Episode 42: Chronic Kidney Disease Symptoms Stage 4 overview, treatment strategy, and renal diet info you NEED to know. For those just diagnosed with CKD stage 4, this video gives an overview of how your kidney function is determined and then dives deeper into the common chronic kidney disease stage 4 symptoms you may experience. The CKD treatment outcomes highlight what the goals for treatment typically are for Stage 4. Your kidney diet (renal diet) is extremely important to slow down, stop, or reverse your kidney disease and I cover some of the common diet changes recommended with Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 4.

A person with stage 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) has advanced kidney damage with a severe decrease in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) to 15-30 ml/min. It is likely someone with stage 4 CKD will need dialysis or a kidney transplant in the near future.

As kidney function declines, waste products build up in the blood causing a condition known as uremia. In stage 4, a person is likely to develop complications of kidney disease such as high blood pressure, anemia (a shortage of red blood cells), bone disease, heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases.
Symptoms of stage 4 kidney disease
Symptoms that are experienced in stage 4 include:
• Fatigue
• 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
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Taste changes, a metallic taste in the mouth
• Bad breath due to urea buildup in the blood
• Loss of appetite: People may not feel like eating, and some people report having a metallic taste in their mouth or bad breath.
• Difficulty in concentrating: Having trouble doing everyday things such as balancing a checkbook or focusing on reading the newspaper can occur.
• Nerve problems: Numbness or tingling in the toes or fingers is a symptom of CKD.
Seeing a doctor when you have stage 4 CKD

At stage 4, it’s necessary to see a nephrologist (a doctor who specializes in treating kidney disease). The nephrologist examines the patient and orders lab tests to gather information to recommend treatment.

People in stage 4 CKD will usually visit their doctor at least every three months. Blood tests for creatinine, hemoglobin, calcium and phosphorus levels will be done to see how well the kidneys are working. The doctor will also monitor other conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. In addition to helping the patient keep their kidneys working as long as possible, the nephrologist will also help prepare the patient for dialysis or a kidney transplant.

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IMPORTANT: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. Patients should always be under the care of a physician and defer to their physician for any and all treatment decisions. This video is not meant to replace a physician’s advice, supervision, and counsel. No information in the video should be construed as medical advice. All medical decisions should be made by the patient and a qualified physician. This video is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE.

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