04/15/2026
My feet were swollen, the first clear sign that something was wrong. Though I suspect it might have begun earlier, perhaps with foamy urine I didn't quite register, those swollen feet in June were undeniable. They were an urgent, visible alarm that propelled me to my primary care doctor, marking the true start of this challenging journey.
The lab results that came back in July were a shock: I was leaking a significant amount of protein. What made it even more perplexing was that just months prior, in April 2025, a routine medical check-up had shown everything to be perfectly normal. The speed and intensity of this change felt disorienting, leaving me to grapple with how rapidly my health could deteriorate.
Referred to a kidney specialist, I soon embarked on various treatments. One particular kidney transplant medication stands out for its debilitating effects. Taking 60 pills daily, I experienced a constant pounding in my heart, overwhelming anxiety, and severe sleep deprivation. It felt as though the treatment itself was actively harming me, leaving me exhausted and unwell.
I reached a point where I had to speak up, telling my doctor that I simply couldn't continue with that regimen. We adjusted my medication, but the new treatment brought little relief, and in some ways, I felt even worse than before. It was a disheartening realization that the very interventions designed to help were seemingly exacerbating my condition.
This path has been a difficult one, filled with attempts at dietary changes, weight loss, and the relentless struggle against medication side effects. It’s a continuous search for understanding, for effective relief, and for a way to reclaim a sense of normalcy amidst the ongoing challenges to my health.
