Many people who have chronic kidney disease don't know it, because the early signs can be very subtle. It can take many years to go from chronic kidney disease (CKD) to kidney failure. Some people with CKD live out their lives without ever reaching kidney failure. However, for people at any stage of kidney disease, knowledge is power. Knowing the symptoms of kidney disease can help you get the treatment you need to feel your best.
If you or someone you know has one or more of the following symptoms of kidney disease, or you are worried about kidney problems, see a doctor for blood and urine tests. Remember, many of the symptoms can be due to reasons other than kidney disease. The only way to know the cause of your symptoms is to see your doctor.
Symptom 1: Changes in Urination
Kidneys make urine, so when the kidneys are failing, the urine may change. How?
Kidneys make urine, so when the kidneys are failing, the urine may change. How?
You may have to get up at night to urinate.
Urine may be foamy or bubbly. You may urinate more often, or in greater amounts than usual, with pale urine.
You may urinate less often, or in smaller amounts than usual with dark colored urine.
Your urine may contain blood.
Your urine may contain blood.
You may feel pressure or have difficulty urinating.
Symptom 2: Swelling
Failing kidneys don't remove extra fluid, which builds up in your body causing swelling in the legs, ankles, feet, face, and/or hands.
Failing kidneys don't remove extra fluid, which builds up in your body causing swelling in the legs, ankles, feet, face, and/or hands.
Symptom 3: Fatigue
Healthy kidneys make a hormone called erythropoietin (a-rith'-ro-po'-uh-tin) that tells your body to make oxygen-carrying red blood cells. As the kidneys fail, they make less erythropoietin. With fewer red blood cells to carry oxygen, your muscles and brain become tired very quickly. This condition is called anemia, and it can be treated.
Healthy kidneys make a hormone called erythropoietin (a-rith'-ro-po'-uh-tin) that tells your body to make oxygen-carrying red blood cells. As the kidneys fail, they make less erythropoietin. With fewer red blood cells to carry oxygen, your muscles and brain become tired very quickly. This condition is called anemia, and it can be treated.
Symptom 4: Skin Rash/Itching
Kidneys remove wastes from the bloodstream. When the kidneys fail, the buildup of wastes in your blood can cause severe itching.
Kidneys remove wastes from the bloodstream. When the kidneys fail, the buildup of wastes in your blood can cause severe itching.
Symptom 5: Metallic Taste in Mouth/Ammonia Breath
A buildup of wastes in the blood (called uremia) can make food taste different and cause bad breath. You may also notice that you stop liking to eat meat, or that you are losing weight because you just don't feel like eating.
A buildup of wastes in the blood (called uremia) can make food taste different and cause bad breath. You may also notice that you stop liking to eat meat, or that you are losing weight because you just don't feel like eating.
Symptom 6: Nausea and Vomiting
A severe buildup of wastes in the blood (uremia) can also cause nausea and vomiting. Loss of appetite can lead to weight loss.
A severe buildup of wastes in the blood (uremia) can also cause nausea and vomiting. Loss of appetite can lead to weight loss.
Symptom 7: Shortness of Breath
Trouble catching your breath can be related to the kidneys in two ways. First, extra fluid in the body can build up in the lungs. And second, anemia (a shortage of oxygen-carrying red blood cells) can leave your body oxygen-starved and short of breath.
Trouble catching your breath can be related to the kidneys in two ways. First, extra fluid in the body can build up in the lungs. And second, anemia (a shortage of oxygen-carrying red blood cells) can leave your body oxygen-starved and short of breath.
Symptom 8: Feeling Cold
Anemia can make you feel cold all the time, even in a warm room.
Anemia can make you feel cold all the time, even in a warm room.
Symptom 9: Dizziness and Trouble Concentrating
Anemia related to kidney failure means that your brain is not getting enough oxygen. This can lead to memory problems, trouble with concentration, and dizziness.
Anemia related to kidney failure means that your brain is not getting enough oxygen. This can lead to memory problems, trouble with concentration, and dizziness.
Symptom 10: Leg/Flank Pain
Some people with kidney problems may have pain in the back or side related to the affected kidney. Polycystic kidney disease, which causes large, fluid-filled cysts on the kidneys and sometimes the liver, can cause pain.
Some people with kidney problems may have pain in the back or side related to the affected kidney. Polycystic kidney disease, which causes large, fluid-filled cysts on the kidneys and sometimes the liver, can cause pain.
Frequently-Asked Questions about CKD
When people are told they have chronic kidney disease (CKD), the first questions they often have are "How long will I live?" and "How well will I live?" This section answers these and other questions about CKD, while also presenting thoughts from patients.
When people are told they have chronic kidney disease (CKD), the first questions they often have are "How long will I live?" and "How well will I live?" This section answers these and other questions about CKD, while also presenting thoughts from patients.
What is chronic kidney disease?
Chronic kidney disease is permanent kidney damage due to injury or disease. CKD ranges from mild to severe. If CKD reaches the point of kidney failure, dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed to support life.
Chronic kidney disease is permanent kidney damage due to injury or disease. CKD ranges from mild to severe. If CKD reaches the point of kidney failure, dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed to support life.
Since CKD may worsen over time, early diagnosis and treatment can help slow down the damage, depending on the cause of the problem.
If your doctor says you have a kidney problem, find out the medical name (and spelling) for your diagnosis, if you can. Knowing the name can help you look for more information.
How long can I live with chronic kidney disease?
Many people think that if their kidneys fail, they will die immediately. This used to be true 40 years ago when there were not enough dialysis machines to go around and medical knowledge about kidney disease was limited. It is no longer true today. How long you can live with CKD depends on your age, other health problems, and how involved you become in your care. Some people with early CKD never have kidney failure. Others reach kidney failure and live for decades with dialysis or kidney transplants. There are major advances in today's healthcare—we have better drugs, know more about how to slow down kidney failure, and have technically advanced dialysis machines. But the most important factor is still the individual who has the disease. Research shows that patients who become partners in their care live longer. So, ask questions, and explore with your doctor and care team the best way for you to help manage your disease.
Many people think that if their kidneys fail, they will die immediately. This used to be true 40 years ago when there were not enough dialysis machines to go around and medical knowledge about kidney disease was limited. It is no longer true today. How long you can live with CKD depends on your age, other health problems, and how involved you become in your care. Some people with early CKD never have kidney failure. Others reach kidney failure and live for decades with dialysis or kidney transplants. There are major advances in today's healthcare—we have better drugs, know more about how to slow down kidney failure, and have technically advanced dialysis machines. But the most important factor is still the individual who has the disease. Research shows that patients who become partners in their care live longer. So, ask questions, and explore with your doctor and care team the best way for you to help manage your disease.
How good will my life be with CKD?
How good your life can be with CKD depends on you! In the early stages, CKD may have symptoms that are so subtle you don't even notice them. In later stages, fatigue, itching, loss of appetite, and other symptoms can reduce your quality of life—if you don't act. How? All of these symptoms can be treated. Learn what to watch for and tell your doctor, so you can get the help you need. You can also keep a good quality of life by following your treatment plan. For example, taking your medications in the right doses at the right times may help slow down your kidney disease. Your quality of life with CKD depends on your attitude, and how you accept the changes and take control of your health and your life.
How good your life can be with CKD depends on you! In the early stages, CKD may have symptoms that are so subtle you don't even notice them. In later stages, fatigue, itching, loss of appetite, and other symptoms can reduce your quality of life—if you don't act. How? All of these symptoms can be treated. Learn what to watch for and tell your doctor, so you can get the help you need. You can also keep a good quality of life by following your treatment plan. For example, taking your medications in the right doses at the right times may help slow down your kidney disease. Your quality of life with CKD depends on your attitude, and how you accept the changes and take control of your health and your life.
Can I still have a good life if I need dialysis?
Yes, you can live long and live well with dialysis. Many people—even those with family members on dialysis—don't know that there are several types of dialysis. You can choose a type of treatment that lets you keep doing all or most of the things you value. Some people with CKD put off dialysis as long as they can, because they are afraid.
Yes, you can live long and live well with dialysis. Many people—even those with family members on dialysis—don't know that there are several types of dialysis. You can choose a type of treatment that lets you keep doing all or most of the things you value. Some people with CKD put off dialysis as long as they can, because they are afraid.
But people who start treatment before they are terribly ill and malnourished do much better. And people who are very sick beforethey start dialysis are often surprised to find that they feel much better a few weeks or months after starting dialysis. The unknown that you imagine is often much scarier than the reality. Learning as much as you can, and talking to patients who are doing well, will help you see that you can have a good life on dialysis.
I'm tired all the time. Is there a treatment for fatigue?
Even healthy people complain of being tired. But people with CKD can be so exhausted that they fall asleep during the day—even after 8 to 10 hours of sleep at night. One reason for fatigue can be anemia, a shortage of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. People with CKD often have anemia because damaged kidneys make less of a hormone called erythropoietin (epoetin, or EPO).
Even healthy people complain of being tired. But people with CKD can be so exhausted that they fall asleep during the day—even after 8 to 10 hours of sleep at night. One reason for fatigue can be anemia, a shortage of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. People with CKD often have anemia because damaged kidneys make less of a hormone called erythropoietin (epoetin, or EPO).
EPO signals the bone marrow to produce new red blood cells. Without a constant supply of new red blood cells, the body has less oxygen—so you are more tired, feel cold, can't concentrate, and are less able to fight disease. Untreated anemia can damage your heart, and heart disease is the leading cause of death for people with CKD. If your fatigue is due to anemia, your doctor may prescribe injections of a synthetic form of EPO.
How can I keep my kidneys working as long as possible?
There are a number of treatments, including medications and lifestyle changes, that may help keep your kidneys working longer. People can even get transplants before having dialysis, especially if they have a willing living donor. You need to ask your physician exactly what would help you.
There are a number of treatments, including medications and lifestyle changes, that may help keep your kidneys working longer. People can even get transplants before having dialysis, especially if they have a willing living donor. You need to ask your physician exactly what would help you.
Should I keep working?
Disability payments may sound like a pretty good deal, but most people find that disability pays much less than working—but your bills don't go away. Plus, once you get on disability, people worry about finding a job and risking losing their disability. So if you have CKD and you are working, try to keep your job if you can, or find a new one that fits better with your current situation.
Disability payments may sound like a pretty good deal, but most people find that disability pays much less than working—but your bills don't go away. Plus, once you get on disability, people worry about finding a job and risking losing their disability. So if you have CKD and you are working, try to keep your job if you can, or find a new one that fits better with your current situation.
Work can make you feel like you're still you, even with kidney disease, and that you are still helping to support your family. Work may also be an important part of your social life. If your work offers health insurance, it may be easier for you to get good medical care and pay for medications. If you find that you feel too tired to work, see your doctor! Fatigue can be caused by anemia, which can be treated. Ask your employer if you need an accommodation—more breaks, a different shift time, or energy saving devices to keep your job.
News Source: The Independent