When you are told that your kidneys are operating about 12% what does that mean

Hello Anonymous,

Welcome to EmpowHER. Thank you for your question.

Kidney failure is the advanced stage of kidney disease. Kidney function declines to 15% or even lower in kidney failure. In this stage, the life expectancy is the most concerned question.

Kidneys are the important organs that help clean the blood by filtering the waste and removing the extra water and electrolyte. When kidneys are failed, they cannot well do their work. With only 12% kidney function, kidneys are no longer able to perform at full capacity. So it is hard for you to live longer without taking some treatments. It seems that dialysis and kidney transplant are the last two choices for patients with 12% kidney function in kidney failure.

With 12% kidney function, you are more likely to suffer from nausea, vomit, itching skin, muscle cramps, poor appetite, swelling and high blood pressure. Someone even experiences serious complications, such as heart failure pulmonary edema, vascular disease. If this kind of people stops dialysis, he will end his life within one to four weeks.

Regards,
Maryann