It is easy for me to preach “optimism” when I have been operating with a kidney transplant for well over 11 years, with the barest minimum of difficulties. (Hernia repair, fistula repair.)
For those who are experiencing debilitating symptoms, and are having difficulty coping with the direct symptoms of PKD, the side effects of treatment, or the situation of NOT receiving the proper treatment, it is difficult, if not impossible to be optimistic.
I understand!
When, as a 16-year-old boy, with a very painful right kidney area, I found myself flat on my back on the cold, hard table of an X-ray machine, with the HUGE camera hanging above me, and having to wait while the IVP (intravenous pyelogram) dye was circulating through me, I had my first (and so far, only) panic attack.
The transition from being a (relatively) care-free teenager to a boy with a disease was very tough indeed! (Consider my 16-year-old male machismo!)
I didn’t know what hit me! I was scared, ignorant, wishing it would all go away!
It didn’t!
Instead, something else came! An ongoing transition from that scared, 16-year-old boy to an individual who developed coping skills that have served me from then until now.
Some of them are:
Internal Assessment — How am I right now? What specifically is not the way I believe it’s “supposed” to be? What is specifically OK?
Pause – To digest new information. Especially information received from a doctor. Usually, when being hit by a bunch of numbers, I learned to ask, “Doctor, what do these numbers mean to me as far as daily living?” or other, similar, appropriate question.
Compliance – Follow the doctor’s orders!
Perspective – Merely taking pills isn’t a major impact on my life! Likewise, being on dialysis is the price I have to pay to stay alive! OK, it’s a deal!
Trust – In myself! That I will do what I need to do to obtain and maintain the highest quality of life possible for me at any point in time. Trust in my doctors AND in my ability of asking the appropriate questions to ensure my understanding of my situation on my PKD Odyssey!
Faith – That after a decision is made, that it is the best decision under the circumstances, and that, along with my active participation, the result is the hands of God. And that includes the decision for my wife to donate a kidney to me, and my decision to accept it.
That 16-year-old boy is now a 61-year-old man. A bit worse for wear, but, all things considered, he hasn’t done too badly at all!
So, be optimistic! Each of us have amazing inner and outer resources available to us!
Utilizing these resources will ease your progress on your PKD Odyssey.
If you would like some assistance in uncovering and discovering your resources,
please contact me at:
and we’ll schedule an informal, yet informational chat about your inner resources, such as courage, curiosity, and…optimism!
Let’s make your PKD Odyssey as smooth as it can be!
I’d also love to know what you’ve learned so far on your Odyssey!
See ya down the road!
Coach Richie Perl
Certified Professional Coach
Certified Trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming
