Is Low Diastolic Blood Pressure common with Stage 3 or 4 CKD?

Julie, why don’t you call the doctor’s office before he closes for the day? April Is a long time to wait.

He can't get blood drawn at home and recently had a blood test, which was fairly stable from 3 months before although GFR dropped 2 points. He has another appt in beginning of April (3 months). I do have a urine dipstick test I can use on him. So far he has slept most of today - but 2:30am was a very early start to his day. The other night he had a bad nightmare that woke him and upset him for the rest of the day. He has also been having more problems remembering things. I keep notes for his doctor.

Wow, Julie, that is scary! As for whether CKD can cause such spells, my friend found that when her husband's blood chemistry was out of balance (high or low sodium, potassium, creatinine in many combinations) it contributed a great deal to his confusion. Similarly, dizziness can be caused by such changes. The doctor needs to know if this episode, even if Bill refuses to be seen.
I was trying to recall - can he get blood drawn at home? His CKD may be progressing in a way that requires attention.
Sue

Bad night last night. Bill was really restless. Along about morning (I thought) he started doing his exercised in bed - got up and did his push offs and then took off for family room. I figured it was time to get up, only to discover it was 3am. He was laying on his recliner, napping with the TV on. Since I had made the bed figured I'd snooze on the sofa. He kept turning the TV on and off. I retired back to the bedroom after putting on his socks.

Turns out he had felt 'dizzy' in bed. Was afraid to move his head. Did try exercises to see if that would help. He didn't remember turning the TV on and off and didn't realize I had put his socks on until later. When morning finally broke he discovered he had misplaced me and panicked, going from room to room looking for me. He had missed seeing me on our bed. When he finally discovered me it was try and pull me off the bed (I woke up suddenly from a very sound sleep!).

By that time his dizziness had ended and he was feeling okay. Years ago he had a spell and had me call 911 and they raced him off to the hospital - was diagnosed as a case of vertigo and nothing to panic over. Nothing since then.

No idea what caused it or what the best thing to do for it if it happens again. Can CKD cause spells like that?

A blood test was done and his GFR dropped several points in 3 months. Most everything else, according to the doctor, was considered stable. Cholesterol still high even being on medication for over a year.

He has had chronic back pain in the upper back (top of rib cage?) but now he is getting pain in the lower back (kidney area?). Taking 2 doses of 2 tablets of acetaminophen a day (morning and night). Could the lower back pain be connected to decrease in GFR?

Also his right leg started bleeding this morning for no apparent reason (he has a valve problem). He gets scabby looking sores on both legs. He has his supply of Band-Aids. He is like a kid with them.

Surprisingly he has actually started eating a little better - normal food rather than just cereal and ice cream.

He sees him Tuesday morning and I've typed up observations - that will remind Bill he needs to tell him and to give to Dr N if he wants the notes. He hasn't had him do a urine test for quite some time. A blood test was done in early October but didn't check to see if medication helping on the sudden cholesterol increase into bad zone. Since it has been over a year for that probably should ask if he doesn't bring it up. I always hate bothering doctors - figuring they know what they are doing.

Julie, this is something your husband needs to discuss with his doctor.

He had me try a dip stick test, which I did this morning. I took a picture at 60 seconds, which time was given on the instructions. Some of his results didn't seem to be even in the same color range on the bottle results. So no idea if I did it correctly - if it helps or hinders. Does look like his glucose is normal and Specific gravity is on concentrated range. He seems to be having fun having me play 'nurse'.

Our fire department is just down the road. Neighbors have offered to help. Daughter, when she isn't teaching math, is 15 minutes away. I also (in TN) had to call 911 and they were there instantly. At that time the ER said he had vertigo - he was in bed and it was early morning. I was never sure that vertigo was correct. Health seemed to go down further from that point.

Julie, I felt that way-like I would pass out and no energy. My kidney failure was sudden and my husband took me to the emergency room. We were unprepared for this, never even expected it.
Just in case -do you have a plan if he gets worse or passes out or falls?