Taking Time for Fun
With or without chronic kidney disease (CKD), life is what you make it. Some patients with CKD may choose to withdraw. Others may choose to do as much as possible and live life to the fullest. The choice is yours.
Maybe you want to spend more time with family and friends. If so, plan an outing with them. They’ll appreciate your effort and you can feel good about taking charge.
Decide what is most important to you now. Then take the steps necessary to make it happen.
Tips for Coping
You might feel like you are no longer in charge of your life, but the truth is, you’re probably finding ways to be more in control than ever. Going to dialysis, changing your diet, and taking your medications takes more strength and dedication than you may realize.
But your physical needs are only part of it. Your mental and emotional needs require attention, too. How you find this happiness is called coping. These coping tips have worked for others and may help you, too.
Learn about CKD. Ask your renal care team for how you can get more involved in your care. The more you learn about treatment options, the more confident you’ll feel about getting the best care possible.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Following a kidney-friendly diet and staying active with exercise is good for your body and your mind. You’ll feel better, which is important to helping you keep a positive attitude.
Talk about CKD with others. Inform loved ones about kidney disease and ways to prevent it — you may feel like you’ve taken a positive step.
Open up. If you need to talk, vent, or just let go, it’s okay. Sometimes, releasing your thoughts and feelings — health related or otherwise — can help you look at a situation in new ways.
Listen without judging. Pay attention to what others have to say. Even if you disagree, hear them out. You might be surprised at what you learn.
Volunteer. As your energy level allows, making a meaningful contribution to helping others — whether it’s tutoring, stuffing envelopes, or speaking publicly about the importance of organ donation — can do wonders for your outlook.
Laugh. Enjoying time with friends, watching a funny movie, and seeing the humor in everyday situations can sometimes be the best “medicine” for coping.
Spending Time with Family and Friends
Having the love and support of family and friends can go a long way as you journey through CKD. Your loved ones can help you through the good times and the difficult times. How much you let them is entirely up to you.
When you spend time with loved ones, taking care of yourself can often fall by the wayside. This may be especially true with food. Try these tips for eating with family and friends:
Talk to your renal dietitian about “forbidden” foods. He or she can give you tips for being around food without overdoing it
Eat a little snack at home before you go out so you’re not as hungry. Then, eat only small portions, take your time, and don’t eat until you’re stuffed
Ask your dietitian to recommend a kidney-friendly dish you can share with your family
With a little planning, you can make spending time with loved ones kidney friendly.
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