When do you start feeling better?

[Moose1018]

I had my transplant from my brother about 3 weeks ago. Everyone keeps asking if I feel better and I dont. Most of the time I feel worse than before I had transplant. I was on dialysis for like 3 months prior to surgery still made urine and was weight training 5 days a week. Now I just feel run down no energy and cant barely walk a mile. Just very discouraged at the moment. I just want to feel better and the meds dont help either.

[Mgt8]

Morning Moose 1018,

Please dont be disheartened.

Not everybody feels really well straight after their transplant.

It took me several weeks to begin to feel good again. Energywise it seemed to grow gradually rather than me being instantly better. I did find however that drinking my full quota of water each day helped there.

It also took me a while to get used to the meds but after a few rejigs after blood tests by the medical team I started to feel healthy again, and my energy grew.

Even now, a year later, I find myself feeling better than the month before.

If there are particular worries that you have about how you feel, do speak with your kidney team. I am sure they will be able to address them and put your mind at rest.

In the meantime, rest a little, keep active and enjoy the ability to get up every day knowing that dialysis is a thing of the past and that taking a few tablets and drinking plenty of water is all you need to do to aid your path to recovery.

Best wishes,

Mgt

[blackkat2]

I had a very similar experience. Never really felt that bad on dialysis, then found that the meds after transplant had such harsh side effects that I often actually felt worse, not just physically but also mentally/emotionally. Hang in there, take really good care of yourself (get back to the training ASAP), and trust that it gets better.

[Dmbyrne]

Hello,

Congratulations on your Transplant! Hooray for no more dialysis 😁

Similar for me. I was on dialysis for only three months until miraculously I had a live donor get approved for transplant!

But, like you, it was no bed of roses w recovery. I had no energy, zapped down to nothing. 3 weeks out is no time at all to be completely healed. Be kind to yourself, you just had major transplant surgery . Rest as much as you can, be walking everyday like your doctors recommend and drink plenty of water throughout the day. Take your meds on time, you’ll get used to them over time.

Honestly, it took me a whole year and two months for the fatigue to completely go away. (I had my transplant 1-1/2 years ago.). I gradually got better. In the meantime I was kind to myself and rested when I was tired and did the best I could the rest of the time. Gave myself permission to heal on the timeline of my body. When I spoke to the counselor on staff at transplant clinic, he told me that most patients he sees, the number 1 issue is no energy and feeling tired. He said it takes most Transplant patients about a year to get their energy back. I hope that encourages you, that this is normal and you’re not alone.

God Bless You on your personal road to recovery. Take heart my friend, you will feel better and you’re not alone.

Dena B

Dallas, Texas

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

Congrats on your transplant! Take one day at a time and you will eventually start to feel better. Your body has had a big shock, first with the surgery and now all of the meds. Everyone reacts differently to all of that. I found that walking everyday, even just for 15 minutes at first and drinking plenty of water helps. As you get your strength back you will be able to walk longer and feel better.

You also need to tell your transplant team your symptoms. For me they needed to reduce the amount of immunosuppressants I was taking. My blood levels were too high, so the reduction in my dose. For you, it just might be that you haven't had enough time since your transplant.

[kimmie55]

Hi Moose!

Congrats to you and your brother!

Recovery isn't a sprint....it takes time and is different for everyone. Adjusting to the meds is the biggest challenge, but once your prednisone, if taking, tapersyour mood should improve. I'm 6 1/2 yrs out and still have ups and downs but my kidney is a "ninja" ( my donor's nickname for her) and i am healthy. Trust in your team but be honest with them about how you feel. They are there for you! Keeping you and your kidney healthy is their only goal.

Things will get better day by day... have faith, eat well, exercise and be happy to be alive ❤

[Dotti55]

Dena is absolutely right. I’m a year and a half out too since my transplant and believe meI too am waiting to be completely back to normal. It’s differebt for everyone but it definitely takes longer than you would expect

Hang on, it does get better.

[WayCoolJr]

Testing

[WayCoolJr]

You need to do intense exercise to feel better!

[LisaSnow in reply to WayCoolJr]

No, transplant patients are not allowed to do ANY intense exercise within the first year.

[WayCoolJr in reply to LisaSnow]

Of course they are! It just depends on the person. I had over 15 years of weightlifting experience before my kidney transplant so I started lifting again 3 and ½ weeks after transplant WITH doctor's approval!

[LisaSnow in reply to WayCoolJr]

You are putting your incision site at extreme high risk of tear.

[LisaSnow in reply to WayCoolJr]

People who had abdominal surgery are at-risk for developing incisional hernias. They are especially susceptible three to six months following the procedure, when the tissues are healing from the incision. Strenuous activity can cause excessive stress on the healing abdominal tissue and should be avoided during this healing window.

[Moose1018]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I am hanging in there. Hopefully I can get cleared to workout in the next few weeks. I cant wait.

[LisaSnow in reply to Moose1018]

People who had abdominal surgery are at-risk for developing incisional hernias. They are especially susceptible three to six months following the procedure, when the tissues are healing from the incision. Strenuous activity can cause excessive stress on the healing abdominal tissue and should be avoided during this healing window.

[Ynnep]

Hello Moose1018, It really is awful to have people around you acting like you had a hang nail and now everything must be A-OK. I have found that I can barely meet my own expectations let along everyone else's. You have my sympathy . I know how hard this is. I know you are doing the best you can. But this is not a race, it recovery. And it's hard and there are no guidelines. Three weeks is so short a period of time. Do what you can to feel better and know that all of the Kidney Transplants here on this site are here for you. WE know how you feel and we will listen anytime. All my best. You are doing your best and that all anyone can/should expect. Please follow up here and let us know how you are.