Finishing College with CKD

[BabyB23]

Hi, I'm 22 and finishing my last semester in college with a gfr of 12. I've recently been feeling high levels of anxiety around my health issues and have found it difficult to be by myself for fear of passing out or having some kind of medical emergency due to my chronic kidney disease. I'm not on dialysis or any medication for my kidney disease specifically, but I have other health conditions that I have to manage on top of that and doing all of it while in school has been exhausting.

I'm just wondering if others who have been at this stage in their ckd have experienced anxiety like this and how you managed it. I'm less than 4 weeks from graduation, but I keep feeling scared that something bad is going to happen before I make it there. I've always been an anxious person (diagnosed with OCD at 19) but it has really ramped up this year as my kidney function has declined and has made handling everything feel almost impossible sometimes.

Words of encouragement, tips for managing anxiety and depression, or testimonies about getting through a really rough time with your CKD would be so appreciated right now. Much love to all.

[Bassetmommer]

Congratulations, finishing up school in itself is a HUGE accomplishment. Being worried about your health when you have all that is going on is very normal and understandable. All I can tell you is I stayed at a GFR of 16 through 13 for several years. It would bounce up one lab and down again. I was told I would be on dialysis in six months and I put it off for six years by being careful with my diet and lifestyle choices. Take care of yourself, stop worrying if you can and enjoy the last days of college life. YOU earned sometime for fun and being proud of accomplishing a degree.

[Pisces101]

Ditto what Bassetmommer wrote! Cudos to you for being able to complete your studies with health issues! I know how difficult that can be without any health problems (I work at a university) - so congratulations to you! You must be a very strong person to have managed that. Be proud of yourself and remember your accomplishments. And find what helps to calm you when you need that - yoga, a walk, running, music, mindfulness or other meditation? A pet? I enjoy writing and keep a diary. That can help me sort out my thoughts and worries. Will be cheering you on! 🎉

[Bubreg]

Congratulations and STOP worrying that something bad will happen! Think positive you are almost there and you can just concentrate to finish up few more weeks and also while doing that eat heathy diet: I would suggest that you eat just fresh raw fruits and veggies, nuts and water and nothing from animal. You can at least try this for those couple of months straight and you will see your GFR and other lab work will improve. I know this can sound like a big challenge, like fruits and veggies no meat or sugar, etc but trust me you will have more energy and will help with your anxiety also. Good luck to you, I feel for you as a mother because I have a son your age and he is finishing up a college this year. Mush love❣️

[Blackknight1989]

I’ll echo what the others have said as well as give you major props for your dogged determination to work through your health issues to finish your degree…at some point in the future you’ll be rewarded for your tenaciousness…best of luck to you on your next chapter post-graduation!