You can obtain treatment and feel better if you understand the symptoms of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Symptoms of CKD can be mild. Some folks don't have any symptoms or believe they don't have any. If you have one or more of the 15 symptoms listed below, or if you have concerns about kidney disease, see your doctor for blood and urine tests. Other health issues can produce many of the symptoms on this list. Seeing your doctor is the only way to find out what is causing YOUR symptoms.
Low back discomfort is not an indication of kidney disease. Your kidneys are located in the back of your body, above your waist. Tell your doctor if you experience pain there.
Fill out the symptom chart at the bottom of this page and email it to our medical team.
Symptoms of Kidney Disease
Check your symptoms and then send your chart to our team of trained health professionals for evaluation. https://bit.ly/3MFiBh0
15 Kidney Disease Symptoms
- Fatigue - a constant state of exhaustion
Why does this happen?
Erythropoietin (a-rith'- ro-po'- uh-tin), or EPO, is a hormone produced by healthy kidneys that instructs your body to produce oxygen-carrying red blood cells. The kidneys produce less EPO as they age. Your muscles and brain tire rapidly because there are fewer red blood cells carrying oxygen. This is anemia, which is treatable.
Patients' comments:
I was always tired and lacked enthusiasm for anything.
I was going to sleep a lot. When I got home from work, I'd jump right into that bed.
- Feeling cold when everyone else is warm
Why does this happen?
Even in a warm setting, anemia might make you feel cold all the time.
Patients' comments:
I've noticed that I become incredibly cold and get goosebumps on occasion.
I get quite cold on sometimes. I'd be chilled even if it was hot.
Symptoms of Kidney Disease
Check your symptoms and then send your chart to our team of trained health professionals for evaluation. https://bit.ly/3MFiBh0
- Shortness of breath - with little exertion What causes this:
Shortness of breath is linked to the kidneys in two ways. Extra fluid in the body can first accumulate in the lungs. Second, anemia (a lack of oxygen-carrying red blood cells) can deprive your body of oxygen, making you feel out of breath.
Patients' comments:
It is scary to me when I experience shortness of breath. It is only afraid of me. I generally go sit down because I'm afraid I'm going to fall or something.
I was unable to sleep at night. I felt like I was drowning because I couldn't catch my breath. Also, the bloating, inability to breathe, and inability to walk. It was a disaster.
- Feeling dizzy, faint, or weak
Why does this happen?
Anemia caused by kidney failure indicates that your brain is not receiving enough oxygen. This can make you feel dizzy, faint, or weak.
Patients' comments:
I was constantly exhausted and dizzy.
It came to the point where I'd be at work and start feeling dizzy all of a sudden. So I figured it was either my blood pressure or my diabetes was becoming worse. That was my main thought.
- Inability to think clearly
Why does this happen?
Anemia caused by kidney failure indicates that your brain is not receiving enough oxygen. This can cause memory problems or attention issues.
Patients' comments:
I know I told my wife about my memory problems—I couldn't recall what I did last week or what I ate two days ago. I couldn't focus because I enjoy doing crossword puzzles and reading a lot.
I'd get up to do something and then forget what I was going to do by the time I got there.
Symptoms of Kidney Disease
Check your symptoms and then send your chart to our team of trained health professionals for evaluation. https://bit.ly/3MFiBh0
- Excessively itchy
Why does this happen?
Wastes are removed from the bloodstream by the kidneys. When your kidneys fail, wastes build up in your blood, causing extreme itching.
Patients' comments:
It's not like it's a skin itch or anything; it's just bone-deep. I needed to acquire a brush and start digging. My back was swollen and bleeding from scratching.
My skin had broken out, and I was scratching and itching constantly.
- Hands or feet swelling
Why does this happen?
When your kidneys fail, extra fluid accumulates in your body, producing swelling in your legs, ankles, feet, and/or hands.
Patients' comments:
My ankles were swollen a lot, I recall. I couldn't get my shoes on because my ankles were too large.
My left ankle was swollen, really big, and I was fatigued just walking to the bus stop one morning. I knew I needed to see a doctor at that point.
- Face swollen or bloated
Why does this happen?
When your kidneys fail, additional fluid builds up in your body, creating swelling in your face.
Patients' comments:
My sister's hair began to come out, she began to lose weight, but her face became swollen and other symptoms developed before she discovered what was wrong with her.
My checks were constantly bloated and crinkly. They could even be painful at times.
Symptoms of Kidney Disease
Check your symptoms and then send your chart to our team of trained health professionals for evaluation. https://bit.ly/3MFiBh0
- Food has a metallic flavor.
Why does this happen?
Uremia, or a build-up of wastes in the blood, can alter the taste of food and create bad breath. You may also realize that you no longer enjoy eating meat or that you are losing weight as a result of your inability to eat.
Patients' comments:
Your mouth has a foul taste. It's almost as though you're consuming iron.
I've dropped roughly 10 pounds since I don't have the appetite I had before starting dialysis.
- Breath of ammonia
Why does this happen?
Uremia, or a build-up of wastes in the blood, can create bad breath.
Patients' comments:
My hubby says I have fish breath all the time.
My breath occasionally smells like urine, and I need to brush my teeth more frequently.
- Stomach upset, nausea, and vomiting
Why does this happen?
Uremia, or a severe buildup of wastes in the blood, can produce nausea and vomiting. Weight loss might result from a decrease of appetite.
Patients' comments:
I was itchy and nauseated, and I was constantly throwing up. Nothing would stay down in my stomach.
I couldn't eat and had trouble taking my blood pressure pills when I became nauseated.
Symptoms of Kidney Disease
Check your symptoms and then send your chart to our team of trained health professionals for evaluation. https://bit.ly/3MFiBh0
- Waking up in the middle of the night to pee
Why does this happen?
Because kidneys produce urine, the urine may vary when the kidneys fail. How?
With pale urine, you may urinate more frequently or in larger volumes than usual.
You might feel pressed or have trouble urinating.
Patients' comments:
My pee was the first thing I noticed. Then I started going to the bathroom regularly, and nothing happened when I got there. 'Hey, I've got to go to the john,' you think, and when you get there, 2 or 3 drops.
I'd wake up two or three times a night with a lot of pressure on my shoulders.
- Urine that is foamy or bubbly
Why does this happen?
Because kidneys produce urine, the urine may vary when the kidneys fail. How?
Urine may be frothy or bubbly in appearance.
This can result in an abnormally high level of protein in the urine.
Patients' comments:
There would be bubbles in the dish.
I noticed that my pee was frequently frothy, so I scheduled an appointment with my doctor.
Symptoms of Kidney Disease
Check your symptoms and then send your chart to our team of trained health professionals for evaluation. https://bit.ly/3MFiBh0
- Urine that is brown, crimson, or purple
Why does this happen?
Because kidneys produce urine, the urine may vary when the kidneys fail. How?
Dark-colored urine may cause you to urinate less frequently or in lower amounts than normal.
Blood could be present in your pee.
Patients' comments:
Blood was going through my urine. It looked like grape Kool-Aid because it was so black. When I arrived at the hospital, they assumed I was lying about the color.
When I initially noticed blood in my urine, I assumed I had a bladder infection.
Patients' comments:
There would be bubbles in the dish.
I noticed that my pee was frequently frothy, so I scheduled an appointment with my doctor.
- When making urine, apply pressure.
Why does this happen?
Because kidneys produce urine, the urine may vary when the kidneys fail. How?
You might feel pressed or have trouble urinating.
Patients' comments:
You couldn't get it all out when you went to the bathroom. And because there was so much pressure, it would still feel like tightness down there.
The strain was immense, but everything came out slowly. Slowly, like 2-3 minutes. What is going on here, I wondered.
Symptoms of Kidney Disease
Check your symptoms and then send your chart to our team of trained health professionals for evaluation. https://bit.ly/3MFiBh0