Expert: Shweta Mishra - 6/22/2009

Question
Is it possible to gain more mass than the food and liquid weigh that we consume over a 72 hour period of time??? I am a fluid restricted patient on dialysis. If I consume 2 pounds of both water and food, (each) for 2 days, (2 pounds total each day) at the conclusion of the second day is there any way I can gain more than 8 pounds???? Regardless of the caloric content???

Answer
Dialysis cannot rid the body of fluid as effectively as healthy kidneys that work around the clock. Most hemodialysis patients go to dialysis treatment three times a week for about four hours, so the body holds onto extra fluid and waste in the days between treatments.
If you are on dialysis it is possible that you can gain that much weight just because of the fluids retained in your body. That's the reason why dialysis patients are put on fluid restriction.