What to do about fatigue?

[WfMonkey]

I'm pre-dialysis, GFR at 13, and I'm struggling more and more with fatigue. Most days  it is all I can do to make it through the work day without just flat out sleeping, and I catch myself nodding offseveral times a day. I don't sleep well at night because I get up to pee every 2 hours; I'm just constantly tired. Several times I've fallen asleep at friends houses, one time apparently I just started snoring mid-sentence.

Only thing I have found that helps is sugar. I eat hard candy all day but that can't be good for me. Of course coffee and coke are forbidden. I've tried hot water with honey in it which gives me something to do but doesn't seem to give me much energy. Any tips?

[galvo]

How are your haemoglobins? And your iron levels?

[phyl1215]

That is just one of the things that happen as the kidneys fail and one of the reasons I went on PD dialysis at 12%.  I had to have 3 iron infusions and that helped me a lot.  Get your self tested and find out the problem so you can feel somewhat better.  Good Luck   

[noahvale]

^^

[WfMonkey]

Didn't have itdone in my last Labs, but in February my iron was 87ug/dl and Haemoglobin 13.7g/dl. My creatinine was 3.27 and BUN 41 at that time, now creatinine is 3.98 and BUN is 49.

I'm in the early stages of planning a LD transplant (tissue testing next week) and hoping to avoid dialysis. Do you think I should get a fistula done "just in case"?

[beachbum]

My GFR has been between 10 and 12 for the past 6 months. I also experienced extreme fatigue. Once I started getting my Aranasp injections that made a world of difference. I've been getting more and more fatigued lately but I attribute it to some depression because I haven't been working and my wife and I are having financial issuess. Sometimes it's hard to tell what is causing the fatigue. Sugar helps me too but then I get the low feeling after my blood sugar drops. Same thing with caffeine.

[tyefly]

I have found... for my self.. that I feel different depending on what my problem was... for instance.... when my hemoglobin in down I am tired  at noon and anytime I am sitting....it hard to not yawn all the time....  but  when I need dialysis  I feel like I have either stayed up all night  or  a plain hangover feeling....it tired but you feel kind of sick... like food just isnt going to do it.... like when You have hangover and you try to eat but well it just doesnt do you any good..... If I skip days like go three days with out D.... then I feel the hangover....right now my hemoglobin is down to 10 and I am tired ...coffee help for a quick fix  but short lived.....

 I can tell you that  once you start D and do D for awhile  you WILL  feel  much better.....  its hard to realize that untill after you start..... 

[beachbum]

I can tell you that  once you start D and do D for awhile  you WILL  feel  much better.....  its hard to realize that untill after you start.....

I've been reading that a lot. In a way I'm almost looking forward to dialysis for that reason alone. I was hoping to get by without it until a transplant but I'm also sick of feeling sick all the time.

[beachbum]

It's really embarassing when you go to a friend's place to hang out and watch the game and you fall alseep on their couch. They probably think I'm bored or something. I try to explain it to friend's that know about my medical situation.

[WfMonkey]

It is like a groundhog day hangover. Tired as hell, headache that won't quit, nauseous feeling, upset stomach, bad taste in my mouth, vague feeling of regret but I'm not sure why...even my wallet is empty, not from having bought too many drinks but from spending most of my free time at the pharmacy!

Seems like I've had this particular hangover for about a month now.

[monrein]

It is like a groundhog day hangover. Tired as hell, headache that won't quit, nauseous feeling, upset stomach, bad taste in my mouth, vague feeling of regret but I'm not sure why...even my wallet is empty, not from having bought too many drinks but from spending most of my free time at the pharmacy!

Seems like I've had this particular hangover for about a month now.

This is indeed what kidney failure feels like.  The hangover may lift every now and then but it usually continues to slowly grind you down.  Dialysis can help quite a bit, good dialysis can help a lot and for some there is the transplant option which can be excellent.