Wondering if I have CKD

[LanguageLearner]

I'm in the UK, and there is a problem with even accessing GP services. Does any of this sound like I might have kidney disease? I wonder if someone can give a view?

It sounds disgusting, and I don't like to type about it, but my main problem is having to go to the toilet 20, 30, 40, 50 or more times in a night to urinate a single drop. And this can happen constantly, eg. one drop, and then 2 minutes later one more drop and then two minutes late one more drop. It is very difficult to get to sleep with this. The GP said just don't drink so much - but it is not a question of the volume of fluid. There is almost nothing to urinate out. It has now got worse, so even during the day I have to go to the toilet much more than normal. I am a man - and men aren't meant to get many urinary tract infections, but I had one in 2019 that showed up with "leukocytes" on a urine analysis strip, and then another that showed up as "nitrites" and they were both treated with antibiotics, and now I feel that there is another infection, and a home urine analysis kit shows nitrites again.

The doctor sent me for an enlarged prostate test, and it's not that. I went to a private GP and had a test for diabetes, and it's not that. But I ordered from Amazon a different set of urine analysis strips focused on creatinine, and they show the specific gravity at the very highest, and the creatinine at 200 mg/dL or 17.7 mmol/L. Does this mean I definitely have CKD? I dread going to the GP, largely because in my area it has been converted into an online message system (you can write your symptoms online and go and pick up a prescription from the chemist's) and so it is difficult to cajole them into giving you a meeting with the actual doctor.

My only problems are the urination, difficulty sleeping, and periodic swelling of an ankle. Thank you.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

You need to see a doctor. There is nothing normal about what is happening to you. It can lead to more problems if you do not drain your bladder completely. I feel for you with the health care system you mention, but make an appointment.

[LanguageLearner in reply to Bassetmommer]

OK, thank you.

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador]

Get in to see a physician as soon as possible. We cannot diagnose here. Your symptoms are not normal. An on hand doctor must see you. Blessings

[daxielovinglady]

I'm in the UK too, so change your GP., a 2nd opinion is vital, private medics are not necessary.....we have to NHS .

Take care.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

Yes, as daxielovinglady said, you need a 2nd opinion. Something is going on with you and you definitely need to find out the cause and soon

[AnneEG]

Could you let us know how you get on. Where in the UK are you?

[LanguageLearner in reply to AnneEG]

I'm in Lincolnshire.

[RMGG]

According to NICE rules GPs have been instructed to ignore CKD until Stage 4. Apparently, GPs were told to stop over diagnosing CKD and referring patients to specialists because it was causing a huge financial strain on the NHS. If the statistics are anything to go by, 1 in 10 people in the UK have CKD and most of them don't know about it, even worse if your GP has tested your GFR and its below 60 you won't be told anything or referred until it hits Stage 4. Changing your GP will not unfortunately result in better treatment simply because all GPs have to follow NICE guidelines. If you're not feeling good, I would suggest pushing your GP to run some tests to help figure out what is wrong with you.

[LanguageLearner]

I've had a blood test and GFR is only 81, so not too low. The doctor has prescribed me Folic acid, but in our area you contact the doctor online, and he has left me a prescription without phoning me or telling me why I'm taking Folic acid. It must be a lack of B9 and B12, but why that produced my symptoms I don't know. I'm hoping the doctor will contact me eventually.