I switched to Daily Nocturnal Home Hemodiafiltration (DNHDF) in June 2022 because my Beta-2 Microglobulin (Beta-2m) levels were rising. This caused problems like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and shoulder pain at night, especially when it was cold. Many long-term dialysis patients have high Beta-2m levels and hemodiafiltration is supposed to help.
I chose DNHDF because I wanted the benefits of gentle fluid removal along with the benefits of HDF. I wrote about my experiences after one month, three months, six months, and one year. The results were good till June this year when I completed one year on DNHDF. My Beta-2m was at 12,047 ng/ml. This was after it touched 23,017 ng/ml in July 2022.
However, the shoulder pain that had completely gone last year returned in August this year. I checked my Beta-2m and was surprised to find it at 15,772 ng/ml. In September, it went up to 17,300 mg/ml.
I am really concerned right now. When dialysis patients have a high Beta-2m, they are asked to do at least once a week HDF and ideally all three sessions HDF. I am doing HDF on steroids, literally! 5 nights a week, 7.5 hours each night. All HDF. What more can I do?
I am honestly quite perplexed!
Why is the Beta-2m going up all of a sudden after one year of behaving well? I have got several blood tests done and none of them show any problems. I have sent my RO water for complete chemical and microbiological analysis and am waiting for the results. Once these results come, I plan to consult my nephrologist and hope he has some ideas on how to fix this.
The consequences of increasing Beta-2m are quite scary. So, I really would like to fix this before it becomes bad.
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