Early Kidney Disease??

[HiveMind]

Hello everyone.

Can someone please tell me what early symptoms denote kidney disease (I’m aware that I can Google this but I wanted it ‘straight from the horses mouth’ so to speak). Any first hand experience would be appreciated. Thank you so much.

[S_dillow]

i had swelling in feet and ankles and tiredness which my doc said was bp med caused and not to worry.she missed the decline in egfr numbers and i was 3b before i got referred to a nephro

[HiveMind in reply to S_dillow]

I’m so glad you told me this because that’s exactly what’s happening to me right now. I’ve been put on a new (to me) heart medication which seems to be affecting my kidneys in a detrimental way. My ankles (out of the blue) have begun to swell and one of my lower legs is weeping. I’m at my wits end with it. I’m on the verge of stopping the heart medication immediately.

[bumblebee_tuna in reply to HiveMind]

Why do you think the medication is effecting your kidneys? Did you do any blood tests?

[HiveMind in reply to bumblebee_tuna]

My EGFR has dropped.

[S_dillow in reply to HiveMind]

did they check you for cellulitis?dont sttop meds without your doc looking at labs first.

[HiveMind in reply to S_dillow]

I’ve seen one Dr and she gave me steroid cream for my ‘rash’!

[S_dillow in reply to HiveMind]

wow.have you gotten a referral for a nephrologist yet?

[HiveMind in reply to S_dillow]

No because no one seems to know what it is.

[S_dillow in reply to HiveMind]

good grief.mind blown here

[S_dillow in reply to HiveMind]

good grief.mind blown here

[drmind in reply to HiveMind]

What medication? Several are known to cause leg swelling.

[HiveMind in reply to drmind]

Well none of them have caused leg swelling before and I’ve been on them for years.

[drmind in reply to HiveMind]

In an earlier post, you said you were put on a new heart medication and your legs began to swell? What was that medication?

[HiveMind in reply to drmind]

Dapagliflozin

[bumblebee_tuna in reply to HiveMind]

Dapagliflozin, is known to cause an initial drop in eGFR when you start taking it, it is expected but the drug is actually kidney protective long term. I wouldn't call it a 'heart' medication, more for blood pressure/diabetes, maybe your blood pressure is going to low and causing swelling?

[HiveMind in reply to bumblebee_tuna]

I know Dapa isn’t a ‘heart’ medication per se but it is given to people with heart failure for various reasons. I didn’t know Dapa was kidney protective long term nor did I know the swelling could be caused by my BP going too low. I do have low BP normally so the Dapa may be exacerbating this. Thanks for the info.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

There are no early symptoms. And depending on the person, there might not be any until very late, like stage 4 or 5. I am stage 5 and still have no symptoms.

What symptoms do you have that you are attributing to CKD? Often, like mentioned before it can be a medication or some other issue.

[HiveMind in reply to Bassetmommer]

See above.

[CKDnomore3953 in reply to HiveMind]

Do you have diabetes? That can cause the kind of symptoms you are having.

[HiveMind in reply to CKDnomore3953]

I’ve not been diagnosed with diabetes. I’ll need to check that out.

[S_dillow in reply to Bassetmommer]

thanks Bassetnomer for the info

[Hidden]

You probably won't actually feel any physical symptoms if your kidneys are in slow decline. I'm not sure how it works for ladies but when a man's pee stream hits the water in the toilet, it creates a lot of bubbles that could be a sign of protein leakage. You could also look at your last 2-3-4 lab results and see what your GFR is doing.

[HiveMind in reply to Hidden]

My EGFR has dropped 10 points.

[Hily in reply to HiveMind]

What is you eGFR now?

[HiveMind in reply to Hily]

Last month it was 51

[Vcr1406 in reply to HiveMind]

My goodness, you are just barely under a normal gfr. How old are you? If you are not yet in your 60s or 70s, you might be a little concerned. I am 73 and my gfr fluctuates between 48 and 60 depending upon my hydration, diet, and if l have to take more GERD medicine because of esophageal flare up. You don’t need a nephrologist with a gfr of 51. Just watch what you eat. If blood pressure is high, keep it under control. Hydrate and please don’t panic. Stress is bad for all the organs in your body. God bless you.

[Pisces101]

i have absolutely none. Nothing I have noticed at all. 3a

[LoveChoc]

I had no symptoms when I was diagnosed with stage 3 CKD. I'd gone to the docs about something unrelated and they did some blood tests. I was called in to see a nurse and told I have high BP and CKD - knocked the stuffing out of me. Still no symptoms, so much so I forget I have it except I don't take certain meds and I don't add salt to my food 🤷🏻‍♀️ I've not seen a doctor or had any help/advice other than a print out about CKD and daily BP medication. I hope you get the answers and support you need.

[HiveMind in reply to LoveChoc]

Surely you should be seeing a Nephrologist?

[userotc]

My mum has CKD3 and has occasional symptoms that may or may not be attributed to that eg overnight leg pain. She found out she has CKD3 from my dad perusing her Patient Access results, not from her doctor. And your experience so far eg cream for itchy legs (ridiculous), illustrates the sort of treatment you might expect from medics.

So mum chose a Nutritional Therapy route instead (she has a nephro but he's not helped). And her results to-date have been very encouraging eg eGFR almost doubled in ~6y.

[HiveMind in reply to userotc]

Could you explain what Nutritional Therapy is please?

[userotc]

Below is a good definition from eminent body ANP. You can find qualified NT practitioners via that website or the one below it (suggest also CNHC-registered).

theanp.co.uk/therapies/nutr...

practitioner-search.bant.or...

[HiveMind in reply to userotc]

Thank you

[S_dillow in reply to userotc]

what do you do when neither is in your area and you cant afford to pay an out of zone one?

[userotc in reply to S_dillow]

Most should operate online if you're ok with that. Personally I think finding the right practitioner with most suitable skills, experience is more important than geography

[S_dillow in reply to userotc]

true.but in my state the online is out of reach.im gonna try again but i dont think our budget can handle it

[Glyndwright]

I swelled up from 13 stone to 17 stone in three days. Kidneys had began to stop working ,emitted to hospital, they banged high doses of steroid's, then went on dialysis for three months, and function went up to 44 % came off dialysis in january 2019, but last blood test beginning of this month kidney function is now down to 19%.

[HiveMind in reply to Glyndwright]

Sorry to hear that.

[WardijaWardija]

Hi. I have CKD Stage III.For me it's right sided, lower back/trunk pain (same exact spot - never deviates).

Sometimes sharp, otherwise dull but permanent background pain.

Also urinary incontinence. No pre-warning you need to go, gravity takes control, whoosh. . .

Not been referred to Nephrologist or Dietician. Apparently according to my unhelpful GP, you have to be Stage 4, and ready for Dyalysis, for that heady privilege, Grrrrr.

[HiveMind in reply to WardijaWardija]

I’m having the same pains in the same location as you. It comes and goes though.

[barbara55109]

There aren't really any universal symptoms. I didn't "feel" sick until my eGFR got below 30 and that was mostly the CKD related anemia.

[MinnadeParis]

From my own perspective there were none bc I did not have uncontrollable HP, not overweight, no diabetes, healthy eater good BMI, no heart condition. But I had sciatica pain and took loads of NSAIDS. I was not really self educated about annual lab reports. All I was interested in was my cholesterol and glucose (for diabetes). My GP of 25+ yrs retired and the new young Dr was alarmed when labs recorded a GRf of 3b this past year. It was shocking.

I saw a nephrologist tweeked my diet, added more water and worried myself sick. I feel fine, but still have sciatica and bursitis pain that I deal, w on my own. My neph said ok to cortisone shots. I’ll have another set of labs in about 3 wks.

I guess the morale of my story is start looking at your annual lab reports from an early age and monitor yourself. Be your own advocate and first in line.

Good luck and keep us informed

[HiveMind in reply to MinnadeParis]

Thank you for your advice. Unfortunately I have numerous health issues and have been monitoring my blood work for the past 15 years. I’m 100% an advocate for myself and research throughly every new drug that I’m asked to take. It’s a full time job being me!

[WardijaWardija in reply to HiveMind]

I was just saying that exact thing to my nurse yesterday, it is a full-on job.I've been at it for many years too, it's never-ending and the to-do list just gets longer and longer.

It really gets me down and the thought of throwing in the towel and just giving up, crosses my mind, way more than I'd like . . .

[HiveMind in reply to WardijaWardija]

Never (ever) give up! 💪

[MinnadeParis]

I meant no disrespect. We all come to this place from different circumstances but wind up together.

I hope you are able to connect w a nephrologist soon and get more clarity.

[HiveMind in reply to MinnadeParis]

No offence taken 😊

[PeaB4YouGo]

My first clue was high blood pressure. I was being tested regular for my medical card, required as a truck driver here in the US. A couple waiver periods later, I was told to find a Nephro. One ultrasound later, it was confirmed.

[HiveMind in reply to PeaB4YouGo]

Thanks for sharing.