Cod stage 3

[Thirza1]

Hi

I am at stage 3 grf is 32

Been feeling good for a while but now k feel drained need to sleep a lot I am breathless not all the time

I am starting to get cramps more often I am not sleeping goods and i have just started getting fingering in my feet should j get in touch with my kidney nurse or just wait till my next hospital appointment

[Bet117]

If you are not feeling well, please do get in touch with your kidney nurse. Better be safe than sorry..as well as your own peace of mind!

Please take care and let me know how you are feeling..

I care!

B..

[RickHow]

Of course if something is on your mind you should contact your care team. People are too hesitant to contact their doctors, thinking somehow it might be not required, or that you are somehow bothering them. Remember, this is what they are there for. Not just to simply see you every 3 or 6 months for 15 minutes and talk a little. Perhaps your symptoms are totally nothing to worry about. But isn't it better to know than to worry yourself. I too am stage 3 with egfr around 39. You sound a lot like me, which is not necessarily good :). Every time I have a sleepless night, or some kind of cramp, or an itch, or a pain in the back, my mind goes immediately to "this is a bad sign". Then my blood tests come, or an ultrasound, and there is no evidence of anything being worse. And I realize that even before being labelled with CKD I had these same symptoms too. Everyone has periods of ill sleep, or gets the occasional cramp, or itch, or pain in the back. But that said, even though I know this, if any of these things seem to occur more than a day or two, and upset my mind, I still contact the care team. Because you know what? The day I just ignore one of these symptoms, that might be the time that it really was something and I should have. But of course, as we all know, once Stage 3 you do not improve. And there usually is nothing the doctors can do anyway. But somehow it just feels better telling someone what is happening.

[lowraind in reply to RickHow]

Great advice!

[WYOAnne]

You definitely should contact your medical team, for peace of mind if nothing else. Sleepless nights with leg and foot cramps could be the result of being dehydrated and being low on magnesium. Try drinking more water today and see if tonight isn't better. See what your medical team has to say about it too.

I am post transplant and when I have issues with sleep and cramps it's been due to dehydration and low magnesium and potassium. Let us know how you are doing.....

[Sally10255]

don't wait...my brother had some of same symptoms before he died, I had no idea it was kidney failure.

[Spadgett007]

Yes. And do some reading about the disease. I had to learn about it online. My GP told me next to nothing. Got to be your own advocate.

[lowraind]

Helpful sites:

National education, support and advocacy organizations:

• DaVita Kidney Disease and Dialysis Forums is well known for their recipes but they also have a forum for patients too.

• Renal Support Network provides many support and advocacy services including a phone support line.

• AAKP is a comprehensive resource focusing on the quality of life for kidney patients through education, advocacy, patient engagement and the fostering of patient communities.

• National Kidney Foundation provides a portal for patients too.