I think I may have kidney disease-- please help

(Topic from archives: Originally posted 06:58:58 03/14/2003)

Hi, I'm a 27 year old female from Winnipeg, Manitoba, I stumbled upon this forum while looking for information on Kidney disease. I have all the symptoms-- bad taste in my mouth, poor appetite, numbness all over my body, can't sleep, I'm constantly tired... I have been to three doctors, the first one did a blood and urine test, said everything was normal. The second doctor did a urine test, said everything was fine and that it was all in my head. The third doctor didn't even bother with a blood and urine test, because he said I was suffering from anxiety attacks! I'm beginning to wonder if it is all in my head, but I have had Urinary tract infections in the past as well as blood in the urine, but even then the doctors said that all was fine! I am sick to my stomach constantly and I don't know what to do. The next time I go to a doctor, what kind of tests should I ask for? I would demand to see a nephrologist but I'm afraid that the doctors will think I'm a hypochondriac. I'm at the end of my rope.

The Life Options web site (http://www.lifeoptions.org) has information on chronic kidney disease. You may want to look at the fact sheet "What You Can Do" at http://lifeoptions.org//patient/ckdinfo/ckd_sec5.pdf to see what lab tests are typically run to determine kidney function.

Ask your doctor for a copy of your lab results rather than accepting it when the doctor says they're "fine." Lab companies print the normal range next to the person's test results on reports. Be sure to look at the Canadian normals rather than the U.S. ones on the Life Options site because labs are reported differently in Canada. The Kidney Foundation of Canada has a publication called "Living with Kidney Disease" that lists the Canadian normals under "How are substances in the blood measured?"

If your lab tests are within normal limits you probably should consider other physical or emotional issues that might be leading you to have the symptoms you describe.

Rhea- Hi I am from Manitoba too. I am in Balmoral just outside of the city. Just a little north of Stonewall. If you have any further questions just email me and I can try and help u too. I have chronic kidney failure but am not on dialysis yet but will be. I am currently on the transplant list. My email is s_wait@hotmail.com.