More Symptoms of Kidney Disease You Must Not Ignore

Bad Taste in Mouth or Ammonia Breath

As uraemia builds, not only can it cause nausea and vomiting, it can also cause a metallic, bad taste in mouth. This taste makes food taste different (it has been compared to eating iron), and may put you off eating altogether. This may lead to weight-loss.

Another problem you may have is ammonia or "urine"-like breath. If you notice this, or someone tells you that you have this problem, see a doctor as soon as practical.

Tiredness

Although tiredness is a very general symptom, it is worth investigating if it's prolonged (especially if linked to other symptoms). There are two possible reasons why CKD might make you tired. First, the toxins and waste products that collect in the blood over time can make patients feel tired, weak, and generally unwell. Secondly, CKD leads to anaemia. Correctly-functioning kidneys produce erythropoietin, which tell your body to produce the red blood cells. When your body can't produce the same amount of erythropoietin, anaemia sets in, and leads to constant tiredness.

Difficulty Concentrating

Aside from tiredness, CKD-related anaemia can also lead to difficulty concentrating and memory problems.

Shortness of Breath

There are two ways that CKD can cause shortness of breath. Firstly by leading to anaemia, which is - as discussed - one of the major complications of Chronic Kidney Disease, and which has shortness of breath as one of its main symptoms. The second way it causes shortness of breath is by leading to build-up of fluid in the lungs.

Feeling Cold

As anaemia increases with kidney disease, you can feel very cold, even in summer. Some people with kidney disease are always cold, regardless of the number of layers that they wear or the weather outside. If you're always shivering in winter woollies, while your family are in summer shorts, consider asking for a blood test.

Insomnia

The waste products that build in the body can make it difficult to sleep. There is also a link between sleep apnoea (a condition where you briefly stop breathing in your sleep, which is linked with sleep deprivation) and CKD.

Back, Flank or Leg Pain

The pain of CKD can be felt in the middle to lower back, to the back and side of the affected side of your body (this is known as flank pain), or in the leg.

Muscle Cramps

Electrolyte imbalance in Chronic Kidney Disease can lead to low calcium levels and poorly-managed phosphorous levels, which can lead to muscle cramping.