So Tired All the Time

[Hugatree737]

I'm so, so tired almost all the time and gfr 50. Is this a side effect?

[MICHIGANDAVID]

TKI drugs can make you tired...

[Hugatree737 in reply to MICHIGANDAVID]

I don't know what TKI means!!!

[MICHIGANDAVID in reply to Hugatree737]

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are a type of targeted therapy. TKIs come as pills, taken orally. A targeted therapy identifies and attacks specific types of cancer cells while causing less damage to normal cells. In CML, TKIs target the abnormal BCR-ABL protein that causes uncontrolled CML cell growth and block its function, causing the CML cells to die.

[Hugatree737 in reply to MICHIGANDAVID]

OK. Thx!

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

HI again Hugatree,

I would look at your labs to see what your iron level and B12 levels are. Also, very common is low Vit D. All those things can make you tired if they are low.

[Hugatree737 in reply to Bassetmommer]

Thank-you!

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador]

Typically with an eGFR of 50 you wouldn't be likely to be so tired. That being said you could have a host of other causes of fatigue. Please consult with your physician to get the answers and solutions. Blessings

[Hugatree737 in reply to KidneyCoach]

Thank-you!

[JimVanHorn]

Ask your nephrologist about the erythropoetin hormone that the healthy kidney gives out to tell your bone marrow to release Red Blood Cells. I go to an anemia clinic at my Nephrologist's office every 4 weeks and they check my hemoglobin level. My hemoglobin level should be above 10.0 . The last time I went my hemoglobin was 9.6 and I was tired all the time. So there are synthetic hormone drugs on the market that are injectable, (Procrit, Epogen and Aranesp). After I had 5 liters of iron infusions over 6 weeks, I was good to go for Procrit. Now my hemoglobin level is 10.3 to 11.6 . By the way when you are on synthetic hormones and your hemoglobin is over 13.6 you can have a stroke.

I also was snoring at night with sleep apnea (not breathing for 30 seconds or more) at night. I now have a CPAP machine and my oxygen level is 97% when I wake up. I take a nap in the afternoon and use my CPAP machine. It really helps with energy.

Changing my diet really helped me feel better. I stay on a kidney diet with no more than 3 ounces of chicken, fish, or turkey. A lot of low potassium vegetables, low phosphates and no packaged foods or sauses. I have more energy now. I also drink the amount of water my doctor recommended.

[Hugatree737 in reply to JimVanHorn]

Thank-you!