Polycystic kidney disease is a disorder causing cysts filled with liquid to form in your kidneys. Look at the symptoms, causes and treatment solutions.
This is an inherited disorder that impairs the kidney function, leading to total kidney failure. Actually, this disorder is the fourth cause of complete kidney failure which can eventually cause cyst development in the liver as well.
Symptoms of polycystic kidney disease
Initially, for the symptoms to become noticeable, the cyst needs to grow at least 0.5 inches. Afterwards, these symptoms appear:
- Joint pain
- Blood in urine
- Kidney stones
- Bruising skin
- Nail breaking
- Pain in the abdomen
- Heaviness or pain in the back
- Pale skin
- Frequent urination
- Urinary tract infection
- High blood pressure
Generally, polycystic kidney disease is inherited. However, it can also appear in people with recurrent or chronic kidney problems.
Polycystic kidney disease types and diagnosis
There are three types of this disease: autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive and acquired cystic disease. In order to discover them in time, your doctor will ask about your family history.
Afterwards, using imaging tests your doctor will discover the cysts. These imaging tests include: abdominal ultrasound, CT scan, MRI scan and intravenous pyelogram. Once the disease is diagnosed, different types of treatments may apply.
Treatment
Polycystic kidney disease treatment includes a few things, the main being regular high blood pressure control. This is in order to avoid and prevent complications. Complications vary from:
- Cyst spreading on pancreases, liver, colon and testicles
- Blindness or cataracts
- Anemia
- Cardiovascular disease
- Weaken arteries walls
- Bursting or at least bleeding of the cysts
So, in order to avoid these complications, several treatment methods are being used. Actually, doctors first try controlling this disease using medication (except Ibuprofen which complicates kidney diseases). In fact, your doctor will recommend the right medication that suits your needs and health state.
In addition, you should be really careful and pay attention on having low sodium diet. Plus, you should regularly drink your blood pressure medications if your doctor told you so.
Sometimes, diuretics help with this disease as they help you remove the excess fluid accumulation from your body.
Finally, if nothing else works, there are different, safe surgeries that remove and drain the cysts and help you get rid of the discomfort. If, unfortunately, there’s a complete kidney failure due to late diagnosis, there are options for kidney transplantations.
How to cope with this disease?
You’ll need to be very brave and persistent in coping with this disease. The treatment might awake different emotions in you, so becoming a member of some disease-related support group might be one awesome solution.
Additionally, family support is very important. When your family members help you, give you hope and strength there’s nothing you cannot go through. Be strong, be positive and you’ll manage to live a normal life.