This article gives some early signs of possible Chronic Kidney Disease. These signs could be for other conditions also, and is best you contact your Doctor if you have symptoms. webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ss/....
Warning Signs of Kidney Disease article f... - Kidney Disease
Warning Signs of Kidney Disease article from Web MD
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What that article should say is, all of these symptoms can be caused by other issues totally unrelated to CKD. And just because you have them does not mean you have CKD. It is just one possibility. It's irresponsible to put articles out like this that scare healthy people into thinking they have a disease they probably do not have.
Hi Matt,
Written pieces point things out as a "heads up" or awareness and are not a diagnostic tool; just because an article lists something doesn't mean that you have it.
The bottom line is that your doctor is your best resource when you are having symptoms.
My husband was under extreme stress when preparing to defend the dissertation for his PhD when he went bowling with friends.
Two days later he called me from the ER telling me that he was sweating with arm pains etc. ; he was convinced that he was having a heart attack.
We keep the American Heart Association list of warning signs for stroke and heart attack on the fridge as cardiac runs in both families, it made him aware.
It was anxiety- but he took notice and had it checked rather than risk a heart attack as he had the awareness.
Unfortunately, his mother did not have the awareness and had a massive heart attack as she was uneducated to " possible" symptoms and did not call 911 until she could barely breathe.
Think of it this way, early awareness to see a doctor for people who may have symptoms and ignore them can be a blessing. Educate.
B...
• in reply toBet117
Mental health is just as important. In the last year and a half I have had a nephrologist tell me my kidneys are failing (they are not), told by a urologist that I might have prostate cancer (I do not) and finally and endoscopist that I may have colon cancer (I do not). I have undergone numerous invasive and PAINFUL procedures in the name of "intervention". I have never had a problem with anxiety before but have had multiple panic attacks, constant anxiety, and depression because of what these doctors and websites like this have done to me. The US medical system makes money off of scaring people into running tests who have nothing wrong with them. CKD is over diagnosed, they have set the bar so low for CKD that millions of people who have nothing wrong with them are having even more tests run. Some of those tests are invasive and painful. I personally wish I had never had that first renal blood test panel sent me down the path that I have walked. I now refuse to go to a doctor because of the anxiety this has caused me. Tell me how this bullcr*p has helped me?
• in reply to
Folks in this community share information from their own experiences and the knowledge from others and their own research. If you've had problems with your physicians, and it sounds as if you have, change them. Otherwise, why are you here?
• in reply to
The problem is greater than one doctor. And sharing my experiences is exactly what I am doing here, I have had nephrologist who looked at 2 "elevated" creatinine blood tests and told me my I have CKD and needed to have an ultrasound and kidney biopsy to find out why my kidneys were failing. Luckily I had a second opinion with a different nephrologist who said there is nothing wrong with my kidneys. I produce more creatinine because I am muscular. My experience is our medical system is labeling people as diseased who have nothing wrong with them, scaring the hell out of them just to milk money out of them. If it was just one doctor I would not be here telling people to not just accept a diagnosis from a doctor or believe every thing you read, for example this website.
• in reply to
It sounds to me like you are just about complaining. If the first nephrologist gave you advice that you had issues with and you went to another one and got the reverse answer, then you still haven't gotten a definitive answer. However, you seem to think that because you are muscular and that is the reason for your higher creatinine. There are multiple numbers over a period of time that a good nephrologist will look at to make a proper diagnosis, not just one. Are you looking for a third nephrologist?Again we post information here that we feel will be informative and helpful to someone who is lost and confused about their diagnosis. The information isn't meant for everyone, because we aren't all the same. But if what we post here, helps one person then we are doing what this community is all about. If it doesn't apply to you, move on to another post.
• in reply to
Getting a 3rd opinion will not reduce my anxiety whether he agrees with the 1st or 2nd nephrologists. I never should have been put in this position because doctors know how unreliable creatinine testing is for kidney function. Websites like this are part of the problem. Someone with itchy skin is gonna read this article and think "Oh no, I have kidney disease" then get a creatinine test that may or may not be what is considered "elevated", when it does not accurately represent a persons kidney function. Kidney biopsies are expensive, painful, invasive and potentially lethal and people are getting them who should not. The problems with for-profit medicine is systemic. People need to know they should not be reading these websites and then worry about something they probably don't have. Helping one person at the expense of the mental health of thousands is not a good outcome.
• in reply to
Again, it sounds like your complaint is with your doctor(s). The article is not a DIAGNOSIS of CKD. It is meant to inform someone of the possibilities so that they can go to a competent physician and get a proper diagnosis. A proper diagnosis is one where a physician take a complete medical history of the patient, and may even include a family history at this point, listen to the patient in the exam room and make educated guesses. In the case of the person with severe itching, the doctor may suspect a high phosphorus count. They would order a test for that. If there are others issues gleaned from the patient and history, they could then order a full renal panel, including GFR, Serum Creatinine, B.U.N. (Blood Urea Nitrogen), ACR (Albumin Creatinine Ratio) if they suspected CKD and then if the tests indicated that repeat the tests again and if needed a third time to make a proper diagnosis.If the diagnosis of CKD is made then the next question the patient is likely to ask is, HOW DID I GET THIS? Again, a competent physician will run diagnostic tests, like an ultrasound, even if the patient reported a history of diabetes and/or hypertension. A kidney biopsy is never the first diagnostic test a qualified, competent physician should order.
Again the purpose of this community is to share information from personal experiences and to let others know of possibilities, not to make a diagnosis
Back to the person with the severe itching, if the doctor doesn't find any indications of CKD or anything else s/he can refer the patient to a dermatologist or allergist for further treatment. I had not even heard of CKD when I was diagnosed and I had both diabetes and hypertension for 17 years at that time. I was never told of the possibilities. In the years since my diagnosis, I've put together a Care Team of medical professionals that will be thorough, work with each other on my behalf when necessary, give me their best medical advice and then, accept my final decision for treatment once the options have been explained.
If you have a problem with something posted because it doesn't apply to you, move along to something that does. Each post is not meant for everyone, and no post is meant as a diagnosis.
• in reply to
"Again the purpose of this community is to share information from personal experiences and to let others know of possibilities, not to make a diagnosis" I am sharing my experience, it is just as valid as people that have good experiences.
This does apply to me, WebMD is one of the first places I went when the 1st nephrologist told me I have CKD. I have itchy skin that has nothing to do with CKD, I have atopic dermatitis that flares up in dry winter conditions here in where I live. This article says nothing about the many more likely causes of itchy skin.
• in reply to
Again, if you told your doctor about the atopic diagnosis and the tests the doctor ran were all of the true indicators of CKD and if the tests were run again over a period of time you would get a proper diagnosis. If the doctor failed to do any of those tests, repeatedly, then you had incompetent doctors. You seem to be missing the point. The article OC posted was just an informative one. It didn't apply to you, then move on.
• in reply to
it does apply to me, I have had atopic dermatitis most of my life, that diagnosis was made decades ago before my family doctor ran a renal panel blood test. But someone reading this might think, oh no, I have CKD. There needs to be a contrary voiced here so people realize "possible" symptoms you find on WebMD are just that, possible... and honestly for all those symptoms, CKD is one of the least likely causes.
• in reply to
MattKansas, you appear to have difficulty understanding what this community is about. Have a great and healthy day.
• in reply to
And a great and healthy day to you. I hope you have a long and healthy life, and your CKD doesn't cause you any issues.
We do not make diagnosis on our forum and I did state if anyone has symptoms to contact their Doctor. The post is intended for information purposes only.
This forum is to share information and give support to one another with Kidney Disease. Take the information that is applicable to you and leave the rest. Sorry you have bad experiences with your Doctors.
• in reply toorangecity41
How does this article achieve that goal? If someone has confirmed kidney disease, why would they need "possible" early signs of kidney disease?
Matt, Three of our most respected members have reached out to you and tried to provide support.
The purpose of a support community is to share, discuss and support. Very often folks post articles and information which is intended as a " heads up" and not targeted for any specific disease. We discuss many things here; it is up to the member to extract what they need.
I am sorry about your plight and experiences with physicians.
A positive and respectful attitude is what the Community Guidelines state.
They are listed at the bottom of the page.
• in reply toBet117
I have been positive and respectful. Part of giving information to people includes giving contrary opinions like mine. I have read the comment that all 3 of you make on peoples questions. Almost universally you guys say "It's not a death sentence" but rarely make any mention of the fact that the diagnosis is often dubious. If I don't make a comment, those people will just go on and assume they have something they may not.
Agreed. Thank you for clarifying the purpose of our support community to Matt. It is important and appreciated.
B..
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