How to Use This Tool
Tick first what describes you (on dialysis, diabetic, hypertensive, etc.), then tick the symptoms you feel right now. The recommended action updates in real time at the top of the tool. Scroll down for the full plan — what to do, what to bring.
🚨 If you have crushing chest pain, severe difficulty breathing, sudden weakness on one side, seizure, or a major bleed — do not use this tool. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room now.
The Four Triage Bands
Every combination of symptoms and context is mapped to one of four bands. The strictest band wins — if you have one ER-level symptom and ten routine ones, the recommendation is ER.
Next visit
Mention at your next regular consultation. No new tests needed urgently.
Within a few days
Schedule a visit within 2–3 days. Call your doctor's clinic to fast-track.
Today
Same-day clinic, telehealth, or your dialysis unit. Don't wait until tomorrow.
Emergency room
Go to the nearest ER immediately. If you cannot drive, have someone bring you or call for help.
💡 Why "conservative" triage?
When the same symptom could mean two different things, this tool picks the more urgent one. Sending a worried-well patient to a same-day clinic is annoying but safe. Telling a real emergency to wait three days can be fatal. This bias is intentional and matches what your nephrologist would tell you over the phone.
The Symptom Checker
Tick your context, then tick what you feel. All data stays in your browser — nothing is sent to any server.
Heart & Breathing
Urine & Kidneys
Foamy urine often means protein leak. Usually not an emergency but worth flagging for your next visit so a urinalysis can be checked.
Swelling
Stomach & Nerve Symptoms
⚠ For peritoneal dialysis patients, severe abdominal pain or cloudy PD fluid is peritonitis until proven otherwise — this is always an ER visit.
Fever & General
⚠ Fever in a dialysis or post-transplant patient is treated as a serious infection until proven otherwise.
Diabetes Symptoms
First step: eat 15 g fast carbs (juice, soda, candy). Re-check sugar in 15 min. If still low or you can't keep fluids down, this becomes ER.
DKA is always an emergency. Go to the ER even if you feel "mostly fine" — the danger is the metabolic state, not how you feel.
Dialysis-Specific
What to Bring to the ER or Clinic
Whether you're going to the ER or a same-day clinic, bring these. It saves time and prevents repeated tests.
📋 Quick-grab checklist
- Valid ID + PhilHealth MDR — for admission and Z-Benefit claims if applicable.
- Current medication list with doses and times. Photo of the pill bottles is acceptable.
- Most recent labs (last 1–3 months) — printout or PDF on your phone.
- Dialysis log / record if on HD or PD — last 3 sessions' weights, BPs, and notes.
- Doctor's name & contact — nephrologist or cardiologist if applicable.
- This summary — print it or screenshot before you leave.
📞 Don't drive yourself
If you have chest pain, severe dyspnea, weakness on one side, confusion, or a seizure — call someone or call for transport. Sudden loss of consciousness while driving is dangerous for you and everyone on the road.
Important Limits of This Tool
This is decision support, not a diagnosis.
This tool helps you decide where to seek care and how urgently. It does not name your condition. The triage recommendation is based on conservative pattern matching from common red-flag combinations — it cannot account for your full history, exam findings, vitals, or labs. A real assessment by a physician is always more accurate.
Trust your instincts.
If something feels wrong and the tool says "routine," still call your doctor or go to the ER. No checklist can capture every situation. This tool will never tell you "don't seek care" — its lowest band is "mention at your next visit."
Not for pediatrics.
Symptom thresholds in this tool are for adults. Children present differently — bring them to a pediatrician.
W. G. M. Rivero, MD, FPCP, DPSN
Specialist in Internal Medicine, Nephrology, and Clinical Nutrition. Practicing in Quezon City, Angeles City, and Marilao.Dalubhasa sa Internal Medicine, Nephrology, at Clinical Nutrition. Nag-eehersisyo sa Quezon City, Angeles City, at Marilao.Espesyalista sa Internal Medicine, Nephrology, ug Clinical Nutrition. Nag-practice sa Quezon City, Angeles City, ug Marilao.Dalubhasa sa Internal Medicine, Nephrology, at Clinical Nutrition. Nag-eehersisyo sa Quezon City, Angeles City, at Marilao.
PRC 0105184 · seriousmd.com/doc/williamrivero