problems. Jason I'm on haemodialysis (UK spelling!) and have suffered from cramp quite a few times - usually hands, but sometimes lower legs. The nurses in my dialysis unit are wonderful - the immediate reaction if you tell them you are starting to get cramp is to stop the machine from removing any more fluid (but it continues dialysing).  Often, within a few minutes, this is effective; the cramp goes, they check your blood pressure, and resume the treatment. If that does not help, then they put some saline back.  In my case, that has always worked - usually in seconds! But the next step is the best - we then discuss my dry weight, and negotiate a change if it seems sensible; legally I can insist on whatever I want, but one rapidly learns that listening to what the nurses suggest is a GOOD THING... (And being a fairly small unit, 11 stations with about 12 regular nurses in rotation, we all know each other, so they trust me when I tell them to take half a kilo less this session because I have a hangover.) All specialist nurses on a dialysis ward should be very familiar with the problems of cramp and the ways to deal with it, in the immediate and the long term - but in some cases it may need to be referred to the ward doctor or your consultant, and perhaps quinine pills will be prescribed, for example.  I am told that they are quite effective. I do hope that things improve for you - Best wishes - Chris Subject  Cramps after dialysis  Re: Cramps after dialysis  Re: Cramps after dialysis  Re: Cramps after dialysis  Re: Cramps after dialysis  Re: Cramps after dialysis  Re: Cramps after dialysis  Re: Cramps after dialysis