A New Year, A New You (yeah, right ) How many New Year s resolutions have you made and broken over the years? Have you lost track? Every year we are told this is the time to make a list (lose 50 pounds, go to the gym every day ) which we promptly forget about around the middle of January. HOW ABOUT this year, instead of making a list of improbable goals you will never keep, choose one that, according to many studies, will benefit you the most: RENAL REHABILITATION.
What is Renal Rehabilitation? That, actually, is up to you. Renal Rehabilitation is an individualized plan to improve your independence, level of activity, and overall quality of life. Think about one thing that, if changed, would make you happier. Here s some possible examples: I wish.. I could go back to work...i could walk farther...i didn t feel so tired and short of breath...i didn t have to be on treatment for so many hours...i wasn t in so much pain...i was more active....i could do more things with my friends and family....i could go back to school and get my degree....i could travel more..i could get a transplant. Does any of that sound familiar? Many dialysis patients have these wishes, and it is definitely challenging to find the time and energy to come up with solutions. FORTUNATELY, most problems are solvable, with enough patience and perseverance. Your dialysis team can help you figure out a plan to meet your rehabilitation goals, and can connect you with resources to achieve those goals.
First Step in Making Rehabilitation Goals: Believe You Can Change! So many of us get used to the way things are. Give yourself the gift of believing that change IS possible. Ask yourself which would make you feel better: Making a goal and working to achieve that goal, or not doing anything about the thing that is preventing you from improving your quality of life. A good technique to change your view of what s possible: Ask the experts. Do you know anyone who has successfully overcome big obstacles with optimism and a positive attitude? Ask them how they did it, more than likely they would be happy to talk to you and share their insights.
Next step: Commit to Your Goal Discuss your goal with your dialysis team: your doctor, social worker, dietician, the nurses and techs. They will help you figure out a rehabilitation plan- steps to take in order to accomplish your goal. Talk to your family about your rehabilitation plan, and what your are hoping your life will be like after you accomplish your goals. Your family needs to understand what you want to change and why it s important to you. They can become your best support and motivation while your are working towards your goal. Talking about your goals is vital to achieving your goals. It makes them real to you and others.
EXERCISE- The Magic Bullet You have probably noticed by now that increasing physical activity is the #1 suggestion when discussing your health with health care providers. There is an important reason for this: Exercise is scientifically proven to improve everything from arthritis pain to depression. High blood pressure, heart health, diabetes- pretty much everything improves along with increased physical activity. Despite conventional wisdom, health problems do not prevent anyone from exercise- but ask your doctor if there is any exercise that would not be safe for you.
BUT I HATE TO EXERCISE!!!! (Or I Can t.) Not everyone is cut out to run a marathon. Fortunately, any increase in movement will improve overall health, and you don t have to EXERCISE in the traditional sense to get health benefits. In fact, many people could benefit most from exercise that does not increase heart rate: strengthening exercises, exercises to improve balance, and stretching exercises can all be performed by just about everyone, and they all have big health benefits. Recommendations for Beginning Exercisers (Aim for 15-20 minutes a day) Point and flex your toes Roll shoulders forward and backward Lift your arms up high Roll your head from side to side Touch your toes Recommendations for Intermediate Exercisers (Aim for 20-30 minutes a day) Walk up a flight of stairs Park car farther away from house or store Rake leaves Take a walk Sweep and mop the floor Clean out a closet The important thing to keep in mind is JUST KEEP MOVING. Get a set of light weights to lift while you watch tv. Learn some simple stretching moves to do every morning. With a little planning you will find that it is easy to incorporate more physical activity in your daily life, and with a little time you will start to notice an improvement in your strength, endurance, range of motion, pain symptoms, etc.
Dialyze to live, don t just live to dialyze. Wayne Nix, teacher, football coach, father, grandfather, husband, camping enthusiast- also happened to be on dialysis for the last 27 years of his life.
Dialyze to live How do you look at dialysis? Do you dialyze to live or live to dialyze? Does it make a difference? Are there still possibilities for travel, fun and volunteering? Every now and then, it is worthwhile to take a moment to think about how you can rediscover your strengths and refocus your energy to accomplish goals that you had before you began dialysis or to set new goals.