When to Call a Specialist

Kidney Failure can be gradual or sudden, and can be life threatening if left untreated. So knowing when to call a specialist can really make a difference in the outcome. Because the symptoms of kidney failure may not present themselves until it is already progressed to a harmful state, it’s important to contact a specialist at the first sign of kidney failure symptoms. These symptoms include: nausea, vomiting, weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, dry and itchy skin, trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating and shortness of breath.

If you have any of these symptoms it’s important to contact your doctor and get some tests done. Early detection of kidney disease can be life-saving. Your doctor can refer you to a kidney specialist and prescribe you medication in order to prevent or delay kidney failure. He may also recommend a regular kidney health check performed by either your doctor or a specialist. This includes:

• Blood pressure test
• Blood test for kidney function
• Urine test for protein (proteinuria)

Recommendations such as eating lots of fruit and vegetables including legumes (peas or beans) and grain-based food like bread, pasta, noodles and rice are some of the changes you can make to your diet. Some other recommendations may include:

• Eat some lean meat like chicken and fish each week.
• Eat only small amounts of salty or fatty food.
• Avoid alcohol and drink plenty of water.
• Avoid smoking.
• Maintain a healthy weight by avoiding a sedentary lifestyle.
• Exercise at least 5 days a week by doing at least 30 minutes of physical activity. As long as it increases your heart rate you can choose to do any activity you enjoy including: walking, lawn mowing, bike riding, swimming or gentle aerobics.

Taking the necessary measures to maintain your health is crucial to living a long life; and knowing when to call a specialist is only part of it. What really matters is your ability to do what the specialist says in order to prevent further damage to your kidneys. Life is precious and doing what we can to prolong it takes effort.  So in order to get a good prognosis, have confidence in your doctor and yourself.