The struggles/rewards of pku

Pku has always been a challenge for me. As an adult it seem more like a war then just a challenge. Doctors who work in the profession can definitely say that teens and adults are the ones that struggle the most with their pku on average. Which is true. As a child your parents are always in your corner and watching everything you do and they always advocate for you. But everything changes when you become a teen. You are more exposed to social events that exposed you to different foods that make tempting to try. As a teen All you care about is fitting in or not wanting people to interrogate you about having pku. Because you may not even feel comfortable in your own skin. That's where the self control is lost. And you attempt to try things that are an absolute no to pku diet. But as an adult it doesn't get easier. You even more busier with your own life now then ever. Wether it's working a full time job or a full time student. Sometimes you may feel like you can't catch your breath! It's easy to forget your forumla or to count how much phe you had consumed for the day. The pku diet requires time and effort. The more your motivated to stay healthy the better. But I can definitely admit that I went off diet from the time I was a teen to the age of 23. I really encourage adults to try to stay on diet. Because consequences are far greater and staying on diet. When I was off I had dealt with depression,anxiety migraines that never seem to want to go away, moodiness and having a hard time trying to make life decisions or any decisions in that matter that are rational. Dealing with all those side effects, effected every part of my life. I was super socially akward. I forgot what it was like to feel healthy. When I got back on diet I felt the world of a difference. Every struggle I had with the side effects to high levels disappeared. I was able to think clearly and was just loving life. Ans still am. My relationships are alot healthier. I truly recommend anyone that's off diet to consider to getting back on diet. Because being healthy and feeling good is so much better. Then always feeling awful. Like there's constantly a dark cloud over you.