Transplant recovery

[Pc3661]

On transplant list for 6 1/2 years, on Hemo-Dialysis for 5 1/2 years.. My diabetes A1C was 5.4 and no high blood pressure. Please don't misunderstand! I am so happy I received a kidney! As soon as I get over the hump of recovery, I will have my life back. I just need to be able to converse with other transplant patients

[A-A-B-J]

First congratulations on your new kidney. I received mine inNovember. I thought ok I got my kidney. Now what. For me it’s been an emotional roller coaster. My emotions all over the place and med changes often. It does get better. My recovery was pretty quick and I haven’t stopped going since then. I am a caregiver for a younger person and help with 4 grandkids. Talk to others on here and ask questions to your transplant tram. I had a fantastic team and a great coordinator. Hang in there and God bless.

[Bird_watcher]

Congratulations on your new kidney. That’s a long time to wait. My husband was on hemo dialysis & waiting for 5 1/2 years. Then it happened & it was overwhelming. So many medications! Emotional ups & downs. He had a couple of complications in the first month post transplant (infection & fluid retention) that required 2 admissions to the hospital, but then things improved. He is 9 months post transplant now & even with the hand tremors caused by Tacrolimus, he is building a model wooden sailing ship. Good luck with your new life & stay healthy. 👍

Model ship

[LisaSnow in reply to Bird_watcher]

Impressive work!

[desperateboy in reply to Bird_watcher]

Great work, It is enlightening, I am really thankful , I now understood the importance of a new kidney. I play piano thanks to my transplanted kidney😂 , I speak 2 languages thanks to my transplanted kidney .😅 I sometimes making model kits thanks to my transplanted kidney...

[LisaSnow in reply to desperateboy]

Why are you trolling here?

[desperateboy in reply to LisaSnow]

Am I trolling ? I was sorry while reading that message but when I saw ''hand tremors by tacrolimus and making model ship thanks to kidney'' seemed a bit Ironic and made me laughed. And I express myself in a funny way.If she is uncomfortable because of my message I can apologize but What about you ? I did not troll anybody here, You can look at my replies. your answers generally like copy paste but Did I meddle?

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

Congrats on your transplant!! The first year was a little rough for me. My creatinine jumped all over the place till it settled at 0.8-1.0. My dose of my immunosuppressants was changed several times.I went back to work full time and had a career in Gerontology, even ran a non-profit for over 8 years. I am 21+ years post transplant now and have a "bucket list" of sorts of where I want to travel. My husband and I have traveled to Vancouver Island, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island Mexico, Caribbean and Europe.

I would hardly know that I had a transplant except for the daily pills, and quarterly labs and nephrology appts. I guess I don't think about it any more.

My advice is to LIVE! Life is special....those of us that have had a transplant know that all too well.

Best of luck to you and take care!

[gardengirl97301]

Hi there! I had my transplant about 2 years ago. I’m doing well. My staples in certain spots were pokey. Glad when they were out and when I got healed up.

[bisley]

Congratulations on your new kidney. I had my transplant 6 months ago and I feel great. I was on dialysis for just about 3 years and for the last year I was doing home hemiodialysis. Last December I made the decision to terminate treatment . As anyone on dialysis knows, it's not living it's merely existing. I got a new lease on life when my sister-in-law called to tell me she was a perfect match.

My recovery was pretty quit and so far the only complication is severe gastric reflux. Now for me it is the perfect storm. I had pre-existing GERD but it was under control, I had the gastric sleeve done 7 years ago and of course the transplant drugs. So the GERD is being taken care of but aside from that I feel great, I'm active, my thinking is nice and clear. Prior to the transplant I felt like I was in a constant fog.

My suggestion to you is embrace life. While there are no do overs, you have been given a no lease on life. ENJOY YOUR NEW LIFE

😂

[Eyak1971]

Thanks for reaching out. Your are going through a new experience that will have its trials and rewards. This forum Will help you with both. As my kidney doctor said 10 years ago we have now started a relationship that will last for many years.

[Blue-Quilter]

Congratulations on your new kidney! As my transplant team told me, it's a treatment not a cure, but it's a darn site better than most any other treatment for kidney disease out there!

My transplant was 21 months ago (10/2019) and it's been a challenge. The surgeon opened me back up in the office10 days after being released due to the incision getting infected, to clean out the cavity, and readmitted to the hospital. I waited 2 days for the wound vac, a small, portable device that I wore 24/7 to promote healing from the inside out for 7 weeks. It required dressing changes from a home health nurse 3x a week which were more painful than the surgery. I got it off just before Christmas, the best gift ever. I've had more med changes than I can count, and two more hospitalizations, as well as several trips to the ER. I'm on two different antibiotics for the long term to suppress recurrent infections. I'm on meds to keep the nausea from the other meds at bay and still more meds to help me digest the food I eat, as well as insulin to be able to utilize the food. I'm still waiting for the burst of energy and clearer thinking my two brothers who also had transplants talk about.

And yet I recognize that I was given the gift of a second chance in my life. I try to do something I love to do everyday along with all the things I have to do. I'm grateful that I was the recipient and not the donor, a cardiac arrest victim in their 40's. I pray for my donor's family as they come to mind, which is often on my worst days. I realize it is a gift to be alive and not mourning the sudden death of a loved one. When I look at it that way, I realize that no matter how hard I have it here and now, I'm doing better than my donor. And I am profoundly grateful to be alive, with the hope that things will get better eventually.

[Bax509]

Congratulations! Had my transplant one month before yours - had/having difficulties with sleeping with moderate improvement as prednisone tapers and occasional Ambien use. Shaky hands due to Prograf use (according to neph), which will be tweaked as we move on. I was so anxious to feel "normal" that it has been frustrating to get through all the adjustments - but it is what it is and I just have to keep reminding myself it will get better and I'm sure it will for you too. One day at a time.