Valentine’s Day Advice from the National Kidney Foundation
new york, February 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Half of Americans think dating has gotten harder over the past decade.1 What happens to people looking for love with serious illnesses such as kidney failure? Dating is difficult enough without the stress of treatments like dialysis. You may wonder if you can still date when you have a serious health condition. The answer is yes. It is absolutely possible to date while on dialysis. Although having a chronic illness may make dating a little more difficult, you are still capable of love and worthy of being loved. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, National Kidney Foundation (NKF) offers six helpful tips for those navigating the world of dating while dealing with the stress of dialysis.
1) Choose a supportive partner
What does a supportive partner look like to you? Do they go to appointments with you or do they ask about it later? Will they make you dinner after your dialysis session or make you laugh after a busy day? Make a list of your criteria and use them when deciding whether a person is right for you. You want a supportive partner who fits your ideas perfectly to build a strong foundation for your relationship.
For Nathan and Candria, who were both undergoing dialysis, that strong foundation was what kept them together during the most difficult times. “You find someone you can trust and who has your best interests at heart, someone who will be honest with you. Candria has always been honest with me,” Nathan said. “You also have to find a personal reason to survive. If you can’t do that for yourself, you can’t be a support to others.”
“We control the disease, but the disease does not control us,” Candria said. “We do our best to keep their lives as normal as possible. We travel a lot and always take vacations every year. We never give up on our lives or our children. My goal is to continue living while I’m here.” I tell people to try to live as long as they can and do their best to enjoy their lives. ”
2) educate your partner
Most people do not fully understand what kidney disease or dialysis is. Follow their situation so they can best understand what you are going through. However, you don’t have to do it alone. Health organizations like NKF www.kidney.org is a great resource for everything you need to better understand what you’re dealing with.
With a little creativity, you can also turn these educational moments into fun. you can cook Enjoy dialysis-friendly meals together; Participate in charity events such as kidney walks, or follow us How other people are living with kidney disease on social media.
3) be open and honest
You don’t have to talk about your health history on the first date, but be prepared to talk about it when you feel like it. Kidney failure does not affect everyone the same way. It may become more difficult to have sexual relationships, date, or travel. It can cause sudden mood swings, cause you to have to cancel at short notice, and contribute to anxiety and depression.
Disclosing this information allows our partners to better understand you and your needs.
Being vulnerable is difficult, but it can lead to beautiful relationships like Christine and Michael’s. When Michael learned that Christine was undergoing her dialysis, he fell even more in love with her.
“Even though I was a single father, I fell in love with her dedication to her daughter,” Michael said. “I was juggling three jobs for her and doing my best, but nothing compares to caring for a child while undergoing dialysis.”
“When we fell in love, we fell deep. We have a great relationship. When he became my care partner, we moved to a level I never thought was possible.” It has grown to such an extent,” Christina said. “I trust this person with my life. I know that we will become true partners and that we will no longer be alone.”
It is important to note that vulnerabilities do not always cause this outcome. It may mean that you realize that the person you are interested in is not compatible with you. Are you okay! As the old saying goes, “If you can’t handle me at my worst, you don’t deserve me at my best.”
In the long run, open communication sets the stage for a successful long-term relationship.
Four) Plan your dates with dialysis in mind
Pay attention to your body and plan dates when you’re usually at your best. Use this time to engage in more active and physically demanding activities. Be flexible and plan conservatively for days when you’re not feeling your best.
I’m having a tough day, but I still want to spend time with someone special. Consider trying some of these low-energy dates:
- go for a scenic drive
- have a movie night at home
- Play board, card, video, or virtual reality games
- go on a picnic
- stargazing
- share your favorite songs with each other
Five) talk about the future
You and your partner will want to be on the same page before fully committing to each other. Part of this discussion should also include how dialysis affects your life. Will you have a kidney transplant? Do you want to have a child or can you safely have a child? Is travel important? By talking about the future, we can together create a roadmap to make the most of our situations and relationships.
6) Build a community outside of your partners
If possible, build a strong support system beyond your partner. As the relationship progresses, you probably become more and more attached to them. Your partner can be an important part of your care team, but additional support creates room for your relationship to grow.
NKF has a large support community waiting for you. There is no participation fee, so you can participate from anywhere in the country.
- NKF’s dialysis community: A safe and supportive space to share experiences, ask questions, and get answers.
- Facebook Advocacy Group:Anyone inside US Anyone interested in advocating for kidney health laws is welcome here.
- Spanish National Kidney Foundation: You can talk about kidney disease and have conversations between personas. Explore history and pregnancy history and learn in Spanish!
- Voices to protect kidney health: Our advocates work to make America a better place for all people with kidney disease. Join today and make a difference while meeting other amazing advocates.
- Facebook transplant group: Interested in getting a transplant? We’ll connect you with people doing the same thing, living donors and transplant recipients.
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1Brown, Anna. “Nearly half of U.S. adults say dating has become harder for most people over the past 10 years.” Pew Research Center Social and Demographic Trends Project, Pew Research Center, 2020. 8 20th of the month, www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/08/20/nearly-half-of-us- Adults-s…
About kidney disease
in US, it is estimated that more than 37 million adults have kidney disease, also known as chronic kidney disease (CKD), and approximately 90 percent do not know they have kidney disease. Approximately 1 in 3 adults in the United States are at risk for kidney disease. Risk factors for kidney disease include: Diabetes, high blood pressure, Heart disease, obesityand family history. People who are Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or other Pacific Islander are at higher risk of developing the disease. Black or African-American people are about four times more likely to develop kidney failure than white people. Hispanic people experience kidney failure at about twice the rate of white people.
About the National Kidney Foundation
The National Kidney Foundation is revolutionizing the fight to save lives by eliminating preventable kidney disease, accelerating innovation for a dignified patient experience, and eliminating structural inequities in kidney care, dialysis, and transplantation. I’m waking up.Click here to learn more about kidney disease www.kidney.org/
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Source National Kidney Foundation
