Motivating Monday

[MAS_Nurse]

Hello and welcome everyone. How are you feeling today? Maybe you might like to tell us about what it’s like to be living with early CKD?

Perhaps some of you have experienced some positive or negative events this past week and could share them with us.

Living with any condition has the potential to be something of an emotional roller coaster, so it can be important to take a step back and evaluate. I find that listening to music, podcasts or taking a walk really helps me escape and calm down. Sometimes writing things down helps me to stand back and take stock. What about you? What helps you?

We look forward to hearing from you. Have a good week.

MAS Nurse & Moderator

[Lynndeb]

This is a very kind idea, thank you.

I was diagnosed with ckd stage 3 about 1.5 years ago, and I was initially frightened and terribly frustrated by the attitude among the medical profession, that it's just one of those things... Like many I juggle it with several other chronic illnesses, but especially ME/CFS.

I've had an emotional 3 weeks, for personal reasons, but I'm finding strength and peace of mind through listening to podcasts, in particular Buddhist teachings, and I hope to grow and learn and become a better person through the pain. I find the simplicity and strength of Reggie Ray's talks and also the meditations of Alistair Appleton's, of Mind-springs, both enlightening, strengthening and calming. I would like to quieten my 'Monkey Mind.' I'm also determined to learn from the book Becoming Supernatural in order to grow the right mindset to help support and heal my body as best possible.

My cat and my garden birds are also great companions and give me a sense of being needed.

I too, hope you all have a very good week!

[Keithtim10]

Monday is the beginning of a new week,

Don't let things begin to seem bleak,

We might all be suffering from CKDeee,

And feel as though we can't be free,

If you feel you are going to sink,

Take a look in the mirror and give yourself a wink,

Say 'hey i going nowhere and looking good'

This week i am staying in a positive mood.

[orangecity41]

I too find that listening to music, taking a walk, plus Yoga class helps me to escape and calm down. Thanks for sharing.

[lowraind in reply to orangecity41]

I started with Chair Yoga and found that I ached too much (I also have osteoarthritis). I next found Tai Chi and am working through different masters to see which ones are more compatible with my personality. Tai Chi and a little of Chi Gong are enabling me to become stronger so that I can go back to Chair Yoga and walking.

[Kamel]

io am simply sticking to the ckd diet, keeping hydrated and trying to not to worry.

[RickHow]

While no one wants to hear "CKD", I have found that it has brought some good things to my life in an ironic way. Walking each day is something I find to be the biggest help. It is difficult in the winter but I still do it! I find each day I miss a walk my mind is more on the negative things. The walk is like an escape from the bad and a journey into the good. To not think of just myself but of all that is around me. Of the people I meet and see each day during the walk. Of a sense of brain relaxation. Another thing that has helped is this very website. To see that some of the things I think, do, get caught up about are not just me. That others go through the same thoughts, the same worries, the same experiences and this provides a place to share them all. The highs and the lows. When I heard in 2017 the words cancer, kidney must be removed, you now have CKD stage 3b, etc., I was far more accepting of it than I ever could imagine. But internally I worried constantly, when will I die, what will become of me, hours on the internet, depression. Now I am a different person about it. I am almost 70. This is not a death sentence necessarily. It is not some daily decline. It is not much of a change in day to day life, except mentally. Every little ache or pain, or trouble in daily life is NOT attributable to having CKD. There are many, many, many who do just fine. And I have learned most of all that we are all different. To realize that we are all unique. That what is "normal" (gfr, blood results, tests, scans) does NOT apply to all. That the entire "egfr" approach is far to general in nature. To rely on your own individual blood test results, urine test results, to monitor your health, and not where it falls on a chart of what is "normal" or not. I wish doctors would not report results as "normal" or not. But rather say the word "average" or "typical". That the typical or average person has a Creatinine level of "x.x". Not that the NORMAL person has a level of "x.x". and since mine may be just a point higher I am therefore not normal, when it is quite normal for me!