why am I always tired and in bad pain?

[taralarah]

Hi I'm 25 years old and I was diagnosed with kidney polysystic kidney disease when I was 12.as did my twin brother.I didn't have any major problems growing up however since having my child 5 and a half years ago,pain an discomfort is becoming unbearable.I have cysts between 5 and 10cm on my right kidney which is now very enlarged and similar on my left kidney however it is smaller than my rite...I was told I also have cysts on my liver spleen and gall bladder and I have an 8mm kidney stone in my right kidney..despite all this I fell ill last year and was in hospital nearly 2 weeks.for the year leading up to the infection I seemed to be really tired always sick and feverish and always in pain with a very stiff back.
I went to my kidney specialist before I was hospitalized but he said I was suffering anxiety.my blood tests appeared to be normal but it got that bad I ended up being admitted to hospital.
After numerous trips to the clinic since then I am still being told that my condition shouldn't be causing the symptoms I have.
I am so tired!my back is in bits,I am always feeling sick,practically live with a headache and I'm fighting to keep weight on!I'm convinced I'm getting worse but  I'm being left worried and poorly.
I am a single mom and I work,its becoming so tireing!is this me or the condition?I can't live like this :(

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Understand your predicament.

Polycystic disease of the kidneys can be autosomal recessive or dominant. The recessive variety manifests in childhood, while the dominant one in adulthood. If the disease has affected the kidneys considerably then it should reflect in the kidney function tests. Also, the cysts are likely to get infected and can lead to symptoms of fatigue, fevers and pain. Please discuss this with your doctor am sure he will provide further assistance.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[LivingInHope]

Pain in the lower back and flank pain as well as headaches are symptoms of polycystic kidney disease (see private message).  

Have you been regularly getting your red blood cell count monitored (with kidney disease, there can be an issue with erythropoietin, a hormone instrumental in red blood cell production) ?  What about protein in your urine- how much of that do you have in a 24 hour period?  What is your glomerular filtration rate (GFR)?  

Have you had your iron, iron saturation, and ferritin levels checked with your chronic tiredness and headache to be sure you aren't iron deficient, as these can be symptoms of iron deficiency and the menstruating female often is?

You say you are fighting to keep weight on.  Have you had your thyroid function checked, and if so, with what results?  Are you eating normally or are you having trouble with eating because of the stress you are feeling?

Your blood pressure is something you need to keep a close eye on with your kidney condition.  Do you have high blood pressure or are you trying to control high blood pressure with medication?  If the answer is the latter, I believe a number of those blood pressure medications can tend to make a person feel tired.

Since you mentioned yu have been having the problem since having your child, have you gone back to the ob/gyn doctor for a check up to see if there may be something wrong in your reproductive system?  Have they checked the lining of your uterus, done any pelvic ultrasounds, and are menses especially painful for you?

I don't think it would hurt to get a second opinion from another nephrologist at this point also regarding your kidneys' condition.