Coping With a New CKD Diagnosis: Patient Guidance & Support

Anyone who is recently diagnosed with a new health condition will come up against challenges and worries. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one such condition that can be life-altering. But with the right support and advocacy from nephrology doctors and other healthcare professionals, patients can surmount the obstacles in their way and can manage to maintain their health in various ways, from diet and lifestyle changes to vital medical treatments. Here’s what to know if you have recently been diagnosed with CKD. We’ll discuss what a chronic kidney disease diagnosis means, what happens next, and which parts of your care you can actively manage.

What Is Chronic Kidney Disease?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition in which kidneys no longer function properly to filter waste and excess fluid from the bloodstream while also balancing minerals and electrolytes. This is a condition which will not subside, but can be managed and treated. Damaged kidneys can lead to a range of symptoms, like changes in urination frequency, swelling, fatigue, muscle cramps, excessive thirst and more. Confusion and difficulty concentrating along with nausea and vomiting can also happen later in the disease as the buildup of waste and toxins in the bloodstream throw off the balance in various body systems. CKD can also happen concurrently with related illnesses, like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, autoimmune diseases, anemia, weak bones, poor nutritional health and nerve damage. Experienced and skilled nephrology doctors can help to decipher even complex or confusing symptoms and get to the bottom of a patient’s kidney health.

What Happens After a CKD Diagnosis?

Once you know you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), you will likely have plenty of questions surrounding your condition. You may wonder about the seriousness of CKD along with your personal prognosis. Likely you’ll also want to know what you can do to help manage and control this condition. Will you need to take medications? What about dialysis? There is a lot to know about CKD and you can rely on your trusted nephrology doctors to guide you through healthcare decisions.

CKD is not the same for every patient, as every single human body can react differently to treatments, medications and lifestyle changes. That said, there are some tried and true methods that may make a difference to your kidney function. The most useful first step is understanding your individual condition and working with your healthcare team on a plan for managing it.

Understanding your CKD stage is also important, as it can give you a better understanding of current kidney function. Stages are typically based on theglomerular filtration rate (GFR), which provides an estimate of kidney filtering function.

• Stage 1: Normal or High Function – Kidney damage is present but the kidneys still work well
• Stage 2: Mild Decline – Mild drop in kidney function with ongoing signs of kidney damage
• Stage 3: Moderate Decline – Waste products can start to build up in the blood
• Stage 4: Severe Decline – Kidneys are declining, requiring planning for advanced treatments such as dialysis or transplant
• Stage 5: Kidney Failure – Kidneys are close to failing or have failed completely, often requiring advanced management, dialysis or a kidney transplant

At every stage, there is an opportunity for symptom improvement based on diet, lifestyle, medication and medical treatment intervention. Your nephrology doctors can best advise you of your options during an in-office appointment. It is also worth noting that GFR values are not the only way to determine kidney health. Other testing that involves urine protein or albumin levels, along with monitoring of various minerals and electrolytes are vital to getting a more comprehensive picture of your kidney health.

It is also important to know if you are dealing with other conditions that may be causing or exacerbating your CKD, or that at least may be related in some way. If you are also dealing with diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure, treatment recommendations could be different from someone who has an inherited kidney disorder or other medical problems. Additional testing, imaging, or other medical evaluations will enable your nephrology doctors to better understand what's affecting your kidneys and develop a personalized plan of care.

Will CKD Get Worse?

We know that this is probably one of the first questions you may ask, and it’s a major concern for everyone involved. Each person’s case is unique and requires specialized medical evaluation and personalized treatment recommendations. That said, CKD generally does not reverse or become cured, but progression can often be slowed or stabilized. CKD progression will vary, depending on each individual’s set of risk factors. While we wish that every patient’s kidney function would decline relatively slowly, that simply isn’t a guarantee that nephrology doctors can make. That said, we will do our utmost to help you make good decisions and pair these with cutting edge treatment to ensure that you have the best outcome possible.

Does having CKD mean you will need dialysis? A CKD diagnosis does not automatically mean that dialysis is imminent or inevitable. There are plenty of steps that you and your nephrology doctors can take to stave off dialysis if you are in an early stage of CKD. Dialysis is generally used when kidney function becomes severely impaired and the kidneys can no longer adequately meet the body's needs. The quicker you get into a monitoring and treatment program with skilled nephrologists, the faster you can start to work towards slowing disease progression. The goal is always to focus on protecting remaining kidney function while also reducing modifiable risks.

The Role of Nephrology Doctors

At Northeast Ohio Nephrology Associates, our experienced nephrology doctors are here to help patients navigate what can be a frightening and stressful time. While it can be a relief to get a diagnosis, it can also be overwhelming to come to terms with how one’s life will have to change in order to best treat CKD. Working with a nephrologist offers patients an invaluable resource of specialized knowledge and an established protocol for monitoring and treating CKD. From diagnosis through long-term treatment regimens, our nephrology doctors are here for their patients, with medical expertise and genuine patient concern. They will assist CKD patients to better understand their condition and can help to coordinate nutritional guidance and lifestyle suggestions that will complement treatment, as well as cautioning against foods, habits and medications that may compromise the effectiveness of treatment. In the end, nephrologists are there to help patients with CKD and other kidney conditions to live their best lives while aiming to slow disease progression.

Keep Up With Appointments

We know that life is busy and the demands can stack up, but it’s also true that you simply can’t deliver or be the person you want to be if your health isn’t being cared for. Whether or not CKD management is as effective as it could be often depends on observing changes over time. This can mean follow-up testing, multiple medication adjustments, dietary and lifestyle discussions, and evaluating changes in kidney function. You could be looking at more appointments with our nephrology doctors than anticipated, but the more closely we can monitor your health, the better we can understand your unique condition. That will allow for better treatment and more nuanced care. So keep an eye out for changes in symptoms, as these could be indicative of complications with your CKD, and need to be shared with your nephrology doctors. Regular check-ins will ensure that you are getting the best, most customized care available.

The Emotional Toll of a CKD Diagnosis

Once you receive a CKD diagnosis, it can feel like your life has been turned upside down in a moment. Any new chronic-disease diagnosis can bring up feelings of fear, uncertainty, frustration and anger. You may feel anxiety about the future and stress about all the daily modifications you may need to make. Concerns about dialysis could compound things.

At Northeast Ohio Nephrology we are here to help. You can rely on your kidney-care team along with your friends, family, and others. Counselors, CKD support groups and kidney-disease organizations are also great sources of support and guidance through this trying time. Your mental state can be just as impactful as your medical care, so if you feel that you need more support than what is currently available to you, it is always a good idea to seek out a healthcare professional best suited to assist you. Please honestly share your concerns with our nephrology doctors during your appointments–they truly care about your health and wellbeing and can offer valuable advice.

Nephrology Care from Northeast Nephrology

At Northeast Ohio Nephrology Associates, we know that getting a CKD diagnosis can be a lot. Attention shifts to condition management and treatment options, and you can easily hyperfocus on the day-to-day or worry about the future. Whatever you experience, know that we are here for you. From helping you to better understand kidney function to managing contributing health conditions and offering individualized nutrition guidance, we can help you to do everything in your power to slow condition progression and live a full life.

Don’t feel that you need to figure everything out after one appointment. CKD management is an ongoing process, and your healthcare team is on the journey with you as your needs change. A new chronic kidney disease diagnosis can bring a lot of questions. Our nephrology team can provide answers and reliable meaningful support. Contact our office to schedule an appointment with a kidney specialist and take the next step in managing your CKD.