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9/3/2014 - To Be Young, Dating…And Living with Kidney Disease - KidneyTalk PodcastFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: To Be Young, Dating…And Living with Kidney Disease Glendale, Calif. – September 3, 2014 – You’re out on a date and learning about each other. How do you know if you should share that you have a chronic illness? Lori Hartwell, Renal Support Network Founder and Host of KidneyTalk! has an honest, open conversation with 20-something-year-old Joanna Galeas about the journey to self-acceptance. Dating and learning how to deal with body image issues, rejection and acceptance, and intimacy is all part of growing up. But if you have medical issues that are visible, you may have more reservations and be less likely to give yourself a chance. Chronic Kidney Disease, CKD, is usually accompanied by other health issues, some that could have led to the kidney(s) failing and some that are complications of the illness. Either way, the body is visibly affected. You have to have some kind of access in your body if you are on dialysis, this could mean tubes sticking out, bumpy scars or, if you’ve had a kidney transplant, surgery scars. “We have to be thankful that we have these life-saving treatments,” says Lori, but “how does that affect your self-esteem, especially when you’re young and learning about who you are?” "You bring around the energy that you put out," says Joanna, as she had to learn how, if and when to tell others about this other part of her, and find out who was willing to stick around. RSN is a nonprofit, patient-focused, patient-run organization that provides nonmedical services to those affected by chronic kidney disease and strives to bring them hope. One way to motivate people and help them take control is to showcase guests who can share their coping tips and tricks, inspire others, and empower them to live well despite the limitations of chronic illness. The leading causes of kidney failure are high blood pressure and diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in six adults in the United States is at risk for kidney disease. Nearly 100,000 people are waiting for a kidney transplant, and over 600,000 people are on dialysis or have a kidney transplant. Catching kidney disease in its early stages can prevent or delay progression. A simple blood test will help determine the presence of the disease. You can find the To be Young, Dating… and Living with Kidney Disease interview, along with a library of other shows, at www.RSNhope.org/kidneytalk-podcast/ and on iTunes.
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