Do you have anxiety problems with one kidney?

ejneary · June 2011

mroyal60 said:
Yes to anxiety
I lost right kidney at age 6 months 50 and 1/2 years ago.

I like to be the passenger in a car instead of the driver so my right kidney already gone would receive the blow better than the left one which is the left one too (pun)Of course
this only happens about 50% of the time as I have to drive many places.

I have had anxiety as a child because my Mom wanted to tell everyone she met my story. In Doc offices some people would pick up their kids and move to the other side of the room. It made me feel I could make people sick.

In Gym I was told to sit it out on some things. It resulted in major teasing and feeling different.

Here's a little rant and good to vent. I feel understood thanks to these message boards
and real people not text book

Many people give away kidneys but they don't deal with the feelings that we do.

Hey anyone depressed or otherwise get your thyroid checked. Read that radiation could affect this even though it was lower body radiation. I worked at a mental health clinic for years. The psy told me no antidepressant would work if thyroid is low.

I also know this to be true as I have thyroid problems.

Anxiety
Yes. I had my right kidney removed (without adrenal gland) in Feb 2010. I was deeply depressed afterward at times and couldn't figure out why. There were times when I needed to just go and cry somewhere. There were times when I would be driving home (or worse, TO work) and start balling like a baby. There is definitely a physiological connection of your body and brain as well as the psychological issues that come with cancer, changed diet, changed lifestyle, reduction of stress, and the fact that your mortality gets shoved right on up in your face when you go through this. Your body must function differently with the filtering power of a kidney gone and that has to have an affect on everything. This combined with the issues of knowing that your body has changed in a major way....

Of course, we all worry about recurrence and reading the statistics on this cancer is really depressing in itself. I tried to live in denial until the beast returned in April. Now I am dealing with a whole new ballgame of depression, anxiety, panic attacks... Talking about it helps and I am in a group session at a wonderful place called the Cancer Support Community here in California:

http://www.cancersupportcommunity.net/index.html

I invite you to look for a similar group in your area if it exists. This is a great place to talk with other cancer patients in various phases of the journey and get their insight. I also feel it is a great place to try and give back as well as to receive. Both of those acts help psychologically.

Of course, when you are alone, at night, or whenever, there are times when you might not be able to control the anxiety, depression or panic and that's where the oncologist can help out with medication. A good healthy combination of the right medication, taken mindfully and carefully and group or singular therapy helps dramatically. It is much more difficult to wade through this alone and coming here to this message board is a great first step. I find though that even when I post and receive feedback, it isn't quite the same as sitting down with others that are in this battle too.

As far as doctors go, I am sure that they see the same thing in many patients and there are a lot of patients like me that minimize the depression side of losing a kidney. If a combination of diet, counseling and activity is not helping, it is time to ask for help from your doctor. They do have things that can help and are usually willing to make suggestions. Your wellness goes beyond simple physical wellness and must include the feelings that you are dealing with. My oncologist understood all too well and was able to give me medication to help with the panic attacks. Make sure you talk about options with yours.

John

fancyslice · September 2011

Anxiety after Nephrectomy
I had my right kidney removed on May 23, 2011. I was nervous before the surgery as I think anyone would be. But, I was not having panic attacks or insomnia or extreme fear. When I woke up from the surgery I felt very strange. I could not take much stimulation. I had to ask my friend and sister-in-law to leave the room because it was just too much. I felt very delusional and somewhat paranoid. I got no sleep for the 4 days I was in the hospital. When my husband got me home I could not sit down for more than a count of 20 and could maybe lay down for 30 minutes. Otherwise I was up pacing the house continously all through the day and night. My husband kept asking why I couldn't relax and I kept saying if I knew I would stop. I got no sleep for about a month or more. The doctors were no help. They told me it was all psychological. One did say that oh maybe once the anesthsia and meds wear off from the surgery maybe it will get better. Which did not happen. I have been on Remeron for about 2 months and that finally allowed me to sleep. But, I am still having huge amounts of anxiety. I sometimes have to take Valium as well. They did not remove my adrenal gland. I still have both. The anxiety seems to be so physical. My psychologist thinks that maybe the surgery put me into immediate perimenapause. Even with the medication I am on I find it difficult to sit still and relax. It is going on 4 months now and I feel desperate at times. I am just wondering if you ever got any answers about your anxiety or found any relief that helped?

shari_79 · January 2012

fancyslice said:
Anxiety after Nephrectomy
I had my right kidney removed on May 23, 2011. I was nervous before the surgery as I think anyone would be. But, I was not having panic attacks or insomnia or extreme fear. When I woke up from the surgery I felt very strange. I could not take much stimulation. I had to ask my friend and sister-in-law to leave the room because it was just too much. I felt very delusional and somewhat paranoid. I got no sleep for the 4 days I was in the hospital. When my husband got me home I could not sit down for more than a count of 20 and could maybe lay down for 30 minutes. Otherwise I was up pacing the house continously all through the day and night. My husband kept asking why I couldn't relax and I kept saying if I knew I would stop. I got no sleep for about a month or more. The doctors were no help. They told me it was all psychological. One did say that oh maybe once the anesthsia and meds wear off from the surgery maybe it will get better. Which did not happen. I have been on Remeron for about 2 months and that finally allowed me to sleep. But, I am still having huge amounts of anxiety. I sometimes have to take Valium as well. They did not remove my adrenal gland. I still have both. The anxiety seems to be so physical. My psychologist thinks that maybe the surgery put me into immediate perimenapause. Even with the medication I am on I find it difficult to sit still and relax. It is going on 4 months now and I feel desperate at times. I am just wondering if you ever got any answers about your anxiety or found any relief that helped?

one kidney/adrenal
I may be ckicked off this group because I am not a cancer survivor. I was however born with one kidney and adrenal gland. I didn't find this out til I was 48 so I didn't worry too much since I'd made it that far so why freak about about it now? it is now 7 yrs later, and I have had a lot of problems with weakne3ss, depression, anxiety...it's been crazy being so chronically ill. I strongly suspect it is because I have one adrenal. But I can'f find any info in on the net about it it. the closes I came was your group. I see a new GP in a week and am going to insist I see an endocrinologist. I remember when I first got sick I went for 6 weeks w/o sleep except for a minute or 2 here or there. I have taken so many medications it's ridiculous. Anxiiety disorder they say. But when I read about what all the adrenal gland does...wow. I cna't seem to find out if having one kidney (I have the right one, born w/o the left one) leads to adrenal problems.Any ideas where to look so I might have a chance of getting this new dr. to make a decent referral? I am so over this no life and struggling to get through.
Blessings to all of you who have gone through cancer with it's fear, surgery, chemo, radiation ad naseum. I don't have cancer but it's rampant...I've held many a hand. Cheers to all of you!!!!
Shari

Texas_wedge · January 2012

shari_79 said:
one kidney/adrenal
I may be ckicked off this group because I am not a cancer survivor. I was however born with one kidney and adrenal gland. I didn't find this out til I was 48 so I didn't worry too much since I'd made it that far so why freak about about it now? it is now 7 yrs later, and I have had a lot of problems with weakne3ss, depression, anxiety...it's been crazy being so chronically ill. I strongly suspect it is because I have one adrenal. But I can'f find any info in on the net about it it. the closes I came was your group. I see a new GP in a week and am going to insist I see an endocrinologist. I remember when I first got sick I went for 6 weeks w/o sleep except for a minute or 2 here or there. I have taken so many medications it's ridiculous. Anxiiety disorder they say. But when I read about what all the adrenal gland does...wow. I cna't seem to find out if having one kidney (I have the right one, born w/o the left one) leads to adrenal problems.Any ideas where to look so I might have a chance of getting this new dr. to make a decent referral? I am so over this no life and struggling to get through.
Blessings to all of you who have gone through cancer with it's fear, surgery, chemo, radiation ad naseum. I don't have cancer but it's rampant...I've held many a hand. Cheers to all of you!!!!
Shari

Anxiety
Everyone is welcome here - in fact it's nice to be welcoming someone who doesn't have cancer for a change!

Just sorry you're having such struggles. When you see your new GP why not ask for advice on diet and exercise and, especially explore the possible benefit of CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy), all of which stand to offer better payoff than a big cocktail of medications. My apologies if you've already got these angles covered - just trying to come up with helpful ideas in addition to wishing you well, as everyone here will want to do.

mroyal60 · August 2012

Anxiety and Car Rider plea
I do have anxiety about my one kidney. It started in jr high. I was hit in the side passing by a locker being opened. After tha I was hyper attentive to lockers, car doors, any doors. Elbows and roughhousing. I did not like sitting bleachers at ballgames (elbows)

I have always had very ribcage pain that I wonder if it a side effect of radiation.
I have one relative that I cringe when I see the hug coming. I do not bruise from it but I can still feel the sqeeze for hours after. See my car plea and suggestion below:

Please ride in a car so that if you are back seat or middle seat passenger
that you have your missing kidney side to the middle of the car vs your good kidney by a door that can get smashed in a wredk and hurt you only good kidney.

I let my friend/s and family always drive me. As a passenger in the front seat this keeps my only kidney to the middle not by the door.

Ferretgirl · August 2017

Anxiety cause

Hi. I am not a cancer pt, but did have a kidney removed to donate to my husband back in 2014. I don't know if you ever got your answer, or if you will get this, but if it helps anyone, read up on the kidney in Chinese medicine. The kidney and fear/anxiety are interlinked. I have had issues with fear, panic attacks and depression since the transplant. I now work with a very good acupuncturist who has taught me a lot. I am slowly healing, but my body has to learn to work with half its resources. I wish I had been aware of this 3 years ago so I would have been better equipped. But I will settle for understanding it now. Hope it helps.

Supersum · September 2017

Playing Full Body Contact Football With One Kidney

Here in Australia we have a footballer who has played full body contact Australian Rules Football for 11 seasons and 192 games with only one kidney after losing the other kidney due to a collision during a match.

However, I have never met anyone who thinks this is a good idea.

And he also had a recent scare:

"Geelong defender Tom Lonergan admitted he was "worried there for a while" after he got kneed in the back by Carlton forward Levi Casboult in a marking contest on Saturday night.

Lonergan has played without his right kidney since 2006 when he was involved in an horrific on-field collision which almost cost him his life." (August 3rd 1017)

Do you have anxiety problems with one kidney?

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