no energy

[Butchga]

hi I’ve posted here a dozen times. Always helpful. Continuing motoring my grf. It is at 33 percent. I have tried everything. Don’t know why my energy level is so low. I walk everyday but still drag. Maybe it’s the aging process. I get a weekly b-12 injections that does very little. Has anyone got any suggestions. My back constantly hurts. Sometimes it is around my kidney area. Other times it is my L5 S1 and shows on X-ray it’s degenerative. I guess I’m looking anything. Thank you.

[Blackknight1989]

I’ve suffered from poly-osteoarthritis since my early 30s,, CKD since 28 and feel your pain My back has been an issue only the last 10/12 years (I’m 57 now) and unfortunately for this chronic osteoarthritis like pain w there is very little to do…ice/heat on the area that hurts, and exercise to keep the muscles strong is the only way to keep going. The pain will always be there, I’m 57 now suffer with pain in multiple joints daily and have to use a walker/wheelchair most every day. But I keep moving, unfortunately there is no “cure” only things like ice/heat/massage on the painful areas and the mental fortitude to keep going…I wish you the best!

[MToQ]

Have you checked your red blood count? Could it be anemia? That used to zap my energy. I also have a few buldging discs and my neck and back often ache. I find acupuncture helps. Another possibility could be fibromyalgia. Which I also have. Fibro days are exhausting. I can sleep for days when it hits. All other days, I have insomnia. Go figure!

How's your diet? Stay hydrated. Lots of greens, fresh fruit and variety of veggies. Lean proteins. Plus Occasional treats!

Hope something helps. Good luck.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Pain in like a sponge and it sucks all the energy out of you. I have Psoriatic arthritis and often have flares that are exhausting. See if you can get a referral to a pain clinic, if there is one in your area. They will have different things for you to try. Also, I agree about having your hemocrit and hemoglobin levels checked for anemia. Very common in CKD.

[Whitetail66]

I too am stage 3b (33gfr) and am constantly tired. I also feel like my muscles get fatigued very easily, and I almost feel achy like when you’re getting the flu. I go in to see my doctor in a couple weeks, and have a feeling my GFR has dropped, as my kidneys have been hurting the past couple weeks and my urine is foamy.

Do you know if you have sleep apnea? At my last visit, my nephrologist said that I shouldn’t be feeling this way at the stage 3b, and suggested that I may have sleep apnea that is causing my issues. I did an at home sleep study that showed I had moderate sleep apnea and was prescribed a CPAP machine. I couldn’t deal with that thing, so I returned it. I don’t have sleep apnea when I sleep on my side, but have moderate sleep apnea when I sleep on my back. I told her that I never sleep on my back, and that I’m a stomach sleeper. She said that during my home sleep study, I never slept on my stomach, but predominately on my back, and some on my side. So I’m going to do a clinic sleep study to see what is going on. Maybe check into that if you haven’t? My nephrologist said that my symptoms were classic sleep apnea symptoms.

[Butchga in reply to Whitetail66]

thank you. I would never have thought that. But makes sense. I don’t like the feeling of wearing a c-pap. But I’m tired of being tired so perhaps I will look into it. Thanks for responding.

[Whitetail66 in reply to Butchga]

You’re welcome. There are other alternatives to a CPAP machine. Since my study showed no to little sleep apnea when I slept on my side, they have a ’backpack’ thing you can wear that doesn’t allow you to sleep on your back. In my case (I didn’t want to spend the money they wanted for one) I made my own. I took a somewhat tight shirt and sewed a ‘pocket’ onto the back that I could put two tennis balls in. But definitely talk to your doctor about it. Best of luck to you.

[TylerPeyton in reply to Whitetail66]

Is sleep apnea related to kidney disease? Improving sleep apnea help our GFR? My dentist just looked at my throat, asked me if I had sleep apnea. I’m 66 years old. Never told that. My GFR is currently 30.