Chronic Kidney Disease and Menopause

Funny, but not funny. I have been on medications for different chronic health conditions since 1963, which has changed a lot of things in my body. Lately, I haven’t been feeling well at all. Having hot flashes, mood swings, can’t concentrate, headaches, stress, and just confusion is a start.

I was just recently diagnosed with CKD but had to see a gynecologist for other things that were happening in my body. After a series of tests, she thinks I’m going through menopause. I’m in my 60s ya’ll.

I’ve been having a rough time lately, seen 6 doctors in 3 months. First off, I have always had excessive body temperatures, but they started to feel like my body was on fire, and extreme fatigue. There were days I felt like someone had put a ton of bricks on my chest.

Going through menopause

I’ve had a chronic illness for 60 years, so I just knew it was an old age thing along with all my other issues. Of course, I was thinking I was having some sort of flare again. I'm having more than normal infections. According to my doctor, this is caused by the kidneys and my body going through menopause. My body is really confused right now. Until something can be done about this, we will continue to battle these things.

I am not alone in this journey. So many of us live with several chronic illnesses. My list is long, so I’m not going to name them all right now. You will probably wonder how I am still walking right now.

I do want to say that when our symptoms seem to be a battle, don’t give up and let our struggles take over. There are days when the tears won’t stop, but I always say that we are not alone. Join a community that understands. You will have those days when you feel like the burden is too much. I must see the kidney doctor again to put all this together and come up with a health plan.

I have come too far to give up now

I am usually a very positive, happy person. This is the first time in my life that I feel defeated. Several illnesses for decades have taken over my body. Right now, they are trying to devour every inch of it. It has been a battle fighting many diseases all these years. There are days I feel overwhelmed and defeated, but guess what guys? I will not let these defeat me. We will all go down fighting and never give up. For me, I have come too far in life to quit now. The menopause thing and CKD took me for a loop, didn’t see this coming.

The gynecologist gave me a shot and prescribed some medication. She told me that my body was losing things that we need as women, but I have to see a nephrologist first. I am curious about what he has to say about this. When you find yourself in the dark, like I was, come to our community. I did this daily and was able to talk to people that understood. This is when you realize that you don’t have to travel this road alone.

Some of us need that push to find our way back. Well, I guess I'm no longer the superwoman I thought I was. I found a way to cope and I did find my way back. We have to take this one day at a time.