Support

[chucksdad]

My son has kidney failure and has not really taken care of himself. I'm trying to figure out how to support and encourage him as he faces this problem.

[lowraind]

First thing--he has to want to do it!

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Tell us more about your sons CKD. What stage is he.?Is he willing to help himself? If not, you are only going to get frustrated. Good news, if he is, there are lots of things to do to help him,

[AENEASavc]

He needs psychiatric therapy to find out why he is so self-destructive.

[Ladyprudence]

How long has he known? If not very long, maybe he's a bit shocked and needs a little time to process it. I wouldn't hit him over the head with it, but if you make a mild remark (This is a kidney safe salad) occasionally, I would bet he's listening, even though he's being quiet.

[CKD2-4]

Hi. You can make him kidney friendly meals that he can freeze- thaw and reheat- include recipes so if he chooses he can remake. I use a lot of different spices to make food taste good without adding salt- some of my favorites are garlic, onion, spicy peppers- you can make him baked goods without salt and use sodium free baking powder- it’s a process to learn how to eliminate salt from your diet so be patient- I belong to a Facebook group called kidney friendly tasty eats where people share kidney friendly recipes and tips on finding salt free products to use. You might find this group helpful. You are a great mom who obliviously loves her son- Good luck to you and your son on this journey!

[Blackknight1989]

First, I emphasize with you as a father trying to support and encourage a child who needs it so badly. You provide very little specifics I hesitate to say much more because it would be based on assumptions rather than facts. However, I will say that your desire to support and encourage him, despite the fact that he had little if any care for himself and his health is exactly what you should be doing. I suffered a self-imposed major illness at 29 years old that put me in the MICU on a ventilator for 6 months. When I regained the first words spoken to me by my doctors was where I was and that I’d never get out of the ICU instead I’d die in the unit. Nothing like a little encouragement to motivate me to get better…lol! My point, I didn’t take care of myself and I probably deserved to be in that hospital bed with a tube down my throat. My parents were nothing but supportive and encouraging to me and that was the reason I walked out of the ICU 6 months later nearly healthy. I’ve never been in your position but I have been in your son’s position. You are dead-on in your desire to just be supportive and encouraging offering your support should mean the world to him. I know my parents who did the same were the reason I walked out of the IVU as opposed to dying there. What you want to do, support and encourage is the exact right things to do. Just be there for him and be the biggest supporter because he will face some Pugh times with the kidney failure. I was in the ICU for 6 months probably should have been there a year or died there but my parents pulled me through. You can fo the same for your son and his illness! Best of luck to you during this time!

[Healthfinder1 in reply to Blackknight1989]

I am new here but asked a question to find out if you ever posted the source for 15 deaths on the Kidney Product TDS that you spoke about a while back. Can you please post it. Thank you!

[Blackknight1989 in reply to Healthfinder1]

Sure I did it’s in that thread with documentation for several sources. I hope it helps. There are homeopathic protocols that can aid to your overall health but any and all should be checked out on sites like NKF AND MOST IMPORTANTLY discussed with you trusted medical professional. Further if all agree you can add a supplement then your bloodwork should be checked in accordance with the addition just like it should be when you add a new pharmaceutical or significantly change your diet. Unfortunately the product you reference is dangerous to CKD patients and should be avoided. The kidneys are the body’s filters and can/are effected negatively by many “harmless dietary supplements”. Creating more problems with no benefits. As always my best to you in your CKD journey.

[CatOnACloud in reply to Blackknight1989]

Congrats on your miraculous return! A great parent—let alone two!—can never be underestimated. Nice

[CatOnACloud]

A therapist that will listen could be so helpful. I know I don’t like to divulge everything to my mom, she has enough to deal with, yet it benefits her as well. If there’s depression medicine can be beneficial for a while. You may be surprised how much these can help. It takes a lottt of strength to accept help through physical circumstances that are really above and beyond normal. I think it’s not always a matter of inherent mental health maladies, but rather a fairly normal mourning for a normal life. But to be their best, they need to concentrate on each day, one at a time