Our board-certified nephrologists at Baxter Health specialize in diagnosing,
treating, and managing kidney conditions, including chronic kidney disease. Your
primary care physician may refer you to a nephrologist for a variety of reasons apart from kidney
failure, such as kidney injuries, kidney stones, or kidney infections,
among others.
Kidney diseases often have no symptoms in their early stages, but you may
notice the following if your kidneys start to fail:
Nausea and vomiting
Difficulty urinating
Pain in the flank region
Fatigue
A chronic “metallic” taste in the mouth
Muscle cramps
Swelling in the ankles and feet
Persistent itching
If you’ve noticed these problems, you may or may not have a kidney
condition. Discuss the possibility of kidney disease with your primary
care doctor if you have noticed these symptoms.
Do I Need to See a Nephrologist?
Your primary care doctor will likely refer you to a nephrologist rather
than you seeking one out directly. That’s because most kidney problems
are not readily recognizable by a patient.
Once your kidneys cannot work on their own and they can no longer perform
their various bodily functions (including sorting the body’s waste
products), you will experience chronic kidney failure. Over time, the
bodily fluids and waste builds up and causes serious health problems that
affect the entire body. When your kidney function is significantly impaired,
a nephrologist will prescribe dialysis or evaluate you for a kidney transplant.
Those at higher risk for kidney failure may have diabetes, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis
B and C, and chronic blood pressure problems.
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