Symptoms Of Third Stage CKD

CKD stands for chronic kidney disease. Just like renal parenchymal disease, CKD is not a single disease but includes a variety of renal disorders which are characterized by renal damages and gradual loss of kidney functions.

CKD can be divided into 5 stages and patients usually develop no obvious symptoms or discomforts until the illness has progressed into the third stage. About 7.6 million Americans are affected by third stage CKD.

Third stage CKD has moderately diminished GFR (glomerular filtration rate) of 30-59 and the damaged kidneys can not function efficiently to remove water and metabolic wastes outside the body, and the kidneys can not secrete enough hormones to regulate blood pressure and red blood cell productions. As a result, patients of third stage CKD will develop a series of symptoms.

Abnormal lad results

Kidney is one important part of the body’s circulating system. Diminished kidney functions can cause high creatinine, high blood urea nitrogen (BUN), high phosphate, high parathyroid, low calcium, etc. Therefore it is necessary for CKD patients to have regular checks every 3-6 months to have close monitoring of their illness conditions and seek timely and proper treatments.

Tiredness and sickness

Due to reduced secretion of erythropoietin by the kidneys, patients will suffer from renal anemia which can make them always feel tired and fatigue. Accumulation of wastes and toxins in the body can cause general ill feeling such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, poor appetite, lack of energy, etc which often greatly affect their normal daily life.

Swelling and hypertension

Kidneys may lost some functions to balance water and electrolytes, excessive water, sodium and other electrolytes can not be discharged efficiently. Fluid and sodium retention can cause swelling and elevated blood pressure. Of cause, high blood pressure is also related to hormone secretion disorder.

Urinary changes

Third stage CKD patients may notice a series of changes and abnormalities in their urination. They may have bubbles in urine, blood in urine; their urine output may become abnormally less or more; they may have frequent urination especially during the night; they may always have the urge to urinate or they may suffer from burning sense or pain while urinating.

Kidney pains

Some kidney disease can cause chronic or sharp pains such as kidney infections, kidney stone, polycystic kidney disease, etc.

Other symptoms of third stage CKD may also include skin itching, muscle cramps, restless leg syndrome, bone problems and sleep problems, etc.

Not all third stage CKD patients will experience the above mentioned symptoms. Some may feel completely normal and no discomforts at all; some may have some of these symptoms and some patients will have nearly all these symptoms.