I'm Fine

Walking off the tram on a mild Monday morning in Melbourne, Australia, I mumbled to myself, “It feels great to be back!” The walk to my architect’s office was only three blocks away. After a week in the tropical climate of Darwin, I was happy to be back in the first city I had ever visited Down Under. The first week on this trip was diametrically opposed from a professional to a personal perspective. Professionally it was great as my time was spent with clients, colleagues, and government officials discussing an upcoming project in Darwin’s city center. Personally, it was rough, to say the least. I was not feeling well at all. I attributed the weakness and exhaustion to jet lag. As I began my trek down Exhibition Street in Melbourne, something was not right. I had to stop four times to catch my breath as I made the three block walk. My initial thought was Damn, am I out of shape; I really need to get to the gym!  

After arriving at the office, my architect urged me to go to the hospital as he had experienced having fluid in his lungs in the past and presumed that was also the case with me, based on my symptoms. Stubbornly, I disagreed as I had a week's worth of meetings ahead and did not want anything to disrupt what I had planned. I assured him that if I still did not feel 100% on Friday, after all the meetings and a conference I was scheduled to attend had concluded, I would agree to see a doctor. The rest of the day was more of the same. If I was moving, I had trouble breathing. I was only “good” if I was sitting or stagnant. As those with me throughout the day continued to ask, “Pesh, are you sure you’re okay?!”, my only response was “I’m fine.” Approximately 24 hours after stepping off that tram, I was in the ICU.

Why do we have trouble admitting when everything is not okay? I am talking to you, men! Maybe it is the embarrassment of looking weak. After all, we have been raised (at least my generation and those before us) to always be strong. The cliche “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” was embedded in our psyche. We think that whatever is wrong will heal itself, given time. Another thought process that hinders us is the emotion of fear. Many of us have lived with the thought process of the worst case scenario. That going to the doctor’s office will reveal what we do not want to hear. The thought of finding out that everything is far from okay is frightening. My former therapist once told me FINE is an acronym for “Freaked Out, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional.” The more I have read, researched, and observed, the more I have taken a personal account of myself and my interactions and conversations with others, the more I understand fragile masculinity.

As a part of their MENtion It campaign, Cleveland Clinic conducted an online survey among men in the US, age 18 or older regarding this subject. They found that 72% of men would rather do household chores, such as cleaning the bathroom or washing the dishes, than going to the doctor. 65% of men admitted that they would put off going to the doctor’s office as long as possible. 37% of those who responded said they had purposely withheld information from their doctors in the past, specifically because they were not ready to deal with the potential diagnosis that might result from telling the truth.

To echo what I wrote in last week’s newsletter, if something is wrong, please speak to someone. First of all, nothing can or will change until you admit to yourself that there is an issue. Once you have done that, the next step is to seek help. Whether it is emotional pain, physical pain, or a combination of the two you find yourself living with, there are people who will be there for you and who can help guide you through it. Do not follow in my footsteps and wait until the very last moment.

What is CKD?

CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) is an illness characterized by the gradual loss of kidney function. The function of your kidneys is to filter waste and excess fluid from your blood by way of urine. This balances the body’s fluids, helps to regulate blood pressure, and controls the production of red blood cells. With CKD, these functions and others are decreased over time and can lead to health complications such as high blood pressure, anemia, and nerve damage. Kidney disease also increases a person’s chances of having heart and blood vessel damage. Kidney failure is the final stage and the treatment options most widely used are dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Currently, an estimated 37 million adults in the US have CKD, while 1 in 3 adults (approximately 80 million people) are at risk. The leading causes for CKD are Diabetes and High Blood Pressure (Hypertension). Other risk factors include obesity, heart disease, abnormal kidney structure, older age, and frequent use of medications that can harm the kidneys. Studies show the population groups with the highest risk of kidney disease are African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans. Kidney disease is the leading cause of death in the US, with heart disease being the primary cause of death, according to the National Kidney Foundation.

Although severe symptoms may not present themselves until CKD has progressed, here are some things to look for:

• Swollen feet and ankles

• Dry, itchy skin

• Urinating more, or less

• Trouble sleeping

• Fatigue or lack of energy

• Poor appetite

• Shortness of breath, if fluid builds up in the lungs

• Chest pain, if fluid builds up around the lining of the heart

• Muscle cramps at night

• High blood pressure (hypertension) that becomes difficult to control

Be aware that your labs can indicate if you have CKD. I encourage you to be proactive and have a conversation with your doctor to ensure they are testing for, and paying close attention to the following items which are the three most important things to look for:

• Albumin to Creatinine Ratio Urine Test

• Blood Test for Creatinine

• GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate)

If any of these come back abnormal, speak to your PCP (Primary Care Physician) about referring you to a Nephrologist for a consultation.

A Friend In Need

Today is my friend Jay Lallu’s 3 Year Anniversary for his liver transplant…Happy Liver-versary Jay! He and I first met while we were both serving as Ambassadors for AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association). Through seeing each other multiple times a year at Regional Meetings, National Conventions, and Legislative Summits, along with running into each other at various social functions, Jay and I became good friends who would always make time for a one on one conversation, even if it was for a brief moment. I have never seen him without a smile on his face. His energy is contagious and he is always ready for a good laugh. Jay, who lives in Cabot, Arkansas, is a devoted family man who serves his community at every turn. Unfortunately, his kidneys started failing when he contracted Covid a year ago. He is currently on dialysis and is on the transplant list patiently waiting for good news. As is his personality, he remains upbeat and positive through the process. Girish (Gary) Patel of Little Rock, Arkansas states “For as long as I can remember, about 20 years, Jayesh has always been passionate about serving the community. His dedication has been inspiring to me. His unwavering compassion for others has made our community a better place. I pray that he will find a kidney donor very soon so he can continue what he loves to do.” Jay’s blood type is A+ and is compatible with blood types A+, A-, O+, and O-. If you or someone you know is open to being a living donor, or would like more information on what it means to be a living donor, please either email me at [email protected] or to Jay directly at [email protected]. Your consideration is greatly appreciated.

Mental Health Moment

In a recent social media post by Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., Professor of Neurobiology and Opthalmology at the Stanford School of Medicine, and Host of the Huberman Lab podcast, he shares the following information regarding a new study published in Nature Mental Health that included over 85,000 subjects:

“A new study published in Nature Mental Health further supports a now large (and robust) body of research showing that we should all get ample sunlight in our eyes as possible during the daytime, especially on overcast days and that we should avoid bright artificial light exposure at night. There are a myriad of reasons for this, including influence on hormone and transmitter production. Avoiding lights at night and seeking light during the day may be a simple and effective, non-pharmacological means of broadly improving mental health. Conversely, viewing bright artificial lights at night (of any color) combined with less than two hours of outdoor time per day, can undermine mental health.”

For more details on this, and other fascinating science related subjects, please follow him on Instagram @hubermanlab as well as listening to his podcast wherever you get your podcasts from.

Please remember, I am not a medical professional, nor is any of this medical advice. I am just out here living A Kidney Life.