Don’t headbutt your situation. Outsmart it and try to be positive.

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass… It’s about learning to dance in the rain” – Vivian Greene.

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow’” – Mary Anne Radmacher.

These quotes seem to sum up my life in a big way. It’s all about making the most of your situation, seeing the smallest bit of positivity in a world of hopelessness.

That’s what sometimes living with a chronic illness like Gitelman syndrome can be. I often find myself having good days, bad days, and very bad days, but even in those times I think, “well OK, so I have achieved something, even if it’s very small.”

For me the positivity has been gained by a number of small processes:

Via slideshare.net

1.  Letting go of the personal sense of failure. This might seem odd to those who have never experienced it but I would actually consciously feel an overwhelming sense of failure if my blood potassium results had been low for no apparent reason or if I had overdone it again by doing too much and using up too much energy on my “good day” – I would beat myself up emotionally for it!

Via lippomallkemangvillage.com

1. Stop identifying myself as ‘Natalie with Gitelman syndrome’. I am, first and foremost, Natalie. Just me, who, yes, has a life-long condition. But I am not, and will not, be defined by it. I know this syndrome takes over most of my life, yes. But I am still me: the funny, slightly awkward, geeky girl that I always have been, just with enough pills inside me so that I rattle!

Via thewalkbook.com

1. Envy and jealously… oh those horrible, horrible emotions. The dangerous poison that we all have at times. This is the most destructive thing that we can do when we have a chronic illness. I learnt to not be thinking “I wish I could do this and that, and go places like her/him” or ‘like normal people do'” or to want to stick a great big “broken” sticker on my chest and go and cry in the corner. That’s not exactly helpful! I must just be grateful for what I have and understand and realise that I can have much fun and enjoyment in others.

Don’t headbutt your situation. Outsmart it and try to be positive.

About Natalie

I live with Gitelman syndrome, a rare genetic kidney disorder. Although it’s genetic and I have had it since birth, it wasn’t diagnosed until 15 years ago and, as many people, medical professionals included, still know little or nothing about it, I have made it my personal mission to raise awareness.

In order to achieve this I have created an internet resource website and forum, which gives medically-backed information in an easy to understand language, to support those affected by the condition.

About Gitelman syndrome

Gitelman syndrome is a life-threatening genetic tubular kidney disorder. A key characteristic of the syndrome is that it is a salt wasting condition which presents with severely low potassium and magnesium levels. This is due to a mutation in the gene SLC12A3 in the distal convoluted tubule. It is estimated that Gitelman syndrome is extremely rare and occurs in 1 in 40,000 people and can affect both males and females equally.

Website: www.gitelmansyndrome.co.uk

Twitter: @GitelmansUK