Early on, people may not have any symptoms to tell them that their kidneys are not working well.

That is why regular physical examinations, with blood tests and urine tests, are so important. Test results may show signs of kidney disease even when a patient feels fine.

As the kidney disease progresses, a person may feel sick sometimes. But the change may be so slow that he or she does not do anything about these feelings. Symptoms may also be due to another illness or problem.

Complete kidney failure, however, causes many changes in the body, and people feel some stronger symptoms.

Symptoms vary from person to person. One person may experience many of the symptoms that follow, but another person may not.

Feeling generally sick
When the kidneys begin to fail, waste products will build up in the blood. This may cause a person to feel generally sick. Symptoms may include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, itching, and/or disturbed sleep.

Fluid retention
The kidneys may produce less urine, which may cause extra fluid to build up in the body. This is called edema. People with this problem may have swollen hands and ankles. They may gain fluid weight, and/or may be short of breath doing activities such as walking or climbing a few stairs.

Anemia
The body will not produce as many red blood cells when the kidneys are not working. This is called anemia. People with anemia may feel weak, cold, and tired. A drug that acts like the body's own hormone, erythropoietin, stimulates the production of red blood cells. The drug may be used to treat this type of anemia.

Toxin build up
When the kidneys are not working to clean the blood, waste products called toxins will build up in the body. This may cause fatigue, loss of appetite, and may make the person's skin feel itchy.

Other symptoms
Other symptoms may include:
Headache
Diarrhea
Increased thirst
Decrease or increase in frequency of urination
Drowsiness or confusion
Trouble concentrating
Puffiness around the eyes
Decreased interest in sex
Feeling cold