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ABOUT CHRONIC KIDNEY

DISEASE

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In an effort to make your appointment with one of our doctors as smooth as possible,

please keep the following points in mind:

  • Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time.
  • We gladly accept ALL insurance companies. Please bring ALL your insurance cards including:
    • Medicare
    • Medicaid
    • Supplemental Insurance
    • Primary - Traditional (Humana, Aetna, BlueCross, Cigna, etc.)
    • Secondary - Traditional which you may have through your spouse's coverage
  • Please bring your actual BOTTLES of all medication and vitamins you currently take. Do not just bring a list, the actual bottles allows us to be more thorough and accurate for your safety.
  • HIPPA Forms and Medical hx Forms are all done at the office through Electronic charting
  • Please be prepared to pay your co-pay based on your insurance at time of visit. For your convenience, we accept MasterCard, VISA, Discover, and American Express cards.
  • Should you need to cancel your appointment, please do so at least 24-hours in advance. You may either call our main number at 859-757-4353 or e-mail us directly. Please include the following information when leaving a message or sending an e-mail: Patient's name, phone number, and best time to reach you. Thank you for your consideration to our doctors' schedules and other patients who may need to get in sooner.
  • Should you have other questions concerning terminology, diagnosis, or helpful links, please visit our FAQ page.

F.A.Q

How can I find out if I am in the early stages of CKD?
More than 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease (CKD)and most don’t know it. The NationalKidney Foundation’s Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP®) offers free screenings for those at risk-anyone 18 years and older with high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of these conditions or kidney disease. The KEEP program is finding kidney disease at the earliest stage possible.

KEEP provides three simple tests that determine kidney function. Participants receive a comprehensive health risk appraisal, blood pressure measurement, blood and urine testing and the opportunity to discuss their health and review results with onsite clinicians. Learn more and find a free screening near you.

Can anything be done to prevent recurring Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)?
You can help lessen the chance of recurring UTIs by recognizing signs and symptoms of a UTI and taking appropriate action to see your doctor early. You should follow your doctor’s advice and take all prescribed antibiotics as ordered and drink plenty of fluids. You should empty your bladder frequently, especially at night before going to bed. New studies show that drinking cranberry juice daily or eating cranberry products may help. Cranberries contain certain compounds that may stop bacteria from attaching to the urinary tract wall.
How common is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKC)?
Some 26 million Americans (13 percent of the U.S. adult population) suffer from CKD-a figure experts predict will rise due to high obesity rates (1/3 of all adults), the link between obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure (all risk factors) and the aging of the Baby Boom generation (since age is another risk factor for CKD). Young and middle-aged adults can also develop CKD.
Can CKD be prevented?
Taking care of overall health helps protect kidney health. Wise practices include exercising regularly, low salt diet, controlling weight, monitoring blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, not smoking, drinking moderately, avoiding non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and getting an annual physical.
What questions should I ask my doctor?
No two people are alike, so asking questions is the best way to find out about your health. On this Life Options website, you can download a Patient Interest Checklist that will help you figure out questions. You’ll also find a few basic ideas below, and you can add your own. If you write your questions and show the list to your doctor, you may be more likely to get them answered. Write down the answers, too-or have a family member come along to help you remember the answers.

  1. What percent of kidney function do I have now?
  2. What is the cause of my kidney problem?
  3. What are my lab test results right now?
  4. What can I do to keep my kidneys working as long as possible?
  5. What treatment is available for my symptoms? (List symptoms)
  6. What are the next steps for my treatment?
  7. Will I eventually need dialysis or a transplant, if so, how long might it be until I do?

10 SYMPTOMS OF KIDNEY DISEASE

Many people who have chronic kidney disease don't know it, because the early signs can be very subtle. It can take many years to go from chronic kidney disease (CKD) to kidney failure. Some people with CKD live out their lives without ever reaching kidney failure.

Knowing the symptoms of kidney disease can help you get the treatment you need to feel your best. If you or someone you know has one or more of the following symptoms of kidney disease, or you are worried about kidney problems, see a doctor for blood and urine tests. Remember, many of the symptoms can be due to reasons other than kidney disease. The only way to know the cause of your symptoms is to see your doctor.

Changes in Urination

You may have to get up at night to urinate.

Urine may be foamy or bubbly. You may urinate more often, or in greater amounts than usual, with pale urine.

You may urinate less often, or in smaller amounts than usual with dark colored urine.

Your urine may contain blood.

You may feel pressure or have difficulty urinating.

Swelling/bone pain

Failing kidneys don't remove extra fluid, which builds up in your body causing swelling in the legs, ankles, feet, face, eyes, and/or hands. Some people with kidney problems may have pain in the back or side related to the affected kidney. Polycystic kidney disease, which causes large, fluid-filled cysts on the kidneys and sometimes the liver, can cause pain and even an increase in bone fractures.

Fatigue

Healthy kidneys make a hormone called erythropoietin (a-rith'-ro-po'-uh-tin) that tells your body to make oxygen-carrying red blood cells. As the kidneys fail, they make less erythropoietin. With fewer red blood cells to carry oxygen, your muscles and brain become tired very quickly. This condition is called anemia, and it can be treated.

Skin Rash/Itching

Kidneys remove wastes from the bloodstream. When the kidneys fail, the buildup of wastes in your blood can cause severe itching or bruising and pale skin.

Metallic Taste in Mouth/Ammonia Breath

A buildup of wastes in the blood (called uremia) can make food taste different and cause bad breath. You may also notice that you stop liking to eat meat, or that you are losing weight because you just don't feel like eating.

Nausea and Vomiting

A severe buildup of wastes in the blood (uremia) can also cause nausea and vomiting. Loss of appetite can lead to weight loss.

Shortness of Breath

Trouble catching your breath can be related to the kidneys in two ways. First, extra fluid in the body can build up in the lungs. And second, anemia (a shortage of oxygen-carrying red blood cells) can leave your body oxygen-starved and short of breath.

Feeling Cold

Anemia can make you feel cold all the time, even in a warm room.

Dizziness and Trouble Concentrating

Anemia related to kidney failure means that your brain is not getting enough oxygen. This can lead to memory problems, trouble with concentration, and dizziness.

Other symptoms

High blood pressure

Chest pain due to pericarditis (inflammation around the heart)

Bleeding (due to poor blood clotting)

Decreased sexual interest and erectile dysfunction

Disturbed sleep

Altered mental status (encephalopathy from the accumulation of waste products or uremic poisons)

Restless legs syndrome