First of all, the patient’s dry weight must be determined. This is best done by the dialysis physician who follows you. After your dialysis physicians have determined your dry weight, they will gradually remove the excess fluid in your body within certain rules.
Your dialysis physicians will:
1- Try to bring your dry weight down in a controlled way. For this purpose, you may sometimes need more frequent or longer dialysis sessions.
2- Try to reduce weight gain between two dialysis sessions to 1.5–2 kg by reducing salt and water intake.
3- If you still pass urine, try to increase the amount of urine by giving you diuretic medication.
4- Adjust your sodium settings during dialysis so that you drink less water after dialysis.
5- Know that some of the blood pressure medications you take are removed by dialysis, and adjust their doses accordingly.
6- Start medication if your blood pressure is still high despite all these measures.
So what should patients do?
1- Take their medications regularly, completely and on time.
2- Be understanding about longer or more frequent dialysis sessions when their dry weight is being brought down.
3- Not miss dialysis sessions.
4- Not ask to come off dialysis before the session is complete.
5- Weigh themselves regularly every day.
6- Keep their weight gain between two dialysis sessions at 1.5–2 kg by following salt and water restrictions.
7- Measure their blood pressure regularly at home.
