Life on dialysis can be onerous. It is not easy to go for treatments several times each week, several hours each time. And then there are the brutal diet and fluid restrictions. On top of all this are all the co-morbidities - all the problems that come with having kidney failure. They say not a single part of the body remains unaffected when the kidneys fail. Each of these issues comes with their own life-cycle.
When there's so much to deal with, many people just cannot cope. They feel like giving up. Many people give up. You can't find fault with that. That is the default behaviour.
However, it need not be the only possibility. It is possible to learn to live with kidney failure and dialysis. And live with aplomb.
How? And why doesn't everyone manage to do that?
I believe we need to have a reason to live. Something to bear all this for. Something to look forward to. The 'Why' of our life. Why should we continue to live? Why is all this worthwhile?
If we are able to figure this out, everything else will fall in place. Mostly. The 'How' of our life will get figured out automatically. How will we manage all the issues that come with dialysis? How will we survive on one litre of water a day? How will we deal with the pain and suffering? Everything will get figured out.
So, if you are on dialysis and struggling to cope with the problems that a life on dialysis can bring, find something to look forward to in your life. Strive to build a life beyond dialysis. Do not let dialysis become your whole life. Have a large life outside dialysis.
It could be work. It could be hobbies. It could be your family. Whatever it may be. Make sure you do not have too much idle time. Keep busy. Fill your life with things to look forward to.
Once that happens, the other stuff will just fall in place.
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