Dry Weight and Dialysis
You may hear about your doctor talk about dry weight, if you are a patients with dialysis. Dry weight is your weight without the excess fluid that builds up between dialysis treatments.
Dry weight
Dry weight is your weight without the excessive fluid that builds up between dialysis treatment. It is very close to the weight of a normal person after urinating. Also, it is the lowest weight which are safe for you to avoid the possible symptoms after dialysis. The possible symptoms may include cramps, low blood pressure and stroke etc.
Dialysis and Dry Weight
Dialysis cannot remove the body of fluid as effective as the healthy kidneys do. Dialysis patients usually take this treatment for 2~3 times per week. As a result, the body holds onto waste products and excessive fluids between treatments.
The goal of figuring out dry weight is to keep the patient normally hydrated and feel comfortable.
How to figure out the dry weight?
The achievement of this dry weight or fluid balance (also called euvolemia, "u-vo-lee-me-ah") is a very important goal for both short and long term care of patients suffering from fluid overload.
Usually, your doctor will calculate your dry weight, according to his or her experience and your own medical conditions. Your dry weight should be estimated in the following conditions.
- you have normal blood pressure
- you have a normal sized heart
- neck veins that are not distended
- you have not breath difficulties
- the absence of edema or swelling
- the absence of lung sounds (rales and crackles) related to fluid overload
As your medical changes, the dry weight is not still and no change. To calculate a right dry weight, you are suggested to reestimate your dry weight every 3~6 weeks to keep yourself safe during and after dialysis.
If you want to know your dry weight, you can leave your medical conditions below and we are glad to give you an answer within 48 for free.
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