Cannot breathe

[cariad]

I am really short of breath this week. It is alarming. I know that shortness of breath is a symptom of kidney failure, but I thought this was mostly because of the secondary anemia? I had an Aranesp shot last Friday, and I take iron capsules. The last time my labs were drawn about a month ago, my hemoglobin was 9.6.

Is there anything else this could be? Anything else that would help? I am trying to make it to my transplant (tentatively scheduled for October) without going on dialysis. Would dialysis help this at all?

 

[David13]

Shortness of breath can also be a sign of fluid overload, as in fluid in the lungs.  I would consult your doctor ASAP.

[kellyt]

Yes, that's what I was going to say.   That was one of the questions my neph. asked me at every visit - "Any shortness of breath?"   I would at least call you doctor and tell him/her about it.
  Good Luck.

[Hanify]

Definitely call your doctor about it.  You might not make the transplant before you need dialysis - but the dialysis will help the shortness of breath - especially if you do pd.  Ring your doc!

[kellyt]

It's hard on your heart, as well.

[Romona]

Check with your Doc. We don't want anything to happen to you!

[KICKSTART]

Its either anemia or fluid overload , but to be honest its more than likely fluid overload and possibly time to start dialysis. This wont go away on its own , see your doctor asap. 

[cariad]

Thanks, everyone!

I took your advice and phoned my gp, who saw me yesterday. He agreed that it is most likely anemia or fluid in the lungs, then listened to my heart and lungs for a good long while.

His exact words were "There is nothing wrong with you. Well, let me restate that: You are in terminal renal failure and need a transplant, but you have absolutely no fluid in your lungs." 

His theory, since I started to feel better yesterday, was that I probably drank an unusually large amount earlier in the week and probably did have some fluid retention, but that my system was able to clear it eventually. He recommended I start watching my fluid intake - trying to stick to between 1 and 2 litres a day. He stated I will make it to October without needing dialysis (he knows that I implicitly understand that this is a guess on his part and that it could be wrong.)

So, there's a huge relief! Thanks again for the replies and concern. 

[David13]

Glad to hear you followed up with your physician, Cariad.  I am also glad to hear that the problem is better (for now).  If you monitor your fluid intake, that should help, too. 

Here's to hoping you are able to hold out until October.   

[kellyt]

    I'm glad you got it checked out and that your lungs are clear.

[Romona]

  I hope time flies for you! Take good care of yourself between now and then.

[del]

Cariad when my husband had fluid overload - 25 lbs the docs could not find anything on his lungs not even with an x ray!!!  he was so short of breath that when he laid down if you listened to him breathing it sounded like someone had opened a can of pop.  If you get short of breath again be sure to go back to the doc!!!

[Restorer]

I had the same problem back in February. The "can of pop" line was true for me too - if I lied down, all of my breathing came with terrible crackling bubbling sounds. When it was bad, it even happened while I was sitting up. I couldn't lie down to sleep for a couple weeks. The crackling mostly went away after a couple weeks of using 4.25% PD solution, but I was on manual and it just wasn't cutting it, and I still had a very bad cough and I was really short of breath. As soon as I got on the cycler and started getting adequate dialysis, all my lung problems went away in 2 days.

Fluid overload really sucks.

[cariad]

Whoa, del and Restorer, that sounds really scary!

It is especially terrifying that the doctors were not able to find the fluid, del. Was it just distributed throughout his whole body? I assume your husband noticed significant weight gain? I have remained more or less stable in my weight, at least.

Thanks for the information. You can bet I'll go back to the doctor if the problem recurs, and especially if I think I hear an open can of soda fizzing away while I'm lying in bed....

 

[del]

He didn't notice any weight gain or any swelling!!!  The fluid can hide in your body!!!  It can be in blood vessels, tissues, etc