Life has its stages. From infant, to toddler, young child, mid-childhood, pre-teen, teen, young adult, adult. “middle” age, and on to old age.

Often, the transition from stage to stage is not as smooth as we might like to be.

The transition into and out of adolescence, with its accompanying hormonal activity, can be unusually difficult. Hopefully, most of us eventually adjust.

For PKD patients, there are similar transitions. As our disease “progresses” (I’d rather say “deteriorates”) from stage to stage, external and internal adjustments must be made to maintain a reasonable sense of inner stability.

A a PKD patient’s condition deteriorates (and not all patients conditions do deteriorate, some are very stable for many years), there is a tendency to become ever increasingly frustrated, angry, and/or depressed.

This is, of course, natural and understandable. Nobody likes to deteriorate. Yet, these negative emotions have, at best, limited usefulness. These negative emotions can sabotage the positive emotions of courage, motivation, and positive expectancy.

So, if and when you begin experiencing symptoms of the next stage of PKD, expect and, for a time, embrace the negative emotions. Then, consider as objectively as you can, your current situation. Discuss your medical concerns with your medical team. (Often, nurses are better equipped to deal with the emotional aspect of our disease.)

Notice your tendency to compare your current state of health with a previous state (“I can’t do what I used to do!”). And, as you age this becomes even truer!

You may even have to go through a kind of grieving, to “let go” of your old “you”, who was younger and healthier. That “you” will never return. Remember how good it was to be that former “you!”

And then, it becomes time to adjust to your new situation. You may experience some difficult physical symptoms. You may have to suffer negative side-effects from medications. Your daily life may be quite impacted, or, hopefully not so much. But in any case, it’s helpful to assume an attitude of facing forward, and moving ahead with determination that you will do what is necessary to maintain a high quality of life.

Keep informed about your disease, keep informed about dialysis and transplant options. Surround yourself with encouraging, optimistic, and compassionate people, hopefully in person, and on-line on the message boards.

You may no longer be the person you once were, but I’ll bet you’re wiser and more understanding about the nature of life!

How have you been adjusting?

I’d love to have you post your comments!

Oh, by the way, if your on Facebook, be sure to vote for the PKD Foundation as your cause so they can win a large monetary grant.

Please check out http://apps.facebook.com/voteforacause/

Thanks!

Hoping your well adjusted,

I wish you

Peace and Blessings!

Coach Richie Perl