Stage 3 Fatigue

[itzmich]

I have Stage 3 CKD and have extreme fatique throughout the day. I sleep 8 hours at night with usually a 2 hr nap. Keep telling my Dr but he said my CKD is mild and fatigue doesn't have anything to do with my kidneys. Does anyone have this experience at Stage 3? I'm so sick of sleeping my life away.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Know one knows your body better than you. Your doctor is correct in saying at stage3, overwhelming fatigue is not common. But for you it is. The doctor has dismissed you, and that is not acceptable. There may be other things going on to contribute to your fatigue and it is up to them to discover. Have you had a sleep assessment where they test the quality of your sleep? Are you diabetic? Other immune and hormonal conditions can be a contributor. Have you had your thyroid checked? PTH can also affect fatigue and is common issue with CKD. To just dismiss you says to me, time for another doctor who will invest in your wellbeing.

[itzmich in reply to Bassetmommer]

Thanks for your reply. Yes have had my thyroid etc explored. Negative results. Going today to talk out some solutions for a better quality of life. Hoping for some answers.

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador in reply to itzmich]

Not thyroid, rather parathyroids. Different glands different functions.

[PeaB4YouGo in reply to KidneyCoach]

Yup. 4 of the little buggers. Back behind but right next to your thyroid. I watched a YouTube vid.

[TopazForests in reply to itzmich]

Hopefully the doctor can find the cause of your fatigue. I think this is one of the times where it doesn't seem that he is listening to you and maybe you aren't listening to him. I had terrible fatigue and it turned out to be my thyroid. About a year and a half later, I was experiencing the fatigue again. Of course, I was blaming my thyroid and thought maybe my meds were at the wrong dosage. It was something else all together. Go back to the doc and say "if the fatigue is not from my CKD, what else can it be?" The fatigue is real, at the same time, listen to the doc when he says it's probably not from CKD and have him find out that it might be. Fatigue is one of the symptoms that could be from a dozen or more different conditions, or from something that is not medical.

[itzmich in reply to TopazForests]

Thanks. He thinks it's my blood pressure meds and we are trying staggering through the day instead of morning and bed time. Seems to be helping.

[jodaer]

I am fatigued all day too. I can only do 1 or 2 things in a day. Check your meds, many will cause fatigue. Chronic diseases will cause fatigue too. Be sure you know the difference between being tired, sleepy and just no energy tired. I had a doctor tell me that was the same thing and it's not. I hope you can get this figured out, but you might have to accept that this is your life now.

[itzmich in reply to jodaer]

Thanks for your reply. Hoping.

[Silkdog in reply to itzmich]

jodaer was right, please check your meds. A few months ago I was extremely fatigue. I went to the ER and they did some blood tests and found out my blood cells level were very low. They came to the conclusion that one of my meds was causing me losing bloods, which cause my anemia. I discontinue that med and a month later I was back to normal, no more fatigue.

[Dana66CKD in reply to Silkdog]

If I may ask, what medication or type of medication was it that caused your low RBC count? I have had iron deficiency anemia in the past due to switch to strict vegetarian diet from eating animal protein. Didn't supplement with iron, so became anemic about 1 year later, but that was caused by dietary, not medication change.

[Beachgirl32]

stage 3 I felt pretty good but when I got really anemic that when I needed naps that was at my end of stage 3 into stage 4. . Which being anemic goes with kidney diasese .Are you anemic are you on iron? Do you need an iron infusion.

[tas1kubra]

Hello itzmich

I agree with beachgirl32, it may not be directly because of your disease, but maybe you should have your blood rechecked?

Also maybe you can think of the psychological effect of your disease? Because after the first time I found out about my disease, I was feeling tired, and wasn’t able to take long walks. But now, reading of many peoples life with full of energy even at CKG stage 5 gave me the confidence, that I can do that as well. Now I bike 20 km per day. So for me, also the mindset affected me too much. I just wanted to share.

[Ziggydoodah]

Get your haemoglobin levels checked. Actually ask what levels they are. Dont accept, they are fine. As someone who nearly needed a bood transfusion due to low levels. I was told they were fine and looking back, they certainly weren't

[Kidneybetter]

I, too, need lots of sleep, I average 11 hours a night. I have stage 3 CKD, recently improving from stage 4. My kidney disease has definitely increased my fatigue levels. I think doctors say fatigue is in your mind when they don't know how to fix it. In recent months, I had a sleep study and was diagnosed with shallow breathing at night and sleep apnea. The CPAP has really helped with my daily fatigue. I still sleep a lot a night, but I wake up refreshed and no longer need naps, even when I exercise hard during the day.

I can relate to your anger at loosing half your day to sleep. It is a bummer. Hope you can get some relief.

[JollyM]

you may want to check out your B 12 level and D3 as well

[horsie63]

One thing a lot of people don't check is for possible Lyme Disease. While not common it's certainly something you might check for.

[itzmich]

Thanks for all the replies. Went to the Dr and are going to try staggered bp meds. As well as increased protein (I wasn't eating enough) And adding a walk everyday. Of course lose some weight. Checked my blood work all ok.

[Dana66CKD in reply to itzmich]

Oh yes. BP meds can cause fatigue too. Not uncommon symptom from patients taking. I have had to change and adjust a few times. I always let my MD know when I adjust. Low RBC count from anemia also makes me tired. MD says slightly low, but I feel it more some days. Hope you find a stable point and get to feeling better.🙏👍

[BabbetteFrank]

I'm stable in stage 3 and continue to experience significant fatigue. Blood levels, etc. are checked regularly and I take extra D. Similar to what others have said, I have about 4 good hours a day when I can do things (I'm retired, thank God). I don't need to nap during the day but feel that I lost my energy. I'm suppose to take a walk 5-7 times a week which I love but that takes up one hour. Depression can also result in chronic fatigue so talking about an SSRI antidepressant with your physician may be worth it. That has helped me somewhat.

[Aoki]

I am at stage 3 CKD reasonably stable for some years and feeling ok until aout three months ago I started to feel absolutely exhausted. Blood test at GP showed dangerously low haemoglobin but not due to shortage of iron or Vit B. Panic stations. Various tests to preclude cancer. All clear. Mystery and exhaustion continued. Then last week I paid my routine visit to the kidney clinic which includes blood test and the specialist came back straight away saying the anaemia was a pretty common result of poorly performing kidneys and he was on the case. He ordered another even more detailed blood test and is due to come back with recommended treatment in a few days. Hurrah. I will get back with the result but wanted to post now to demonstrate how useless one's GP can be. Mine didn't even mention my kidneys during the weeks of panic over cancer when I was scared stiff.

[chicablue]

Hi Itzmich, with my CKD I did not experience fatigue til stage 5. I must say I'm rather jealous, as I have been sleep deprived for over 20 years! I wish I could get 8 hours sleep! Having to get up every 2 hours to use the toilet has ruined my sleep! My fatigue has seemed to corelate with my lowered red blood cell count. Have you had your labs drawn lately? Is your red blood cell count normal? That is my only suggestion.

[Pontios]

Hi Itzmich, I would be thinking on the same lines as Beachgirl32, Ziggydoodah and Aoki.I am squarely in Stage 4 but back 17 years ago when I was squarely in Stage 3 I complained to my Nephrologist that I was feeling tired all the time. He said to me there is no need for that and prescribed EPO as I was anemic from CKD. I have been on ever increasing amounts since combined first with oral iron, then later with iron infusions annually. I am getting tired again now but for a long time the EPO really helped. Hope you get your tiredness sorted whatever the reason is.

[Pixiecat1]

Absolutely you can have fatigue with Stage 3. I’m stage 3b and my fatigue is disabling. CKD can also cause anemia and in my case I have both anemia and fatigue. Make sure they are keeping a watch on your blood counts and changes in EGFR of increase of urine protein. Your MD should take all your complaints seriously.

[Ruthy35]

Yep I did I thought was just me and now stage 4 I don't get chance to have any other sleep as got a 4 year old to look after .

[Whitetail66]

I am right there with you. I’m 3b, and fatigue is terrible. My nephrologist also says that I shouldn’t be experiencing the symptoms that I have, which are- fatigue/low energy, muscle fatigue/cramping at times (especially my feet). I used to be pretty fit and muscular, so it’s not like I was out of shape when I first noticed the fatigue. She had me do a sleep study for sleep apnea, so I had the home study done. Showed that I had slight sleep apnea while lying on my back. Thankfully I sleep on my stomach.😁 My blood work never shows any ’smoking gun’, so it’s pretty frustrating. I’m still delving into it. Could be a combination of things like the slight sleep apnea and stress. I should be seeing my nephrologist soon, so it will be interesting to see where my numbers are at.

[New2]

Not sure but I think I am experiencing the same thing. Combination of radiation treatment chemo, Covid 3/4 different times, stage three kidney injury from stones , Parathyroid surgery, to help deal with calcium movement and deposit, ovatrian mass removed and a neuro pipeline for an aneurism I just can’t choose why I am fatigued and sleep feels so comforting. It sucks not getting anything done🦦😴.

[itzmich]

I am sure you are. Your body has been through a lot. Rest now, I'm sure your body needs it. Take care and hope you get rejuvenated.

[Blackknight1989]

From davita.com/education/kidney...

Symptoms of stage 3 CKD

Symptoms may start to become present in stage 3:

Fatigue

Fluid retention, swelling (edema) of extremities and shortness of breath

:Urination changes (foamy; dark orange, brown, tea-colored or red if it contains blood; and urinating more or less than normal)

Kidney pain felt in their backSleep problems due to muscle cramps or restless leg syndrome.

So I’d take this info to your doctor and show he or she that they may need to “brush-up” on their knowledge of CKD. If they disapprove or disagree I’d leave immediately and find a new doctor who is either better educated or willing to learn if you bring in reliable/credible information they may not know. The arrogance of some doctors and what they insist they know is dangerous to patients like us with a chronic, progressive disease that affects all aspects of physical and mental health. Find a good one if they are unwilling to learn and correct their misinformation.

Additionally with CKD your PTH needs to be tested to assess if you have CKD related hyperthyroidism. This is common with fatigue and muscle weakness as a symptom. Link:

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

As always my best to you in your CKD journey!

[renegade70]

What do your overall kidney labs look like? Are they just doing the basic metabolic panel or do they include complete blood count, complete metabolic panel, parathyroid, phosphorus, complete urine analysis, and complete kidney ultrasound? do you see a nephrologist? what type of diet do you have? All of these things and more could contribute to your fatigue or maybe you are just feeling fatigued from being in stage 3. I itch all the time and I am in stage 3 a. that is usually not a problem until later on in this disease. Everyone is different.