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[Buttonbay]

I have one kidney. I had kidney cancer 8 years ago and I had my right kidney removed. I have in the last 3 years developed ckd and I am on the borderline of stage 4.

I have stabbing pains on my left side.

If I do anything like going out for 3 hours, I am so tired I sleep for 12 to 14 hours the next day.

I have diabetes, my blood pressure is more or less controlled

I have pains in my back and my leg. I have to use a cane or walker.

I have shortness of breathing.

Can someone tell me if these are normal for stage 4 CKD.

Thank you.

[googie68]

Im stage 4 but don't get as tired as you. I recently had iron infusions and i felt fab after. Have you had your iron checked as that does lower with poor renal function (anemia). The shortness of breath could be a symptom of anemia. (If you are really anemic, get it sorted!!)

Not had any of the other symptoms, but remember , everyone is different. Go to your doctor and please mention the tiredness and the leg pain (could be related as blood carries oxygen around and maybe not enough?)

[Buttonbay in reply to googie68]

Thank you for your response. Unfortunately my blood count is not high but neither is it normal. I have Prenicious Anemia and I cannot absorb iron very well.

My real thing is I only have ONE kidney and the doctors do not want me to have too much medication.

[MAS_Nurse]

Hi Buttonbay and welcome to this caring community where members support one another. I think it would be advisable to see your doctor regarding the symptoms you are experiencing. He/she will be able to establish the cause of the pain you are experiencing. Diabetes can damage the tiny filters in your kidneys [this is caused if blood glucose level is too high]. It is really positive that your blood pressure is under control as over time, this can put a strain on the small blood vessels in the kidneys. Tiredness and shortness of breath are symptoms when kidney disease reaches a more advanced stage. Your doctor will be able to help treat these symptoms. Your shortness of breath may be caused by fluid retention. Your doctor may prescribe water tablets also called diuretics, which promote the loss of excess salt and water in the urine. This can be very effective. Anaemia could be another explanation for your shortness of breath. I hope you will soon be feeling better. Are any other forum members able to help Buttonbay, please? Thank you and best wishes.

[RickHow]

I too had one kidney removed with cancer. I was immediately labelled CKD 3b that next morning. Whereas you took 3 years to be completely diagnosed. You describe your symptoms well, and I assume you have told them all to your doctor(s). Probably some of these are due to stage 4. But many of them may be due to so many other things too. Many medical problems (CKD, Heart, Cancer, Diabetes, etc. ( share many symptoms (fatigue, abnormal pains, depression, shortness of breath). You ask if your symptoms are "normal" for stage 4. Perhaps, but also for many things. I too have had some of these symptoms recently, at stage 3b. I wondered if they were normal too for me. And while I posted on this forum and looked for opinions, I knew the main opinion that mattered was my doctor(s). I explained them to them. They did testing. It turned out it had nothing to do with CKD, but was another disease (which I have discussed in other postings for those who know me). Please go to your doctors, with the same list of symptoms you told us, and demand their opinion.