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I think I have kidney disease and I'm terrified.

Posted , 17 users are following.

Megan3031
Megan3031

Hi I am new here. I think I might have kidney disease. I didn't get diagnosed with it yet though. I am going to first go to my primary care doctor and get them to take a urine sample and blood tests and other tests if they need to. Some of the symptoms i have are dark colored urine. It looks like amber colored most of the time. And i have noticed small bubbles in my urine once so far. I go to the bathroom like 6 or 7 times per day which i believe is normal. Then i also have like some skin on my foot that turned brown. And then a little of it turned yellow too. I think its called increased skin pigmentation. I also just started getting these muscle twitches. Then sometimes i get diarrhea but not every day. Just like probably once or twice a week. I dont vomit at all and i dont' ever feel nauseous. I also started to notice that I bruise more easily. I am not tired at all as long as I get enough sleep. I ususally sleep for 8 hours and 30 minutes to 9 hours, which is normal I think. I don't feel weak and I still have enough energy to do the things that I need to do every day. Sometimes I get headaches but not every week. Maybe like once every other week and some weeks i don't get headaches at all. So i am very worried and scared about going to the doctor. Because I am afraid they are going to tell me that they think I have kidney disease. Do you all have any of those symptoms? If so what stage of kidney disease did you get those symptoms at? I am just so scared that I could be at stage 4 or 5 already and not even know it. I just found out I have high blood pressure too, but I didn't know i had it so it has never been treated before. I am going to get blood pressure medicine at the doctor too. I will just be really depressed if I really do have kidney disease in addition to high blood pressure. 

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  • rick39522
    rick39522 Megan3031

    Posted

    ?Megan, first of all calm down.  All the "symptoms" you list can be caused by such a wide variety of things that to hone in that it is CKD is just making you worried perhaps for no reason.  First your urine color.  Dark urine can be caused by simple dehydration, liver damage, porphyrias, and many other reasons.  Occasional urine form is totally normal.  I have large amounts of foam, all the time, not just occasional.  always have.  For my entire life.

    ?Skin color changes on feet are commonly due to inactivity, age, possible circulation problems, a variety of cases.  I'm no doctor but I never heard of this as an indication of CKD.  Easy bruising also can be from a variety of reasons.  Age primarily.  Medically something lacking in the blood and clotting abilities, etc.  Yes CKD in advanced stages can cause some of these "symptoms" but it is by far NOT the only cause.  You perhaps are just being overly analytical about every aspect of your body and frankly driving yourself crazy.  Instead target this moderation into a simple visit to a doctor, or if you are that concerned an emergency room, and a couple of simple blood tests could indicate what the actual problem, or problems, may be, IF any.  My kidney doctor constantly reminds me that having just a little knowledge (thinking we know all because we read articles on the internet, most of which contradict each other) is usually more dangerous than going to a medical professional and reading your test results and therefore knowing exactly if anything is wrong and what it is.  GET TO THE DOCTOR.

    • Megan3031
      Megan3031 rick39522

      Posted

      Yes that's true. i could have a few different problems that are minor. Like maybe i could have circulation problems and a few other things. I'm 30 years old though so i don't think the skin discoloration  and the easy bruising is from age though. But yes you are right some of the stuff i was reading online might not all be true. And some of the websites say one thing while other websites say something different. I will go to the doctor and talk to them about my symptoms though and ask them to do a urine test and blood test. 

    • KenR
      KenR Megan3031

      Posted

      Hi Megan,

      I was going to mention - beetroot juice can make you pee red, that might overexcite your doc so take care with drinking it!

    • Megan3031
      Megan3031 KenR

      Posted

      Oh ok thanks and i will remember that.
    • Megan3031
      Megan3031

      Posted

      Also the reason why I think i might have kidney disease is because on these websites called Davita and The National Kidney Center it says that the skin pigmentation and the muscle twitches and the easy bruising, and diarrhea are symptoms that happen in Stage 4 and 5 of chronic kidney disease. so that's one reason why i am pretty sure that i have it. Are those 2 websites pretty accurate on their information? 

    • Megan3031
      Megan3031 rick39522

      Posted

      Also the reason why I think i might have kidney disease is because on these websites called Davita and The National Kidney Center it says that the skin pigmentation and the muscle twitches and the easy bruising, and diarrhea are symptoms that happen in Stage 4 and 5 of chronic kidney disease. so that's one reason why i am pretty sure that i have it. Are those 2 websites pretty accurate on their information? 

    • Megan3031
      Megan3031 rick39522

      Posted

      sorry about that i posted the same thing twice accidentally. 
    • rick39522
      rick39522 Megan3031

      Posted

      Megan, I just do not understand.  You are obviously terrified.  Maybe your are right to be, but also maybe you are wrong.  but it seems to me that your time would be better spent.  You spend so much time determining by yourself what is wrong, what could be.  You spend a lot of time reading all these terrible things and symptoms about kidney disease on the internet (even thought you may not even have the disease).  You looks for every reason to believe you have it (heredity, minor possible indications, etc.).  Yet you are NOT in a doctors office or an emergency room?  Why not??  What is your delay?  If you are correct about what you believe is wrong, what are gaining by waiting?  Go now!  Get up this moment and get an immediate appointment.  If you can not find a doctor to see you within the week, go to the hospital, or a clinic, or a walk in.  A simple blood test would either point you in the direction of possible CKD, or eliminate CKD and yet find out what is causing what you believe to be symptoms.  Even if the outcome is CKD you will not be driving yourself crazy with wondering and can then focus your attention on an action plan.  Think for a moment Megan, what if you are wrong and this is NOT CKD.  You will have wasted so much time on investigating and convincing yourself it was CKD, making yourself a nervous wreck, for absolutely no reason.  We are all behind you, but please, get up right now and call a doctor!!
    • marj01201
      marj01201 Megan3031

      Posted

      Megan,

      When you get to the doctor's office they will draw some blood and collect a urine sample. That's it. From the testing they do on these they will check for your renal panel numbers and the protein level in your urine. You should then have a follow-up visit where your doctor will explain your results to you.

      Any primary care doctor can order and interpret thes tests. In fact, a nurse practitioner may be able to do this as well. It is NOT stressful or difficult. Do you have medical insurance to cover the appointment? If not, reach out to social services in your area for help. 

      CKD cannot be accurately diagnosed without these tests. Further, it cannot be effectively treated without these same tests.

      If you are afraid to go to the doctor's office alone to get these tests run, ask a family member or friend to go with you. 

      I dreaded my first appointment with a nephrologist too; in large part because my father had CKD. I had been one of his in-hone hemodialysis caregivers. So, yes, I was terrified to go to that appointment. But I knew waiting was not going to be of any help either. So, I took a deep breath; scheduled the appointment; and on Oct 31, 2011 arrived at a nephrologist's office for my first appointment.

      I am the last person living in my immediate family. I'm single. I never married. I have no children. So I headed in yo this appointment alone. My point, you may be very surprised by your internal strength. 

      It's not clear what is keeping you from setting the appointment. You need to figure that out and then take the necessary action to address the issue. Is it frightening? Absolutely!!! But not knowing is MUCH, MUCH worse.

      I hope to hear that you have scheduled an appointment with a physician to address this in your next post. Unfortunately if you don't take that action, there really is nothing any of us in this forum can do--none of us are medical professionals.

      Marj

    • Megan3031
      Megan3031 rick39522

      Posted

      I don't have a primary care doctor anymore because the one i used to go to retired. But I know I can just look online and find a new one to go to that will take my health insurance. I guess I am just scared to find out also. But yes I know it is important for me to know. Because if I can find out soon then I will be able to do something about it even though it would be upsetting for me. And yes i am going to go to the doctor. Or i will just go to a walk in clinic if I can't find a doctor to go to. 

    • Megan3031
      Megan3031 marj01201

      Posted

      Thanks for the advice. I don't have a doctor but i do have health insurance. So i will find a doctor to go to and make an appointment with them. And that is a good idea about bringing a family member or friend with me since I am scared. 

    • marj01201
      marj01201 Megan3031

      Posted

      Glad to hear that you've got health insurance. That is definitely a blessing at times like this; it minimizes the financial burden some. 

      I've come to think of my doctor's as my medical team. We work together to support my health. You just need to identify your medical team members and then build good working relationships with them.

      Marj

    • Megan3031
      Megan3031 marj01201

      Posted

      Oh yes that's true. Hopefully i can find some good doctors that will help me. And thanks for your advice. 

  • marj01201
    marj01201 Megan3031

    Posted

    Megan,

    First, try to calm down. I know that can be very difficult. But this worry is not helping your blood pressure or any other aspect of your overall health. So, take a deep breath, meditate, take a walk; do whatever you can to relax and calm your soul🐶

    Second, you are doing the most important thing you can--going to your doctor. I like to prepare for my doctor visits by writing down the information I want to share (e.g., any new symptoms) and any questions I've got. I take two copies of these with me, one for my doctor and one for me. I give one copy to the nurse during the first part of my appointment. The nurse gives it to my doctor before the doctor comes into the exam room. My doctor then knows what is on my mind as she or he prepares for my appointment. (My new nephrologist has a website with a patient portal so o now do this all online through my patient portal before I leave my house for the appointment.) I also provide a table with my blood pressure data from my daily home monitoring. 

    So, as you wait for your doctor appointment you might document how much fluid you are drinking daily as well as your daily blood pressure readings. I don't think you should change anything you are doing at this point. But I do think that bringing factual data regarding your daily fluid intake and blood pressure readings could be very helpful for your physician. (I take my BP before each meal and at bedtime.)

    I agree with everyone else; there are so many things that can cause the symptoms you are presenting. And done are very minor issues. I'd stay away from the internet or other information sources at this point. 

    Marj

    • rick39522
      rick39522 marj01201

      Posted

      Marj, we must be twins, lol.  I too follow the same procedure with all my doctors.  I write all my information and questions down and take two copies.  Also a record of my bp.  I too give it to the nurse at first part of appointment.  It gives them the information they need, and reminds me of what I wanted to talk about.  It also prevents errors as they can read the information without interpreting my talking.  3 of my 5 doctors also have portals and I just love the portals.  For example I had bloodwork taken for my kidney doctor at a nearby hospital.  My next appointment is this week.  But the hospital posted the blood results the day after my tests and I knew my readings immediately due to the portal.  This too allows me to formulate any questions I have days before my visit, instead of being presented my numbers on the spot without time to sort out all the data.  This was my first test since the kidney doctor had me watch my protein intake (70g per day or less), drink lots of water daily (64 to 75 ounces), and go easy on the salt.  this advice increased my egfr from 38 to 43 in two months. Not wonderful I know, but it is my highest gfr since kidney remove last July.
    • marj01201
      marj01201 rick39522

      Posted

      Actually an. EGFR of 43 is pretty good for a person in your age range with one functional kidney I'd think! (Of course, I'm not a doctor.) nevertheless, that sounds like a good improvement. It will be good to hear what your nephrologist thinks. At a minimum the data change shows movement in the right direction. 

      Marj

    • Megan3031
      Megan3031 marj01201

      Posted

      Yes you are right. It might just be a few minor problems that I might have. And thanks so much for the advice. I will do that before I go to the doctor. Thanks for your help. 
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