2. Confusion and decreased alertness
Sometimes azotemia can cause a person to experience what can only be described as confusion. This confusion usually comes with a decreased alertness that can be problematic for people who may be trying to go about their daily business.
Things like driving and operating heavy machinery are things to avoid for anyone suffering from this typical sign of azotemia. One patient described their confusion to a researcher as something that came and went like night and day, leaving just as quickly as it came on.
They said that one minute they could be tying their shoelaces and the next minute find themselves in the bathroom holding a hairdryer and a set of matches, not exactly sure how or why they ended up in that situation.
Not everyone will experience such strange episodes of confusion but it’s always worth pointing out the farther-flung reaches of the spectrum so that anyone experiencing anything similar will be able to relate.