The Background!

 Hi,

If you are here reading this, you must have some interest in my new journey in life.  

In March of 2022, I discovered that I have ADPKD or autosomal dominant polysistic kidney disease.   I know...what!?!?  I'm a 45 yr old single mother of an 8yr old.  I teach HS.   I don't know how to slow down and then this.  So follow along and learn about the process of trying to get healthy.

What is ADPKD?

So basically my kidneys are growing fluid filled cysts on them.   They are growing larger and shutting down.   Autosomal Dominant means a parent should have it and there should be an obvious line of inheritance of this.  However, 10% of cases are spontaneous and I'm one of those lucky ones.  It's usually not discovered until 40's and 50's.  

What can be done?

Nothing.  There is no cure or medicine that will help it.   My only hope is a kidney transplant and I'm in the process of trying to do this.

How bad is it?

So when diagnosed I was at the end of Kidney Failure stage 3, I'm now in Stage 5 (end stage).  It has developed very rapidly and according to numerous doctors my kidneys are 'very large.'   Thankfully except for being tired (which I always am) and a few days where it hurts, I've been very lucky and haven't been to bad.

What are the next steps?

Dialysis is my next step, which is coming quickly.  A transplant would be the next and I'm working on that which is what this blog is all about.