oh Norma, how well I can relate.
I was in a miserable marriage for many years and finally got out of it, a new love, my own nice apartment, kids grown and grandkids. life was finally starting to look great.
after being at 75% function for a long time I learned my function dropped to 30%. why now when things were finally working out?
you are doing the right thing by continuing healthy habits and it will help but it is not going to change the inevitable.
I went through all the denial etc. but did follow the doctor's advice to lower my potassium. eventually I had to go on dialysis but I never let it stop me from living my life. we traveled and Jim even bought a big sailboat and we planned to live on it part time. we were planning how to arrange for home dialysis (NxStage) on the boat when the phone call came in and I got my transplant.
there are many steps of grief, denial being the most fun, there is anger, bargaining with God and others before reaching acceptance.
your life will change, if you handle the changes as well as you have handled life so far you will do very well. I'll be pulling for you.

Hi Norma,

Welcome. I think Spiderwoman has good advice. I would add that although you will need to see you doctor regularly and you may begin to feel more tired, there is no reason you can't still do the things you want to. You might have to modify your plans slightly, but you might be able to live in stage 3 for a very long time. While I was in stage 3 I went on a couple of fantastic trips (including hiking, slowly, in Utah) and adopted a newborn baby boy.

Continue to take care of yourself and closely monitor your function but don't let it get in the way of your dreams.

All the best.

"It's not going to change the inevitable." I guess thats was I was waiting to hear. Thanks for all your good advise. My husband is in worse denial than I am, he thinks because I have come this far, that it can't get any worse, but deep in my heart I knew that it could. It got every single person in my family, only at a much younger age. I can't imagine for the life of me,why it waited until life was finally good. Just confirms even more my belief that we have no control over our lives. We are products of bad genes, pretty much it. I don't know if I'll handle this as well as I have my previous life, seems sort of futile now. I'am way too old to have to deal with this sort of thing, hardly worth it but thanks again...

Norma,
If it's taken you 30 years to go from stage being diagnosed to just squeaking into stage 3, which means 59% percent function or less, I think you have a long, happy life ahead of you! A diagnosis doesn't mean kidney failure and you're long since proven that point! Not only do 50% of PKD never reach kidney failure (and hopefully that will be you), but patients with PKD simply plod along with minimal decreases in kidney function simply related to age, and nothing due to the disease itself.

So make all your plans and hit the road to see the world! Life is ripe for living and nothing is "inevitable"! I think your future holds wonderful days and nights full of adventure and riches beyonds your wildest dreams, if not tangible riches, then amazing memories and families, and endless friends.

Gentle hugs and best wishes,
Ruth

Norma, from what you've told us about yourself you sure don't sound like a loser - yet you seem to want to give up on your life. what a shame that would be and I hope you do some real soul searching and learn that life, with or without kidney failure, can be wonderful.
I spent nearly 3 years on dialysis and was not going to allow it to spoil my hopes and dreams. I continued to ride my motorcycle until a serious accident that was far more devastating than dialysis ever could be. I was also on dialysis at the time.
I traveled, having planned my dialysis in advance with the help of my wonderful social worker, and in the process met many really nice dialysis workers.
the funny thing is the more you do to continue living, the greater admiration you get from those who know you and those you meet. so many people are willing to give up and somehow I don't think you are one of those.
I am spiderwoman, the one who makes lemonade. I kinda think you know how to make lemonade too, my bet is you will too.

thank you all for your input, I really appreciate it. And no I'am not a loser or a quitter, I never have been, it's the very reason that I set out to beat this thing, but in the end, I didn't, did I. Then again maybe you are right Ruth, that maybe I won't go into failure and it could be an age related thing, as I am getting up there in years...:( don't much like admitting that but it's a reality. I had blood work done yesterday, the 6 month thing you know. I go back to the kidney doc the 1st of Oct., to get the results so we'll all know then what's going on. I know the 50% thing, but my belly is beginning to grow, so I'am not so confident, then again, maybe I'am pregnant!!! or just plain FAT, in the belly.
I'll know soon enough, thanks to all you guys for you input, it's the best I've had since sliced bread! I'll try to be more positive, but my gut feelings well, you all know what I mean. Lots of love to you all,
Norma...