When people are told they have chronic kidney disease (CKD), the first questions they often have are "How long will I live?" and "How well will I live?" This section answers these and other questions about CKD, while also presenting thoughts from patients.
A: Many people think that if their kidneys fail, they will die. Right away. This used to be true50 years ago. Back then, there were not enough dialysis machines to go around and medical knowledge about kidney disease was limited. It is no longer true today.
How long you can live with CKD depends on your age, other health problems, and how involved you become in your care. Most people with early CKD will never have kidney failure. Others will reach kidney failure and may live for decades with dialysis or kidney transplants.
There are major advances in today's healthcare. We have better drugs, know more about how to slow down kidney failure, and have updated dialysis machines. But the most important factor is still the person who has the disease. Research shows that people who become partners in their care live longer. So, ask questions, and explore with your doctor and care team the best way for you to help manage your disease.
A: How good your life can be with CKD depends on YOU! In the early stages, CKD may have symptoms that are so subtle you may not even notice them. In later stages, fatigue, itching, loss of appetite, and other symptoms can reduce your quality of lifeif you don't act. How? All of these symptoms can be treated.
Learn what to watch for and tell your doctor, so you can get the help you need. You can also keep a good quality of life by following your treatment plan. For example, taking your medications in the right doses at the right times may help slow your kidney disease. Your quality of life with CKD depends on your attitude, and how you accept the changes and take control of your health and your life.
A: Yes, you can live long and live well with dialysis. Many peopleeven those with loved ones on dialysisdon't know that there are many types of dialysis. You can choose a treatment that lets you keep doing all or most of the things you value.
People who are very sick before they start dialysis are often surprised to find that they feel much better a few weeks or months later. The unknown you imagine is often much scarier than the reality. Learn all you can, and talk to people who are doing welllike people who do their treatments at home, or while they sleep. You'll see that you can have a good life on dialysis.
A: Even healthy people complain of being tired. But people with CKD can be so exhausted that they fall asleep during the dayeven after 8 to 10 hours of sleep at night. One reason for fatigue can be anemia, a shortage of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. People with CKD often have anemia because damaged kidneys make less of a hormone called erythropoietin (epoetin, or EPO). EPO tells the bone marrow to make new red blood cells. Without a fresh supply of red blood cells, the body has less oxygen. This makes you more tired and cold, and less able to focus and fight disease. If your fatigue is due to anemia, your doctor may prescribe iron and injections of a man-made form of EPO.
A: There are a number of treatments, including medications and lifestyle changes, that may help keep your kidneys working longer. People can even get transplants before having dialysis, especially if they have a willing living donor. Ask your doctor what would help you. To learn more about possible treatments, see Chronic Kidney Disease: What You Can Do.
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