I walked out of the doctor’s office, in a trance, almost forgetting that my fifteen year old, beside me, had walked through the very same door with me. The doctor had said, “Your son’s kidneys are failing!” During the fifteen-to-twenty minutes of intense conversation, the doctor had talked extensively about chronic kidney disease. Slowly he [...]
The sudden news of kidney disease can come as a shock for some, making it difficult to process the information. There may be instances when you want to know more but seem lost in the whole web of advice and multiple clinicians who are now involved. We wanted to provide you a checklist of questions [...]
Diagnosis of any chronic illness like kidney disease can be a very turbulent time for any patient. The information and diagnosis may feel overwhelming and the patient might feel at a loss in connecting with his family, friends and even healthcare team. What is it like to live with a chronic kidney disease, how does [...]
Janet Wright with Dr. Gavril Hercz As a nephrologist and psychotherapist, I believe it is important to shed more light on the emotional impact of chronic illness, like polycystic kidney disease (PKD), on patients and families. Last year, during the “In Conversation Series”, we shared the 2018 Toronto PKD scientific conference video, in which Ms. [...]
As we approach the year-end, Team Psychonephrology would like to thank you all for your continuous support and encouragement throughout our journey together. We would like to recap some of the topics that received the widest viewership. At the beginning of this year, we started a new blog series, “in conversation series”, where the patients [...]
Even though keeping a journal is not everyone’s cup of tea, you might want to consider starting one after reading about the positive benefits, both physical and psychological, particularly during stressful periods.
An enormously distressing past event can have long-lasting effects that may only become recognizable many years later. The traumatic event can be one time, such as an accident, injury, loss of someone close, or it can be due to an ongoing cause, like illness. If you are feeling that you are on an emotional roller-coaster, [...]
There have been numerous studies to show that Mindfulness Meditation is beneficial for us. It not only helps us in gaining control of our emotions but also enhances overall well-being. Best of all, it can be done by anyone regardless of his or her health or age, and it does not need any special setting or equipment.
By age 40, about 50% of the population will have or have had a mental illness. If we include families and caregivers, mental health problems and illnesses impact almost everyone in some way. Source Recent studies indicate an increased frequency of mental illness, especially depression, amongst chronically ill patients. Although every individual has a different threshold limit, a [...]
At age 63 I am still not on dialysis and am privileged with a good quality of life – I work part-time, take 2 personal interest courses, enjoy hobbies, eat most food, and do a mild activity. So, what’s my problem? I think, “Well, I don’t have a problem”, especially considering how young others in [...]
How to Sleep Better A sound sleep does wonders for your mental and physical health. Not sleeping well takes a serious toll on your health and drains your energy. Getting a perfect sleep can prove a struggle for many. […]
The only constant is change. With ever-changing technology, this cannot be truer. Checking your devices multiple times has become second nature for most of us. As the internet is evolving, so is our dependence on it. Some may even term it an addiction. The internet, which was introduced as a way to make our lives [...]
Thinking about aging often brings to mind physical transformations: the weakening of bones and muscles, the slow fade of energy, the aches, and the pains. But as our bodies change with age, so do our minds. It’s true that many elders experience some level of memory loss, a series of mental changes known collectively as [...]
We are happy to announce that Dr. Gavril Hercz’s article is published, in the Perspective section of JASN October 2017 28: 2835-2837. The link for the article can be found here. http://jasn.asnjournals.org/content/28/10/2835 "The trauma of dialysis initiation" discusses at length the psychosocial impact of serious medical illness, such as kidney disease, which affects not only [...]
The clinical reception area or the reception desk, be it in a clinic or hospital, is the first and last place that a patient encounters during their anxious visit. Thus it has a major role in imprinting a positive or negative impression, while also influencing the dynamics of the encounter while there. The receptionists not [...]
