Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Support Group

sorry you are in so much pain ,I really dont have an answer ,I just wanted to wish you luck,sounds like your kindey is pressing on things.

My stomach has swelled from the cysts/kidney's growing. I do not have pain associated with this though. Hope you feel better.

sorry you're not feeling well Cristy. The swelling in the stomach comes with the pkd.And the soreness in the back is part of it too. The cysts are growing in the kidneys. It's more of a discomfort than pain at least in my case! The real pain comes when an eruption comes. I always feel like a ball of something is in my back. The kidneys are becomming enlarged and thats the pressure. To releave some pressure,drink water through out the day, and do not hold your urine, as soon as your bladder feels full,you must urinate, to make sure any infection don't stay in the urinary tract. Ask your Dr. for pain medication to take when needed, because we just can't take anything for fear of hurting the kidneys. They switched me to Vicodin, atenolol was becomming too harch for my kidneys. Also keep fiber in your diet because straining with B/M 's put discomfort on the kidneys.

On the question of what tests: You need to take blood tests often,and urinalis to check to ckeck the cratnine level and your kidney functions. The best things we can do for now is to preserve our functions, and slow down the process.I've been told that dialysis is needed when only 15% renal function is evident. So we need to slow it down. My renal funtion is at 55-58% at my age it should be at 80%. Also, you need a ct scan or MRI to make sure you are not suseptable to an anurysum of the brain. Keep the blood pressure down!!

Christy, I am sorry to hear of your sudden onset of swelling and pain. I have been dealing with my disease for 7 years now, and I have to tell you that I have had the worst medical care ever! After 7 doctors and 7 years, I finally have found a doctor that seems to be interested in working with me and monitor my disease. All the other doctors just let me be and sent me to a pain management clinic for pain. However, I am blessed that I have my pain management doctor, because without my pain meds, I would have been insane by now. LOL I have had pain in my left flank area and front left abdominal area below the ribs for 7 years now. Unfortunately, my pain never stops, but my kidney is severely damaged. It is only 7cm in size which it should be 11cm. Plus, it has severe scarring and I am at 30% function. Even with all this knowledge over the past few years, the doctors gave me no direction whatsoever. All I can tell you, is to do research online and go to the doctor prepared with questions. I had follow-up questions for my new doctor, and I didn't let him just slide by with answers. So, be informed when you go. Find out online all the information you can get about the symptoms you are having now and what the next steps are for your situation. These doctors tend to put everyone in the same category when in fact, each one of us is different and unique with our disease!! Best of luck to you! I will pray for you and all of those who have this awful disease.
Michelle

You can pray for anything, and if you have faith,you will receive it. Matthew 21:22

Over the past few months I have felt a dull ache in my kidney area and thought it was just because my functionality is at 17% and this is what I should expect. Ive managed to carry on regardless but looking at this forum has reminded me that its probably just a urine infection (DOH!) So I am now on medication for it over the next 7 days and hopefully the kidney pain will disappear HOORAY. Since Last week my stomach has swollen like a balloon and afetr seeing the doctors I am suffering from Gastroenteritis - researching the symptoms that sounds about right and the causes - well - Renal failure comes into it. I have also stopped drinking so much milk in the evening because I feel it is lying in my stomach all night and upsetting my insides.

So afetr me blabbing on I would recommend you get a urine test because a simple tablet my do the job and eleviate some discomfort oh and drink plenty of fluids.

I just thought everyone would like to read about PKD in wikipedia, it gives a great deal of understanding about it....(((JOE)))
www.wikipedia.org/polycystic_kidne...