One of those days..

[wvgirl]

Yesterday I did some pretty basic errands. I took my dog to the vet, stopped at Walmart for a few things and got new brake pads on my van. Last night I was so exhausted I could barely move. Even my legs were hurting.
Today I woke up with that hard to explain tired feeling. My arms were even feeling weak. Not sleepy tired, just tired. The dry heaves this morning were worse than normal and all I could think about was...Did my kidney function drop more? I have an appointment with the Nephrologist on the 17th, will it be the day he says it is time to start dialysis?
The man I live with told me this morning he wants us to go this evening and listen to a band. I don't want to go, but said "sure, sounds fun!" He does so much for me that I hate to disappoint him.
Just wondering if anyone else ever feels like this?

[Rerun]

You can call your Nephrologist and ask for labs to be done.  Go in get labs and see what your numbers are.  High potassium is dangerous.  The tired limbs makes me think of high potassium.  The 17th may be too far away.  It probably makes you tired just to think of going to get your labs drawn but it would put your mind at ease.

   

[MooseMom]

I find that if I do too much one day, the next day I feel exhausted.  There are days when I feel quite energetic, so I take advantage of that and try to cram in as many chores as possible.  And yes, the next day I pay for it.  So, what you are feeling may just be the result of overdoing it yesterday.

But I know that feeling of wondering if today is the day that your kidneys have finally crapped out for good.   It's awful, AND it leads to a different kind of exhaustion.

[Traveller1947]

The unending fatigue is one of the most insidious features of this disease.  Especially as you edge toward stage 5, it's hard to know what is normal tiredness and what is something more.  Rerun has given you excellent advice, wvgirl.  Don't wait another week to have your lab tests done or to see your nephrologist.  Sometimes it's risky to wait.  Wishing you all the best.

[ToddB0130]

I completely understand.  It is very stressful to hear your lab results are going up.  I'm going through that right now with my creatanine.  Everything else (sodium, potassium, phos, CO2, hemoglobin is over 10, etc) are all reading 'normal' as of my labs this past Monday 02/06 . I have had no vomiting, no nausea, no diarrhea (basically just the tiredness ... even no swelling in my legs at present)....but the creeping creatanine (now at an all time high)  has me so anxious at this point.  I know that you can't just go by one number and how you feel is important too .......... My nephrologist is a nice guy,  but I really hate seeing him more than anyone else on my medical team.  I   No doctor's visit makes me more stressed out and anxious than the one with him.   I agree with the others,  get new labs ASAP and be sure your nephro gets a copy well before the 17th.   Good luck.

[willowtreewren]

 

Carl continued working 10 hours a day, right up until he started dialysis (and after). BUT, he would come home and collapse on the couch until I woke him up for dinner.

When the nephrologist said it was time to start dialysis, we were still incredulous....surely not already!

But then he started feeling better almost immediately. Yes, it WAS time to start. He said that dialysis made him feel ten years younger.

 

Aleta

[Deanne]

I have days like that, too. Tired to the bone. I get up, shower, dress, and have to go sit down for a while. While I'm showering, it almost hurts to have my arms over my head long enough to wash my hair. I haven't found much you can do about it other than having some extra coffee, and plenty of time on the couch. I hope you feel better soon.

[wvgirl]

I have days like that, too. Tired to the bone. I get up, shower, dress, and have to go sit down for a while. While I'm showering, it almost hurts to have my arms over my head long enough to wash my hair. I haven't found much you can do about it other than having some extra coffee, and plenty of time on the couch. I hope you feel better soon.

That is exactly it!! When I take a shower, it hurts my arms to wash my hair! I tell people that and they look at me like I am a nut. Of course, I probably am. 

Actually I just had labs done 7 days ago. If I remember right, creatnine 4.4, gfr 10.85, potassium 6.4 phos. 4.5 and hemoglobin was fine thanks to Epogen. My doctor called me Monday about the potassium, I drank the icky nasty stuff, at least what of it I could hold down and was retested for potassium on Tuesday. I haven't heard back so am assuming that one was fine.

I think I did just overdo it and today I paid. I did go with J tonight and hear some music, actually did have fun, and tomorrow I will pay again.

Thanks everyone, I hate that you have to go through this, but it's also nice to here I am not crazy and not alone.

[MooseMom]

It's not easy to be "sensible" and to not overdo it on those rare days when you have a bit of extra energy.  But you know, you still have a life to lead, and there is still great fun to be had, so go for it, and if you indeed have to "pay for it" the next day, well, so what?