Family and caregivers

The impact on the patient

How kidney disease feels physically

The symptoms of kidney disease may physically include the feeling of having a flu, all the time. For example, the person with kidney disease may feel:

Tiredness and weakness

They may feel tired and weak, so that it's hard for them to manage walking up a flight of stairs, or take a walk around the block. They may feel the need to sleep more than they usually do.

Coldness and temperature

They may feel cold all the time, as if they have a fever.

Lack of concentration and forgetfulness

They may have trouble concentrating, or may forget things more than is usual for them. These symptoms are most often due to anemia - a shortage of red blood cells - which can be treated.

Other symptoms which sometimes occur

Swelling

A person with kidney disease has kidneys that aren’t removing fluid. So swelling may occur in the feet, ankles, hands or face. So that sometimes they can’t put shoes on. Extra fluid in the lungs can make it hard for them to breath. And that difficult breathing may sometimes be mistaken for asthma or pneumonia. Having too much fluid can strain the heart, especially in someone whose heart is already weak due to congestive heart failure, or other problems.

Restless legs, insomnia, phosphorous itching

Many symptoms are often treatable. So talk with the doctor of the family member who needs care, the doctor can help you.