Finding out that you have kidney disease can be very upsetting. It may have taken you by surprise, since kidney disease usually does not cause symptoms early on. Your diagnosis has a big effect on your family too. They may be worried and feel helpless. The more you learn about your disease, the better you will be able to get support when you need it.
There are different types of kidney disease. You have a type that causes fluid-filled bubbles (or cysts) to grow inside your kidneys. Nothing that you have done has caused them to form. You may have inherited genes that caused these cysts to grow. If they continue to grow and multiply, you may be more and more uncomfortable, and your kidneys may have problems doing their important work.
Your doctor can help you set up a treatment plan that can ease pain and help you stay active. Changes in your diet along with a good exercise program should help you stay healthy.
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is an inherited disease that replaces normal kidney tissue with fluid-filled cysts. As a result, over a 30- to 40-year period, the kidney stops working.
Symptoms of polycystic kidney disease include back and side pain, headache, urinary tract infections, and blood in the urine (hematuria).
There is no cure for PKD. Treatment includes antibiotics; medicines and surgery to control pain; and dialysis or kidney transplant to treat kidney failure.
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
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