What to Expect During Your Visit to a Nephrologist

Having a kidney problem may be an alarming situation. It is when you need to schedule an appointment with an expert. A kidney doctor, or a nephrologist, is a medical specialist who focuses on evaluating, diagnosing, and treating all kinds of kidney issues. Your primary care doctor may refer you to the specialist if they notice the symptoms or risks associated with your kidney.

When to See a Nephrologist?

You should visit a nephrologist when you have symptoms of kidney disease. Watch out for the following signs:

Family History of Kidney Disease

If one of your biological relatives has kidney disease, it might put you at a greater risk of the same. A nephrologist helps prevent kidney disease or treat it at its early stages.

Diabetes

People suffering from diabetes should be watchful about the symptoms of kidney diseases as diabetes tends to damage the kidneys gradually.

High Blood Pressure

Similar to diabetes, having high blood pressure also puts you at risk of developing kidney disease. Your kidneys use blood vessels to help filter waste and excess fluids from it. High blood pressure makes your vessels less elastic, reducing blood and oxygen flow to your kidneys. Reduced blood and oxygen flow leads to kidney failure.

Change in Urine

Change in urine is another warning sign of kidney disease. The signs such as peeing more often or less often, froth in the urine, or dark-colored urine are to be watched out.

Brain Fog

Brain fog is a common symptom of kidney disease. It is not a medical condition per se; however, your healthcare provider may use it to describe slow or impaired thinking. You may be confused, forgetful, or unable to focus.

How to Prepare Your First Appointment with the Nephrologist?

You don’t have to do anything special before your first visit to a nephrologist. They will gather information about your general health and the state of your kidneys.

Signs and Symptoms

The nephrologist will ask you if you have been experiencing any signs or symptoms of the problem, including the following:

• Pain in your side and back

• Swelling in the legs, feet, and around the eyes

• Significant and unexplained weight loss

• Constant feeling of fatigue

• Changes in the patterns of urination

• Pain during urination

• Blood in the urine

• Changes in the urine.

There may be some symptoms of chronic kidney diseases that might not seem related to your kidneys, such as decreased mental sharpness, chest pain, muscle twitches, nausea, sleeping problems, shortness of breath, and high blood pressure.

Medical History and Records

Besides learning about the symptoms of the condition, the nephrologist will take into consideration your personal medical history and records that may reveal risk factors you may have for underlying kidney disease. In most cases, kidney disease tends to run in families. Thus, if any of your close relatives, such as a parent, grandparent, or sibling, has had a kidney problem, you might be on the higher side of developing the same.

If you are on medication for the treatment of a chronic condition, discuss it with your doctor. These include over-the-counter pain medication, cholesterol medication, and proton pump inhibitors, leading to kidney issues.

Examining your Kidney Health

Once the nephrologist reviews your medical history and other symptoms, they will conduct a physical examination to assess both your general health and specific kidney health. They will check your heart condition, and lung condition and look for swelling in the lower extremities or your face. They will recommend you undergo some laboratory tests, such as kidney imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds, kidney function tests to determine how well the kidneys are working, and more.

Here are the other things that the nephrologist does:

• If your kidneys don’t work, dialysis performs the functions of your kidneys. During this process, a machine removes your blood, filters waste products and excess fluid, and returns your blood to your body.

• They will take small tissue samples from your kidneys to help diagnose the kidney condition.

• Your nephrologist also works with the transplant surgeon to help prepare you for the procedure and follow-up care and recovery.

How to Maintain Kidney Health?

• Many people don’t know they have kidney disease because the symptoms aren’t noticeable at an early stage. It is, therefore, important to get yourself tested for it, especially if you have high blood pressure, obesity, recurring kidney stones, and similar conditions.

• Monitor your blood pressure from time to time. If it is high, talk to your doctor.

• Maintain a healthy routine by exercising regularly, as it can lower the risk of kidney disease.

• A balanced diet low in sodium, processed meats, fried foods, and sodas is another way to keep your kidneys healthy.

• Manage your blood sugar levels by avoiding the consumption of sugar and other practices your doctor recommends.

• Keep yourself hydrated, as regular and consistent fluid intake is vital to maintain kidney health.