Kidney Failure - Symptoms
The symptoms of kidney failure can vary greatly from patient to patient. What were your symptoms at the onset of your disease?
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What are the symptoms of kidney failure?
- In the beginning, kidney failure may be asymptomatic (not producing any
symptoms). As kidney function decreases, the symptoms are related to the
inability to regulate water and electrolyte balances, to clear waste products
from the body, and to promote red blood cell production. Lethargy,
weakness,
shortness of breath, and generalized swelling may occur. Unrecognized or
untreated, life-threatening circumstances can develop.
- Metabolic acidosis, or increased acidity of the body due to the inability to
manufacture bicarbonate, will alter enzyme and oxygen metabolism, causing organ
failure.
- Inability to excrete potassium and rising potassium levels in the serum
(hyperkalemia) is associated with fatal heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias)
including ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation.
- Rising urea levels in the blood (uremia) can affect the function of a variety
of organs ranging from the brain (encephalopathy) with alteration of thinking,
to inflammation of the heart lining (pericarditis),
to decreased muscle function because of low calcium levels (hypocalcemia).
- Generalized weakness may be due to
anemia, a decreased red blood cell count,
because lower levels of erythropoietin produced by failing kidneys do not adequately stimulate the bone
marrow. A decrease in red cells equals a decrease in oxygen-carrying capacity of
the blood, resulting in decreased oxygen delivery to cells for them to do work;
therefore, the body tires quickly. As well, with less oxygen, cells more readily
use anaerobic metabolism (an=without + aerobic=oxygen) leading to increased
amounts of acid production that cannot be addressed by the already failing
kidneys.
- As waste products build in the blood,
loss of appetite, lethargy, and fatigue
become apparent. This will progress to the point where mental function will
decrease and coma may occur.
- Because the kidneys cannot address the rising acid load in the body, breathing becomes more rapid as the lungs try to buffer the acidity by blowing off carbon dioxide. Blood pressure may rise because of the excess fluid, and this fluid can be deposited in the lungs, causing congestive heart failure.
See what others are saying
I'm 24 years old I had kidney transplant about 2 years ago and first diagnosed when I was 20. They couldn't figure out what caused it but they guessed it was iga nephropathy (own immune system attacking your kidneys). When I first got sick I really thought it was a normal cold. I had a fever, was sneezing, nose running, etc. Then it got worst to where I was throwing up, had blood coming out in spits, vomit, urine, etc. Then it became really hard to breath and I couldn't lay down anymore as it would cause me to suffocate. I ended in the hospital and was put to sleep. When I woke up they told me both my kidneys failed and liquid was pushed up to my lungs which filled up and was causing me to suffocate. I don't want to scare anyone but to learn from my mistake of not going to the hospital for about 3 weeks after I first got the cold like symptoms. Go get a check up even if you think it is a cold!
I found out about my kidney disease two years ago when I had a scare with my heart and they did tests in the emergency room. Since then, I have been under the care of a nephrologist. I am in stage 3 moderate kidney disease. I assume my symptoms are a side effect of the disease. I feel like I have the flu and am cold most of the time and. When I take my temperature, it is normal. I feel sort of dizzy, have a loss of appetite, food doesn't have any taste, I have shortness of breath, no energy, and am nauseous. I do not know what caused this problem, but I will do everything I can to control it if possible.
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