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Life with CKD needs some extra attention on the relationship you share with your near and dear ones, especially with your family members.<br>
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Life with Chronic Kidney Disease medium.com/@sowmyasrinivasan001/life-with-chronic-kidney-disease-9080bf1b7141 As a patient or caregiver (family members and other loved ones who provide care and support), use these tips to manage relationship stress and keep the relationship positive. Life with CKD needs some extra attention on the relationship you share with your near and dear ones, especially with your family members. Stay Active, Keep Your Job Keep working even if your kidneys fail. You may be able to request short-term leave, a new schedule, or other small changes that will allow you to keep working. Read the daily paper, keep a journal, send letters to friends, listen to music, visit an art museum, or do any other activity that requires thinking. Keep your mind active by staying involved in the world around you. Keep working, seek out employment or go back to school. Even if it’s part-time, it can be an activity you look forward to each week. Volunteer at an organization you find interesting. If you can, consider volunteering to help animals, children, or the elderly. Take time for yourself and connect with people who provide you with positive feedback and support. Revisit things that have inspired you in the past. Take time to do something you enjoy; something that lifts your spirits, whether it’s rereading your favorite book, cooking a delicious meal, or calling a beloved friend you haven’t spoken to in a while. 1/3
Stay active and engaged in life by doing things you enjoy such as walking, dancing, exercising, gardening, or other hobbies. Before starting any exercise program, make sure that you talk to your nephrology specialist. Start slowly and build up more each day. You will be surprised at what you can accomplish. Go out with friends, volunteer, or travel. And finally, don’t forget your everyday enjoyments. Whether this means going to the movies, attending concerts, reading a book, or taking photos, and yes, sexual intimacy, be sure to live your treasured life. You’re a person, not a patient. Expect to have feelings and reactions about your diagnosis of CKD Your feelings are normal and healthy. The emotions may range from anger, guilt, fear, disbelief, denial, or depression. Feelings change from time to time. Communicate with family, friends, and the healthcare team. You may experience some or all of these feelings. These feelings include anger that kidney disease has happened to you, or being discouraged that your body is somehow giving out much too soon. Most often these feelings are temporary. Talk over any symptoms with your healthcare team. It has been said that depression is the common cold of mental illness. The reason is that it’s much more prevalent than people realize. Anyone can suffer from depression — not just those with chronic kidney disease or who are on dialysis. Just because someone has kidney disease or end-stage renal failure, doesn’t mean they will experience depression. Over a prolonged period of months or years, depression deprives a person of happiness. More than feeling a little sad or out-of-sorts for a day or two, depression is an illness that should be treated by a professional in the same way you would treat diabetes or high blood pressure. Having depression in no way implies that a person has flaws in their character. People with chronic kidney disease and their caregivers often suffer from depression due to the difficulty of adjusting to and coping with all the life changes that accompany both chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. If you are a patient or caregiver experiencing depression or are having difficulty adjusting, there is hope. Treatment and relief can take many forms. Learn how to recognize the signs of depression. Many other illnesses can mimic its symptoms. Only a qualified professional can make a diagnosis based on the description of your symptoms. Keep Communication Open 2/3
Talk to each other about your feelings. Are you feeling anxious? Resentful? Overwhelmed? Say what you are feeling. Listen to each other’s feelings and be sure to state your needs in clear, simple terms so that the other person does not have to guess what you need. Are you concerned about finances? Are you concerned about a change in treatment? Make a list of your questions and concerns. Talk about them with each other and make a plan to discuss them with your kidney doctor (nephrologist) or nurse. It is possible that others in your family and friends are also concerned about CKD. Encourage them to ask any questions they have and make time to discuss these together. Write up a Care Plan When possible, the patient should take ownership of the majority of his or her treatment responsibilities. However, sharing in all the tasks associated with managing CKD as well as assisting at home with non-dialysis-related household tasks is essential. Write down who is responsible for each task and when the tasks need to be performed. Review this plan together from time to time and make adjustments as necessary. Be sure to write down any changes so that you can review these changes the next time you review your plan. Spend Quality Time Together It’s important to spend time focusing on the other aspects of your relationship aside from chronic kidney disease to help your relationship stay healthy. Engage in activities you enjoy together. Whether it’s going out to a movie or sporting event, planning a vacation, or spending time at the park, it’s important to keep up with activities that don’t center on CKD. Keep your relationship strong by exploring new interests together. Practice Respect and Appreciation Coping with a chronic illness can be challenging at times. Treating each other with respect over the day-to-day details can go a long way towards helping you deal with issues that may arise over the course of your relationship or over the course of CKD. 3/3
