PKD Life - Spring 2022 - 5

Self -Ca re
BEST WAYS TO
TREAT EXTREMELY
DRY SKIN
Very dry skin is a common side eff ect of
PKD. Cold weather can exacerbate that
dryness, making the skin scaly and prone
to cracking. Here are some tips for discouraging
dryness:
* Use warm water, not hot, for
baths and showers, and limit
them to fi ve to 10 minutes.
* Blot your skin dry with a towel;
don't rub.
* Apply moisturizer right aſt er
getting out of the tub or shower.
Choose fragrance-free ointments
or creams, which are
typically more eff ective and
less irritating than lotions or
scented products. Products that
contain colloidal oatmeal are
also benefi cial.
Co mm unit y Co nn ection
HOW DO YOU HELP YOUR
CHILD EXPLAIN THEIR
PKD TO THEIR PEERS?
Fit ne 
2 Easy Yoga Stretches
E ven if you've never done yoga, you have most likely heard of its benefi
ts for the body and mind. Ease your way into a yoga practice with
these two gentle stretches:
BRIDGE POSE
1 Lie on your back with your
knees bent, your legs and feet parallel
and hip-distance apart.
2 Move your feet closer to your
buttocks. Press down fi rmly
through both of your feet and
inhale to raise your hips, lifting
from the pubic bone.
3 Clasp your hands under your
back on the fl oor. Press down
fi rmly through your heels and
lift the back of your thighs and
the bottom of your buttocks
even higher while keeping the
thighs parallel.
4 Release your hands and lower
your hips to the fl oor. Repeat
10 times.
CHILD'S POSE
1 Kneel on the fl oor. Touch your
big toes together and sit on your
heels, then separate your knees
about as wide as your hips.
2 Exhale and fold forward, with
your torso down between your
thighs. Lengthen your tailbone
away from the back. Tuck your
chin slightly.
3 Stay in this pose for as
long as you want.
Camden and I
have learned
that children
are typically
very accepting
and usually do
not have many
questions once
it has been
explained to
them. The most
effective way
he describes it
to his peers is
by comparing
his disease to
other chronic
diseases such as
diabetes, asthma,
or epilepsy and
letting his friends
know that there
are times that he's
having a rough day
and needs to rest.
He also explains
to them that he
takes medication
for certain
problems just
like they would
take Tylenol for
a headache or
injury.
-Sarah Noble,
Charlotte, North
Carolina
When my daughter,
Lydia, was fi rst
diagnosed with
PKD three years
ago, it was a lot to
deal with. She was
only 16 at the time
and already dealing
with peer pressure
from just being a
teenager. We also
talked about how
or if she needed to
tell her friends. I
told her to discuss
it only if she was
comfortable and
to not let this new
diagnosis defi ne
her. If a friend
should start asking
questions, then
just be honest with
them. She has since
had conversations
with friends, and
while they may
not completely
understand her
condition, they are
supportive.
-Robin Lopes, Ellwood
City, Pennsylvania
SHARE YOUR STORY
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a future issue of PKD Life? Email
pkdlife@pkdcure.org.
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5
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PKD Life - Spring 2022

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