CKD 3a and having sleep issues

@godblessed I remember your post about skin itching. That can be associated with kidney issues. As I recall many members responded. Hopefully there was something useful for you.
What kind of issues are you having with sleep, if you don’t mind answering? It is hard to know if it could be related to your kidney situation. Generally speaking there are few obvious symptoms with Stage 3 CKD. Let’s see what other members think.

I am Stage 3b and have experienced sleeping issues, from itching, restless leg syndrome and at times just can't get settled down for sleep. I spoke about itching in the other post, offering some suggestions. The restless leg syndrome is a tough one - I've asked my primary - there are some meds for this, but having a couple of new items on the list, we didn't want to overload with several prescriptions. I asked a physical therapist about it, they suggested some very light exercise (5 mins) before bedtime. A stationary bicycle ride might help. As for getting settled down, I just returned from my nephrology appointment, I asked about Melatonin. He said it is completely safe for kidney patients. I take 3 mg, but higher doses are available, for that matter you can get 1 mg. I also purchased a device (almost like a TENS device), called The Chill Pill. It is a capsule shaped device about the length of your index finger. It is placed in the palm of your hand, or perpendicular to the tips of your fingertips. It creates an electrical pulse, like a TENS device. It runs for about 10-15 minutes. The pulse is supposed to help your body relax. I do find it helpful, tho', it isn't always effective. So, perhaps the verdict it still out whether it works for everyone. It can be used multiple sessions, if the 10-15 minutes isn't enough. They have a website that offers several write-ups about better sleep.

I’m stage 3 CKD and have restless legs at night and sleep problems. The restless leg problem is so crazy that without my nightly Pramipexole I can’t sleep at all. It can be exhausting and frustrating. Pramipexole helps me immensely. Also, I recently have lost 25 pounds and that seems to help. God Bless you. Terry

Thank y’all for responses. Mainly my mind races, don’t think restless leg but cannot get comfortable in any position. Since posting this I read on Kidney.org that this condition is due to a chemical imbalance caused by CKD. Next bloodwork not until Feb 6 and Dr follow-up Feb 13. Going to request a phosphorus blood test be added as it is not a part of a typical metabolic blood test. I’m thinking if phosphorus is high it could be the issue. Thanks again. God Bless

@cehunt57 Thank you

@kerbowski Thank you very much.

Like so many of us with CKD, I experience sleep issues. We seem to have different contributing factors, but elusive sleep is the same!

External things to think about include: temperature of the room where you sleep, along with the light/darkness. Are the bed coverings enough or too much? How about you sleeping attire, is it comfortable for you? And also, do you share your bed with a partner or pets? What we became used to in the past might change over time. For me, I became much more sensitive and needed to change some things up. And, like others have said, my mind doesn't want to slow down and rest.
Ginger

Thank you Ginger.

One of my healthcare team members suggested a supplement. Being cautious on this, I decided to look into some the ingredients. It has 50 mg of Calcium, 75 mg of Magnesium, Valerian Root, Hops to name a few. Investigating, like everything else, I found mixed answers concerning Valerian Root. Some suggesting it was safe, other studies saying it could be safe in low doses for short periods of time. And still others saying, it was perfectly safe for those with CKD. The supplement was supposed to be good for restless leg, leg cramps and that wondering mind that won't shut down at night. Anyone have info on the Valerian Root? I didn't check on Hops, when I got to the Valerian Root, I stopped my investigation.

@gwladj76 thanks for this comment. I actually did the exact same research and found more often that Valarian Root was not compatible with CKD. We use Thorne (Thorne.com) for our supplements, by far one of the cleanest and third party tested on the market. I’ve ordered one of their products called Deep Sleep Support. Haven’t received it yet but will follow up with a review. We try very hard to, within reason, use supplements in lieu of more drugs. Thanks again. God Bless.