I know this wasn’t the most uplifting episode—but I also know how lonely it feels to sit with scary lab results, unanswered questions, and a body that’s just not cooperating. So if you’re there right now too, please know: I see you. You’re not broken. You’re not failing. And you don’t have to face the unknown alone. Whether your kidneys are flaring, your labs are off, or your energy is hanging by a thread—you still belong here. You’re still worthy of rest, support, and softness.
Memorable Quotes:
🩺 “I don’t have a bow to tie on this episode—just a body that’s tired, a heart that’s scared, and a voice that refuses to stay silent.”
🌊 “You can be scared and strong at the same time. You can cry in the car and still keep showing up.”
🧠 “This is the part of chronic illness no one prepares you for—the waiting, the worrying, the wondering if your body is betraying you.”
Links
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https://theinvisibleillnessclub.kit.com/gratitude-prompts
📥 Free Resource – Rest & Refocus Workbook:
https://theinvisibleillnessclub.kit.com/bf5f7dd367
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Transcription
Hey friend. Welcome back to The Invisible Illness Club Podcast.
This one’s going to be a little more personal. And honestly? A little harder to talk about.
Because lately, my body has been doing the absolute most—and not in a fun, Beyoncé way. We’re talking kidney issues. Labs. Specialist appointments. A whole lot of scary words thrown around. And more blood draws than I can count.
It started with my rheumatologist calling after some routine bloodwork. Nothing out of the ordinary—I do this every few months. But this time? The numbers weren’t right. Specifically, my kidney function had dropped. And when we repeated the labs, it wasn’t a fluke. It was real.
Cue the panic. The “what does this mean?” spiral. The endless Googling. The “I’m fine” texts when I really wasn’t.
Right now, they’re monitoring me closely. My eGFR is just a few points above Stage 5 kidney disease—yep, the scary one. Kidney failure. I’ve already had to change my diet. Up my electrolytes. Watch my sodium. Pee into cups. Check for protein. (I know—glamorous.)
And the thing is? On the outside, you might not even know anything is wrong. I don’t look like I’m one lab result away from a nephrologist throwing me into a panic. But my body knows. And I’m exhausted.
I’ve cried in the car. I’ve felt like a burden. I’ve wondered if I’m doing everything wrong—eating the wrong thing, drinking too much water, not enough water, too much salt, not enough rest. You know the drill. It’s the “chronic illness math” where none of the answers ever seem to add up.
But here’s what I do know: this is the part we don’t talk about enough.
The in-between. The waiting. The not-knowing. The fear that lives just under the surface when your body starts doing something you can’t control.
So if you’re in a season where your body feels like a mystery—or worse, like a betrayal—please hear me: you’re not alone.
I’m walking through it right now with you. I’m scared some days. But I’m also still here. Still showing up in the ways I can. Still choosing to hope, even when I’m also choosing to cry.
I don’t have a neat little bow to tie on this episode. There’s no “five tips for surviving a kidney crisis” coming. This is just me, being honest. Saying the quiet parts out loud. Reminding us both that being sick doesn’t mean being silent. And being strong doesn’t mean being fine.
If this resonated with you, would you send it to someone else who might need to hear it? Or maybe just hit that review button and leave a little note. That kind of support means the world right now.
Until next time—take care of your body, your heart, and your hope.