Transplant Recovery Equated to One Year on Chemotherapy?

[TaffyTwoshoes27]

One of our contributors on HealthUnlocked was told, in her evaluation for transplant by the Hospital Transplant Team, that the first year of recovering from a kidney transplant was similar to that of being on chemotherapy for a year. I have NEVER been told that -- not by my Transplant Team, PD Dialysis team or nephrologist. I have even asked a few medical-related people since I read this and no one has ever heard this. Has anyone else been told or experienced this symptom? I watched both my parents go thru chemotherapy, and if that is what a kidney transplant produces, I'd rather not be transplanted and take my chances on PD for the rest of my life! I am 64. I can imagine recovery being slower for someone my age....but being like chemotherapy? No thanks.

[mhawk123]

I think what this means is the risk of infections is like being chemotherapy. The first two years for me has been dangerous as my WBC count has been low from my PROGRAF and my CELLCEPT. Ask your doctor to explain this further as everyone has different responses to the medication you are taking post transplant.

[MPK0706]

Hi! I am in the middle of a transplant evaluation. I am 76. The hospital Transplant team advised that the recovery could be up to 6 months. I was also advised that I would be on immunosuppressive medicine for the rest of my life. I would be required to have blood test on an ongoing basis!

I go to dialysis 3 x week and take a bunch out meds. If there’s is a chance that a kidney becomes available and I am eligible I will run to the hospital and be happy to take meds for the rest on my life! Think carefully about your decision. Dialysis or transplant?

[mingmiley]

i got transplant on 1992, I remembered immediately after transplant i felt so good enough that i ate a lot {that's probably because Prednison, good thing is that I heard now doctors don't give prednison now}, overall I gained 25 lbs, and I only felt better than when i was dialysing, so it didn't happen to me having much of the "recovery" symptoms.Even though the anti rejection drugs does somewhat suppress our immune system, but over all those years I didn't contract any infection except some worts problem.

[TaffyTwoshoes27 in reply to mingmiley]

Thanks for your input. Prednisone is one of the medications that was listed as being prescribed after the transplant. I don't believe they allow you to be on it long, but I believe they prescribe it as an anti-inflammatory.

[mingmiley]

My transplant lasted 16 yrs, all those yrs I took prednisone,cyclosporin and cellcept, that was from 1992 till 2008. Nowaday I see those people got tx they all looked nice and normal and no prednison. Over the yrs I did develop osteoporosis, I had early menopause, that's one element too. Thanks for replying.

[Bunkin]

Thanks for putting that out there. I remember reading that too and thinking I don’t want to do that. It’s a little scary

[Ava2016]

I had a transplant in May this year I was told it usually takes 6 months to get back to normal so five months later I can honestly say I've never felt so well I can't understand how anybody can say it's the same as having chemo I take two anti rejection drugs one is tacrolimus and the other one is mycophenolate also known as cellcept and the only problem I've had is that cellcept makes my WBC drop so I'm at more risk of picking up infections so I had to go to transplant clinic for 3 days to have an injection to boost my WBC which worked well they went from 1.4 to 6 so I was taking cellcept 500mg but now I'm on 2.50mg to keep them stable for now but I will need to go back to full strength to cover me

[angela3701]

Kidney transplant recovery is nothing like chemotherapy, except that it is similar in risk to infection. I had my transplant at 68 a year and a half ago and I feel better than I had in 15 years! Managing all the meds is a challenge, but nothing compared to dialysis. I'm back to traveling and enjoying every day.

[TaffyTwoshoes27]

Thank you, Angela for your reply. It could not have been more timely. Two weeks ago, I went to my transplant hospital and signed up for the hep C study they are in the middle of doing. This means, instead of throwing away hep C infected organs such as kidneys and livers, they now can treat hep C with several drugs on the market and the drug "Epclusa" will be given to me once I contract hep C after the transplant. My chances of receiving a kidney within two to three months is so much greater now than waiting four more years on dialysis. Also, the possibility that the kidney will be of a younger person is greater in this study than what I may get waiting on transplant list generally.

With so many opioid overdoses and IV drug users dying of overdoses, there is a better chance that I will receive a kidney very quickly. The hep C drug, Epclusa, is administered for approximately 3 months and they are finding a 97% success rate in healing the hep C once the drug is introduced. My transplant hospital is one of six in the nation participating in this hep C study. Other hospitals have already completed their program. I remember reading about Johns Hopkins having started their study in 2012 and they were very successful with their results as well.

Before I can become a valid candidate, I need to switch a couple medications I'm on that have adverse effects with the anti-rejection drugs as well as the epclusa. I should be ready to be on the list within a week or two. I'm looking forward to it and am trying to stay positive. I have a good caregiver and I'm getting my affairs in order so that it's as easy a transition as possible. Thanks for the encouragement that I will feel so much better. I am 64 years old and I'm looking forward to getting back out in society, exercising and having a normal life. I will keep you guys informed.

[mingmiley]

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your steps-- Proverbs 3:5,6 the Bible. One thing I forgot to mention--the prenisone is not for people who have depression or mental disorder, it will mess them up further.

[bubbaboo2]

No way do not believe that at all!!!!!! I had a transplant and it was like your whole body got 1000% better after surgery, please believe this, it is so much better than dialysis and I had chemo for a year and it is nothing like chemo. Transplants are so awesome. Good luck.

[Porter20]

Wow…It was certainly not like that for me! I too did really well on PD but a transplant makes you feel normal again. I was scared and had read this as well. I think they are speaking of the time spent at the hospital for appointments and labs. You do have a lot of life that first year spent at the hospital. They then kick you back to the regular doc at around a year if all goes well. You then go monthly for blood labs. If all is good only every three months for regular checks. I still thank God daily for my blessing! I was 1 of 200,000 that transplanted last year and was 1 of 5000 to receive a living donor.

All because my husband stepped up to donate for me. I am truly blessed!♥️

The best Christmas 🎄♥️🥰 gift a husband can give. He donated before I could receive a transplant. He donated in April and I received my transplant 12/14/21.

Thanks to “Bucky” my alteristic donor from Ohio. May God bless and keep him! NKR matched us up as my husband was not a match but put me as priority due to his donation.

It feels no different just normal having a transplant. Some days I have to remind myself I am transplanted. I have some harder days but, don’t we all as we age. Foods do matter! I do feel my transplant a bit to touch on my right side. I get some back pain from the extra imbalance on days but nothing to complain about. I have been fortunate to have zero side effects to date from drugs. I do have to watch my sugar Diabetes is a side effect to meds and I will most likely have it long term. I walk most days like 30-45 minutes.