Questions to ask your nephrologist (kidney doctor)
Will I be on dialysis for the rest of my life? How can I get the most out of my treatment? Is there anything I may experience that I should contact you about? Do I need to make changes to any other medications I'm taking?
If I have an acute kidney problem, do you expect me to recover, and how long might that take? If my kidney problem is chronic, how long can I continue without dialysis, or will I ever need dialysis? What medications are available to keep kidney disease from getting worse? What type of dialysis do you recommend?
The best time to see a kidney doctor will vary based on your kidney function, the particular renal condition you have, and other risk factors. It appears that a referral to see a nephrologist should be considered for an elevated Cr (stage 4) or a GFR less than 30, but some people should see a kidney doctor much sooner.
Signs and symptoms of Stage 1 CKD include: High blood pressure. Swelling in your hands or feet. Urinary tract infections.
Kidney failure is a condition in which one or both of your kidneys no longer work on their own. Causes include diabetes, high blood pressure and acute kidney injuries. Symptoms include fatigue, nausea and vomiting, swelling, changes in how often you go to the bathroom and brain fog.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Nephrologists are medical doctors who specialize in the care of kidneys. Your nephrologist can examine you, order blood and urine tests, make a diagnosis and treat your condition with medication or a procedure. Your primary care physician may refer you to a nephrologist.
Protein in the urine is an early sign that the kidneys' filters have been damaged, allowing protein to leak into the urine. This puffiness around your eyes can be due to the fact that your kidneys are leaking a large amount of protein in the urine, rather than keeping it in the body. Your ankles and feet are swollen.
Medicines for pain and swelling, such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve), can cause harm. So can some antibiotics and antacids. And you need to be careful about some drugs that treat cancer, lower blood pressure, or get rid of water from the body. Some natural health products could cause harm too.
The patient should be well hydrated prior to the nuclear renal scan. No other preparation is necessary.
Patients are considered to be correctly referred to nephrology when any of the following criteria are met, according to current Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) 2012 guidelines [1]: estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <30 mL/min/1.73 m2, a consistent finding of A3 albuminuria [urinary albumin: ...
When kidneys are failing, the increased concentration and accumulation of substances in urine lead to a darker color which may be brown, red or purple. The color change is due to abnormal protein or sugar, high levels of red and white blood cells, and high numbers of tube-shaped particles called cellular casts.
Changes in urine color, transparency, and smell
A pinkish or reddish hue may indicate the presence of blood in the urine, while a greenish tone could be a sign of a bacterial infection. Cloudy non-transparent urine may be another sign of infection, but it may also suggest an abnormal level of salts in the liquid.
What does kidney pain feel like? Kidney pain often feels like a dull ache that gets worse if someone gently presses on that area. While it is more common to feel kidney pain on only one side, some health problems may affect both kidneys and cause pain on both sides of your back.
For a 60-year-old man, stage 1 kidney disease life expectancy will be approximately 15 years. That figure falls to 13 years, 8 years, and 6 years in the second, third, and fourth stages of kidney disease respectively. For a 60-year old woman, stage 1 life expectancy is 18 years, while stage 2 is only one year less.
Symptoms of stage 3 CKD
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 back. Sleep problems due to muscle cramps or restless legs.
Stage 1 CKD means you have a normal eGFR of 90 or greater and mild damage to your kidneys. Your kidneys are still working well, so you may not have any symptoms. You may have other signs of kidney damage, such as protein in your urine.