Almost 23

[Ladybug_05]

Hey all!

It's been quite a while, but I thought I would give an update about post transplant. My donated kidney is doing great with my creatine hanging between 0.72-0.94 and gfr is between 84-99+. I'll be at 1.5 years post transplant in July, but my 23rd birthday is in 19 days. My first year was rough with recovery since my body wasn't used to having a working organ. I needed iron infusions for 8 weeks to boost my hemoglobin and hematocrit. My iron was also too low in general and food wasn't helping. Within the first 3 months I had contracted C-Diff twice and developed multiple UTIs. The nerves and muscles in my side were slow to grow back, so it was difficult for me to move to physical therapy until about 8 months post transplant. I will say that life has become less crazy now that I've been undergoing physical therapy for almost a year and my muscles around the incision site have grown back, but it still hurts sometimes. The many side effects from the transplant medications have resolved, but I'm about 40lbs heavier with hot flashes and mood swings, some insomnia and I'm on medication for my tremors.

I wouldn't trade any of my experiences for anything. In all honesty, my rough recovery and trials to even get to my transplant have only prepared me for my next one. I've attempted to go back to school about 3 times now, and I hope that my third time is a charm. It's hard to think of how far I've come over the past year, but it's given me a lot of experience I didn't know I needed. I hope that everyone is doing well, and I hope that for those of you waiting for a transplant that it comes soon.

[Hidden]

It's good to hear from you and to know you are on the mend. Keep us posted and continue with the good numbers.

[Bet117 NKF Ambassador]

Thanks for sharing your good news!

Stay strong and look for the continuing light of each day!

B..

[steve680]

Good to hear you doing better now post transplant. Keep doing what you're doing as it seems to be working. I think a GFR of "84-99+" says it all; must be nice as so many other problems like anemia and potassium/phosphorus levels will resolve with a functioning kidney.

[Herkidney]

Yay! So glad that you are now doing well.

[Irelandy]

Well done, and thanks for sharing. My egfr is 17, I feel 20 years older than I am, good to get your feedback and good luck with school 😀

[JEanes55]

Best wishes to you

[JEanes55]

I was on EPO for two years and it didn’t do anything for me. I could never get a 10.0 reading. It was frustrating and soon my doctor stopped the injections.

[Ladybug_05 in reply to JEanes55]

I'm so sorry!

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Good for you Ladybug. Glad things are going so well for you. Good luck with school and I am sure you will do great because you are a Warrior.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

So glad you are doing so much better. Ya, I remember only too well the first year after transplant can be a rough one. At least for me everything was on the "upswing" after that.

Good luck going back to school too. Should be fun to be back among all of your friends.

Kind of funny when you said you had gained 40#. Seems like everyone gains that the first year. When you start being more active, you will lose weight, my experience anyway.

Take care of yourself and so happy you are doing well.