The Struggle of Managing and Balancing ADHD and CKD Symptoms Together

I recently received an official diagnosis of combined attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). I was first told about it at school when I was 14. They informed my parents and recommended I get tested, but my parents did not want me medicated. As I come from a cultural household, the topic was never discussed again.

Now, as an adult with an official diagnosis, I can see the main reason I couldn't control my symptoms of chronic kidney disease (CKD) or even take care of myself was because of my ADHD.

The difficulty of managing medications

When I'm fatigued and want to rest, I can't imagine doing a big task. This leaves me feeling distressed and trying to recover from burnout. However, I also have symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity, which include fidgeting and tapping my hands and feet or moving in my seat. I cannot stay seated and often feel restless. I also find it difficult to clear my mind because I get distracted by unrelated thoughts and tend to overthink.

The most difficult symptoms of ADHD that cause issues with managing my kidney transplant are forgetfulness, carelessness, and a lack of attention to detail. This can cause me to forget certain medications or get distracted very quickly. I could honestly be focused on the wrong thing for hours. Because of this, I have to set an alarm for each time I need to take my medication. I always try to give myself 15 minutes beforehand to focus on taking my medication, but it depends on what my brain is focused on at that time. It's a challenging situation for me.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has mountains of medication with a designated area. I have 4 different areas for my medications! Yes, that's a lot of storage space. I have one area for all the boxes in my room, one in my kitchen, and 2 side tables filled with in-use medication. These are all in tablet form, so I no longer need to use the fridge for storage. When it comes to organization, if I focus on sorting my medication for half an hour, it looks great. But when I feel burned out or slumped, that organized medication is ruined. Sometimes, I go through empty boxes trying to find my medication.

The impact of fatigue

Believe it or not, fatigue is a common symptom of ADHD. Can you imagine getting hit with fatigue from 2 different conditions, chronic kidney disease and ADHD?

Hyperactivity can drain you, making fatigue set in quickly. When combined with sleep problems, including insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless legs syndrome, it's difficult to track and prepare for, just like the fatigue from chronic kidney disease alone.

I've suffered from these 2 conditions and have had to find my own way of dealing with all the symptoms by creating rules for myself, such as taking it day by day. When you're overwhelmed by any of your symptoms from CKD, it's okay not to plan. Putting boundaries in place and saying no can be freeing. Being able to only focus on yourself is a good thing. Don't feel guilty about that, and your support system should understand.