Sleep and depression problems

[HughL]

Has anyone had side effects of sleep and depression from kidney transplant? Still working on depression/sleep, trying various prescription drugs the process takes a long time...

[Charlene_Coxhead]

Sorry to here you are struggling post transplant. I'm waiting for a transplant and struggle with sleep but think most people do in stage 5 I'm pre dialysis.

How long have you had your transplant? It's been an emotional time and the hole process is very up and down so no wonder your suffering from depression. Have to seen a counsellor to talk to someone about how your feeling. It must be hard as you have a lot of medication that you need to take and I bet people are saying you've got a second chance at life but it's hard when you've been so ill to bounce back and get your head around having someone else's body part. Take each day at a time. Little steps maybe set your self a goal as simple as walking for 10minutes a day just to give you something to focus on and exercise is always good natural mood improver. Sorry I don't know if your able to walk as I know kidney disease have lots of additional health implications.

Definitely see someone to talk to or phone one of the helpline you can be completely honest with them about your feeling where sometimes however great family and friends are I don't think we are ever completely honest as to protect them.

Sorry I don't think I've been much help but I'm hear to listen if you ever want to message someone to chat too, don't ever feel alone there is always someone on the forum willing to listen

Take care

Charlene

[blackkat2]

Yes. I'm 7 months post transplant and sleep is still a challenge, mainly due to myoclonus, which I had hoped would stop post-trans but didn't. I've tried all the drugs and everything makes me dysfunctional the next day, so now I just tough it out.

As for depression, I haven't exactly been depressed, but I've experienced a lot of psychological struggle. It's mostly irrational so I think it's the meds, the stress--physical, mental, and emotional--of the disease and treatment, and the psychological burden of the other unpleasant side effects such as weight gain, hair loss, and massive hormonal shifts. It's getting better, very slowly. I don't think there's any way around it: you just have to go through it. But hope springs eternal and it helps to know we're not alone.

[kidney40]

Hi! I hesitate to say anything since I am a lay person, however I will say that after my

transplant and returning home I suffered what I call anxiety. Wondering if the kidney

is operating well , will it continue to do so and for how long? Eventually your daily

habits will over come this anxiety without you realizing it at first, then one day you

wake up and realize that these moments you have been having went away. Hopefully

you will know in your mind that everything is OK.

Kidney40

[mickfoxx]

I’m 8 yrs post Kidney/Pancreas Transplant and I’ve not had any type of depression and maybe once every 3 months I may have an issue falling asleep, I sleep well 2-3 nights per week and very lightly the others. My advice is to not allow any negative thoughts to gain hold, You can and will live a full life, Take your meds, Stay hydrated and keep your body moving. I wish you the best of luck.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

First you should let you transplant team know your problems with sleep. You didn't say how long it's been since your transplant? It is pretty common at first. I think it's due to your body getting used to the daily medication. I was on steroids (prednisone) too and that is really the cause of a lot of problems with sleep. My team over time was able to reduce the amount of prednisone I took and helped with sleep. Also, please check with your doctor regarding over the counter sleep aids. Some, depending on your meds you take to prevent rejection, do not mix well.

Good luck.

I am almost 19 years post transplant.

[Drdetroit]

I am almost 7 yrs post transplant. Maybe try thinking of wonderful things that have gone on in your life or things that you look forward to. It works for me if I occasionally have trouble, or maybe some low soothing music Good luck

[PeterPetrinec]

transplant is big change in your life.. it has big impact on your body as well as on your mind.. you need time to adjust to these changes.. also we don´t know the background.. maybe the depression is caused by some other reason.. anyway you are not alone.. you can talk to somebody in your family/friends, doctors.. or here in forum