About Fresenius Medical Care Tampa

Getting diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is life changing, but there are treatments for every stage to help manage your health—and allow you to thrive.

Learn as much as you can about your kidneys and the condition so you’ll know what to do and what to expect.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition that happens when your kidneys don’t remove waste, toxins, and extra fluids from your body as they should. The word “chronic” means the condition is ongoing, so you will need long-term medical care to look after your health. Kidney disease develops in five stages. Over time, kidney disease may lead to end stage renal disease (ESRD), also known as end stage kidney disease (ESKD). This is when your kidneys no longer work on their own and you’ll need to consider treatment options.

The goal of treating CKD is to best control your health at every stage. This can help slow the decline and keep your kidneys working as long as possible. When you and your nephrologist (kidney doctor) agree that it’s time to start treatment, you have options to choose from including a kidney transplant or dialysis. These options can help people live well for many years.