Chronic Kidney Disease and Anemia

Anemia is when the blood doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells or not enough of a protein called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is important because it carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

Sometimes, when my chronic kidney disease (CKD) got really bad, I would also get anemia. I noticed some signs that I had CKD and anemia at the same time. For example, one thing that can be related to kidney problems is diabetes.

When my kidney problems kept sending me back to the hospital, my blood sugar would get too low, and the doctors would ask if I had diabetes. I was also taking blood thinners because I had a blood clot in my lung before. You might think the blood thinners caused my anemia, but I had those problems even before starting those medications.

What anemia felt like for me

When I went to the emergency room, the nurses would try to give me sugary orange juice and graham crackers. But the only thing that really helped was Coca-Cola.

I remember feeling very tired and weak when I first had kidney failure. I slept much more than usual, and I felt like I couldn't get anything done. My heart would beat very fast and unevenly.

One time, my kidney failure got so bad I couldn't even get up. I had to call 911 for an ambulance. When the paramedics arrived, they wouldn't move the ambulance until my pulse and heart rate went back to normal. But it didn't, so they had to rush me to the hospital.

How I got better

At that time, the kidney failure caused my body to hold onto too much fluid, making it hard for me to breathe. My chest would hurt like someone was stomping on it, and I would have to go to the emergency room.

Things that helped my anemia get better were iron pills and vitamin B12 pills. Medications that calm down my immune system also helped, but those were mainly for my CKD and lupus (another health problem I have).

My doctor also told me to eat certain foods like red meat, seafood, beans, leafy green vegetables, and anything with iron in it. Since I already liked vegetables, this wasn't too hard for me.

Managing everything for myself

Having CKD and taking many medications with side effects can be a lot to handle because it's all connected. I'm thankful I haven't had any serious problems in the last few years.

Keeping peppermint candies with me helps with my blood sugar. When I order food, I always try to make sure there's some iron in it, whether it's in a drink, the food itself, or by taking an iron pill. I learned that taking these important vitamins and eating healthy has helped me stay well for a long time.

So, remember to take your vitamins, eat healthy foods, and try to stay positive. I was able to get my CKD into a calmer state by making healthy choices.