Symptoms of end-stage renal disease include:
Nausea or vomiting
Easy bruising or bleeding
Symptoms may remain mild or absent until kidney function drops to less than 20% of normal.
Dialysis is urgent when one or more of the following occurs:
Inflammation of the covering of the heart
Fluid overload or congestive heart failure (CHF) that cannot be managed with medications. In CHF, fluid backs up into the lungs, legs and other parts of the body.
Dangerous elevations of potassium, sodium or acids in the blood. These substances can affect how other organs function.
Confusion, decreased alertness or seizures
Bleeding related to kidney failure that cannot be improved through other means
Severe, unrelenting nausea and vomiting
Dialysis may also be necessary if symptoms affect quality of life or nutritional status. This is especially true if they are accompanied by severely abnormal blood tests.