Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group
Find support with others who have gone through a traumatic experience. Whether you have chronic or acute PTSD, we are here for you.
I have kidney disease related to PTSD because 4 years ago I had a doc overprescribe high dosages of meds that caused permanent kidney damage. It helped me short term with my own PTSD symptoms as I worked with trauma victims in the ER as a hospital chaplain. Obviously, though, it was a bad idea for the long term, the rest of my life.
Since then chronic kidney failure has caused painful nerve damage in my feet (neuropathy) that make it hard to walk or exercise. CKF brought skin problems. I have growths surgically removed from my face regularly, and grew a beard to hide dark discoloration in patches on my face. I have lots of itching, itching even in the roof of my mouth.
Since I'm down to 40% kidney function, I only have 40% of the energy I used to have, so fatigue is a constant every day. Though I live on a strict diet I keep to carefully, eighty pounds of weight gain came with it. I have problems with eliminating fluids, and swelling, swelling, swelling.
I work my job with it nonetheless. I'm proud of that. I posted a while ago that this semester I have a perfect attendance record teaching at my community college. That's incredible with all of these symptoms every day. I got lots of support for that here at DS PTSD.
Today I made it to school, too, but I had trouble. My feet swelled to the point I couldn't get my usual shoes on. I had another bigger pair for swelling emergencies, but it really shook me up. It's the first time the swelling has put me up 2 shoes sizes bigger. 2 whole shoe sizes.
I don't know when or how the progress of this kidney disease is going to stop. I am on the verge of needing dialysis or a transplant. I see my doctor Friday.
Anyway, nothing much went wrong today. I had a good day teaching at work. I showed that movie in class about PTSD in my psych class and the students seemed to get it. But this new wrinkle of swelling so much I need new shoes shook me up.
I hope others here don't mind my complaining so much about such a small thing. I apologize for whining about swelling when there's so much pain here over much worse things. It was just another thing to adapt to. But it did get to me, and so I do ask for your support, please.
Since then chronic kidney failure has caused painful nerve damage in my feet (neuropathy) that make it hard to walk or exercise. CKF brought skin problems. I have growths surgically removed from my face regularly, and grew a beard to hide dark discoloration in patches on my face. I have lots of itching, itching even in the roof of my mouth.
Since I'm down to 40% kidney function, I only have 40% of the energy I used to have, so fatigue is a constant every day. Though I live on a strict diet I keep to carefully, eighty pounds of weight gain came with it. I have problems with eliminating fluids, and swelling, swelling, swelling.
I work my job with it nonetheless. I'm proud of that. I posted a while ago that this semester I have a perfect attendance record teaching at my community college. That's incredible with all of these symptoms every day. I got lots of support for that here at DS PTSD.
Today I made it to school, too, but I had trouble. My feet swelled to the point I couldn't get my usual shoes on. I had another bigger pair for swelling emergencies, but it really shook me up. It's the first time the swelling has put me up 2 shoes sizes bigger. 2 whole shoe sizes.
I don't know when or how the progress of this kidney disease is going to stop. I am on the verge of needing dialysis or a transplant. I see my doctor Friday.
Anyway, nothing much went wrong today. I had a good day teaching at work. I showed that movie in class about PTSD in my psych class and the students seemed to get it. But this new wrinkle of swelling so much I need new shoes shook me up.
I hope others here don't mind my complaining so much about such a small thing. I apologize for whining about swelling when there's so much pain here over much worse things. It was just another thing to adapt to. But it did get to me, and so I do ask for your support, please.
OK, we're Polish, so laugh away, but she said "Not to eat."
Apparently, white or green cabbage leaves (the kind on a tight head, not kale or something like that).... OK, they will (if wrapped around swelling caused by fluid retention) draw out excess fluid. Wipe each leaf clean with a dry paper towel (do not get the leaves wet) and chill in fridge, and wrap around affected areas (knee down in her case) as a compress.... then the leaves will allegedly get wet beacuse they will pull out the excess fluid somehow. When leaves get wet, replace. And don't eat. (Mom had to say that. *sigh*)
I did a quick online check and found it is a natural remedy also recommended occasionally in the UK... during pregnancy!
Now, I have no idea if this works---but it was so zany I figured if nothing else, it'd give you a much-needed laugh!
Hope this will brighten the rest of your week.
One thing for neuropathy that was recommened to my husband was alpha lipoic acid. I don't know if you can take it, but you might want to check since it did help my husband.
Feel better, hugs.
But the REALLY GOOD NEWS is that my PTSD symptoms are getting better!!!!! Can you believe that? I'm so happy!!!!!!
I'm having less stress since I came to DS PTSD--seriously. So I actually DO NOT have high blood pressure any more!!!!!!! YAY!
The new doc was so surprised, he took my blood pressure 4 times to be sure, and then his nurse took it once again, too.
I no longer have to take high blood pressure medication YAY!
Thank you all at DS PTSD for keeping this site working day in and day out. I am medical evidence that it actually helps people. It's not just a feeling, it's medically proven. Thank you all so much.
Muji