What determines the range of conductivity limits?

The acid bath that your using. Example we use a K 2.0 bath with a TCD of 13.9 so our limits can go + or - 0.5. Top range is 14.4 and bottom range is 13.4.

http://www.esrdnet15.org/dialydict.pdf
http://www.ehendrick.org/healthy/000428.htm

Education is a wonderful thing.

Can an acid bath have a TCD of less than 13.9? The lowest starting cond. in my unit at 140 sodium is a machine that runs 13.1.

Most clinics will tend to run at a preset 'standard' conductivity, typically between 13.8 and 14.2,which suits the majority of people. However, machines can be set above or below this if required. The machines will also allow some variation to the settings for an individual treatment typically + or - 0.5 as indicated by Ghaa.

< Most clinics will tend to run at a preset 'standard' conductivity, typically between 13.8 and 14.2,which suits the majority of people. > tman

By this statement, do you mean that most patients must run in this conductivity range in order to feel well on tx? Because when I run at 14.2 I feel very well. but when I run at less than that, the tx feels very out of balance. Can you shed any light on why this is?

Patient,

As I said, the normal range is in this region and it suits the majority of patients. It could be that you are more suited to a slightly higher sodium level. A setting of 14.2 is not particularly high. When you say you feel less well on lower settings, what are they? I would not expect 14.0 or even 13.8 to have a marked difference. Perhaps there are other reasons not clearly evident.

Are your unit staff aware of what you describe? I would also suggest that you ask them for a fuller explanation of why you feel better/worse depending upon conductivity settings.

This might seem like I'm dodging the question but it really is better to get the information from nursing/medical staff. They should have a better overall picture of your condition.

tman,
I had wondered why you said 13.8-14.2 is a comfortable range for most patients, because we have machines as low as 13.1 in our unit.
At 14.2 I feel fine on a 140 straight sodium setting. With sodium variation the cond may be 14.2 , but the sodium setting and the SM program will determine if the tx goes well.

At 13.8 with 140 straight sodium the tx diminishes in comfort. It does not feel right to me and I feel very strained. I have found that if I take off less fluid to counteract the lower cond. I feel better. But the object is to remove all possible fluid - not retain it.

I have gotten machines that were less than 13.8 and the lower the cond. the worse it affects me. I use SM when a machine has a lower starting cond. than 14.2. But I have not yet found a way to balance the tx when the starting cond is too low for me.

You mentioned that the higher the cond, the higher the sodium, and I may need higher sodium. Yes, I agree. I don't know enough yet about why that is as I am in the process of learning.

I have asked my doctor and staff for an explanation and what I can do with the machine settings to assure my safety and comfort on the tx when I am put on different machines with varying starting cond rates. The RNs have said to use SM, but when I have told them that the program they suggested didn't work for me, they have had no furthur answers. And my doctor's only answer is to go up on the goal.

If I could use one machine all the time which is set for my comfort level, there would be no problem. But when I am switched from one machine to another with varying starting cond rates, that is where problems occur.

Interesting reply. Don't you just love the caring attitude of the staff! I wonder how many patients at your unit experience the same problems as you.

As a tech, I would be concerned that machines run up at the range of levels you describe, unless they have been set for it for a specific reason or patient. In my units a machine that sets up at 13.1 would have to have been requested.

Of course, there will always be some small variation simply because of the nature of the beast. This is why we generally take such care in ensuring that the machines are set up correctly.

I don't know what sort of relationship you have with the tech staff at your unit, but I encourage our patients to tell my techs if they experience problems with machines. Quite often this allows us to pick up on potential problems before they happen.

I'm probably getting into deep water here, but why not ask their advice.

If you still get nowhere, all I can do is offer my sympathies.