I have had enough

[Randy1805]

I hear people saying what drugs they are on so my question is why am I on so many drugs? I take 7 prescription drugs in the morning, and 9 at night that is not including my aspirin or fish oil.

..

[OperationKidney]

That's a much better question for your doctor. I imagine it has to do with your specific needs. Transplant med lists often do resemble a pharmacy so it's also possible people just haven't mentioned all their meds except the ones we are typically given for transplant.

[Randy1805 in reply to OperationKidney]

Thank you. Along with your transplant meds sooner or later come other meds..

[OperationKidney in reply to Randy1805]

So very true!

[Alfredmynewkidney]

I guess it depends on what the meds are for. I'm on 3 anti-rejection meds. (More than 3 pills) an antiviral, an antibiotic,, 3 blood pressure medications and medication for GERD. I take a handful of pills twice a day. I had my transplant 20 months ago

[Alfredmynewkidney in reply to Alfredmynewkidney]

Plus calcium supplements twice a day(prescribed)

[Randy1805 in reply to Alfredmynewkidney]

Thank you. I had my transplants 11 years ago. I hope you do well.

[mingmiley in reply to Randy1805]

I hope you do well Randy1805. Sorry to hear that you got lip cancer, how are you now?

[Eyak1971]

Good question. You need answers. I would have to agree with others. Talk to your doctor and maybe do some research online concerning the drugs you are taking and the blood tests that determine your dosage at times. The more you know the better questions you can ask your doctor. It is your body and sometimes you have to be your own advocate. Take care and I hope you find the answers you need. Since you are part of this forum I know you will keep trying and I hope you keep us posted.

[Randy1805 in reply to Eyak1971]

Thank you. Eyak1971. I remember talking to you some of my other post. Yes I'm going to talk to him. And do some research. Thanks brother. I hope your male. LOL

[Transplant314]

How long ago was your transplant?

[Randy1805 in reply to Transplant314]

11 years....

[blackkat2]

I take 10 different Rx split up between morning and evening, and one extra every Sunday. In addition to some supplements. Better living through chemistry.

[Randy1805 in reply to blackkat2]

Thank you. I hope you feel well. Some people don't. I look at this life and I laugh at it. I am a survivor.

[Traned]

As the others have said, do some research then ask your doctor. I also recommend checking into the side effects of each so you can make an informed decision based on the risks. Long term side effects can impact your quality of life down the road so be aware what your taking. Don’t stop anything without speaking to your doctor though.

[Randy1805 in reply to Traned]

Thank you. You are right I will talk to him. It wouldn't hurt for me to look up these drugs. Thank you again.

[TaffyTwoshoes27 in reply to Randy1805]

I’d suggest you talk to the Pharmacist where you obtain the majority of your meds. I am not transplanted yet, but I have spoken (by phone) on several occasions in the last 5 yrs about the meds I take — supplement and prescription— to see what he/she says about possible counter interactions.My psychologist said (just last week) that most specialists (other than some nephrologists) have no idea of how meds interact with a kidney patient (on PD 5 yrs) that is on a Transplant Waitlist. I have been prescribed several meds in the past by GI and cardiology docs who have prescribed meds that the Transplant Team have told me are a definite No-No!

Pharmacists SHOULD be mindful of interactions when filling prescriptions, but sometimes we get our meds from different sources so there is no continuity.

Just a suggestion!

[Randy1805 in reply to TaffyTwoshoes27]

Yes thank you I will talk to the pharmacist. Good idea. I was on PD also for about 8 months felt much better then hemodialysis. Thank you again. And I wish you the best.

[Randy1805 in reply to TaffyTwoshoes27]

And yes I get all my meds from one Pharmacy.

[Darlenia]

Oh, Randy. I think your regimen isn't unusual for a transplant patient. My hubby, also a transplant patient, takes a similar number of medications. It doesn't hurt, however, to discuss your concerns with your transplant team. We have a monthly virtual meeting with ours and we are always offered the chance to bring up concerns. Hubby is 6 months post transplant. They will soon remove two more prescriptions if things continue to go well and I suspect that the remainder will become more or less required for the life of the organ.

[Randy1805 in reply to Darlenia]

Thank you. I hope your husband does well.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

Welcome to the club! Most of us never mention the other meds we are on - just our immunosuppressants. I am 22 years post transplant and have 8 prescription meds (2 immunosuppressants) I take plus about 5 OTC supplements. I know it usually takes me 30 minutes to set my meds up each week. I feel that it is a small price to pay for LIFE and being able to live my life normally.If you question some of your meds, you should talk it over with your nephrologist. I know there is a reason for every one of mine.

[Randy1805 in reply to WYOAnne]

Thank you. I have a very good nephrologist. I'm sorry to say but I trust him, I see him every 3 months. For 11 yrs. But I will talk to him next time I see him about every one of my meds. Thank you again.

[AndrewT]

Dear Randy,

You, really DO, need to Speak to your 'Own Team', regarding your Medication However I think your 'extra' Drugs could, very well, be related to your cancer. (which, if I read your 'Page' correctly, you have in TWO places).

Let us NOT get too 'Gloomy though Randy- please let me wish both you, and your Family-

a Very Merry Christmas, from us ALL.

AndrewT

[Randy1805 in reply to AndrewT]

Thank you Andrew. T you said I had it in two spots. You must not have read my other post. I also had basal cell on my lip. They cut off my whole entire lip on top. 2 plastic surgeries, and one more to go. Also had prostate cancer 28 days of radiation all of it this year.

[AndrewT in reply to Randy1805]

Oh Heck Randy NO...... I did 'Miss' your second 'Post'. I don't know about your Religious Beliefs but- I'm sending a Prayer, for you, and your Family:-

Dear Lord please may this Man find your Love, and Healing, this Christmas Time. May Your Holy Spirit be with him and give him Your Strength in the days ahead. May he, and his Loved Ones, find Your Holy Peace- now and Forever...Amen.

Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas Randy

AndrewT

[Hidden]

Howdy...Wishing you all the best and a happy holiday season. Please know you're not alone in your struggles. Particularly with the promises of a new kidney, I do wish you were feeling better! However, there are common experiences in the transplant community. In the past three years, for example, I've had cancer, gone on dialysis and had a kidney transplant. It's tough, but we've come through the other side in pretty good shape — considering all my wife and I've experienced. Though, I’m under no allusion that there will not be any hiccups or other issues down the line. Simply, I’m the fourth in my family to have a kidney transplant and am aware of the trade offs such as a lowered immune system.

Unlike a lot of other people on this forum I have not had bad experiences with my post transplant course of drugs. I only really had an issue with the anti-viral that cause neutropenia. They removed it and numbers returned to normal. I'm actually on less medication then I was prior to the transplant — I was on four meds for BP with my failing kidneys. I currently take two immune suppressants, a single med for BP, antibiotic 2x weekly, and OTC magnesium. I prep medication, for the week, on Saturday — which takes about 10 minutes. Voila!

That being said — and this is only my opinion — this forum is really only able a) to share personal, anecdotal experience and b) to provide words that are supportive. As such, these are the things THAT HAVE HELPED ME with the pertinent questions (e.g. physical, emotional or spiritual in nature) that go hand-in-hand with transplantation and other medical concerns.

A. Make sure you're in close contact with your transplant and oncology team. Remember, there is absolutely no question that is insignificant. I "bother" my pre/post op transplant coordinators ALL the time. And, I'm 15 months post.

B. Be an advocate for you own emotional well being. I do talk therapy 'bout every three weeks (via telemedicine). It helps a lot. However, there are really no magic cures when it comes to anxiety, depression, etc. As my wife concurs, I still freak out from time-to-time. After treatment (e.g. surgery ) for stage one cancer, my psychiatrist told me "Christopher, I wish I had a pill that would make your worries go away. But, I don't."

Sending positive vibes your way,

[Randy1805 in reply to Hidden]

Sorry to hear about your cancer. October was my 11th year for kidney transplant. I don't know if you read my other post but I had prostate cancer, had basal cell cancer on my lip. Squamous carcinoma on my forehead and on my arm. I have accepted this life. My wife and I try to have the best of life that you could possibly imagine. Really sorry about the cancer. And thank you...

[PuggyWuggy]

Well, I take 11 pills in the morning (9 are prescription and 2 are vitamins tymy doctor said I must take). Then I take 5 more at night! I know it is a lot and a pain, but I have had my transplanted kidney and pancreas for 16 years, so I guess tyhe pills are helping.

[Randy1805 in reply to PuggyWuggy]

I hope you're doing well and I hope you keep doing well. That is a lot of pills. God bless a Merry Christmas

[Hidden]

I don't know. I am on more than I would like because after all the years since the transplant, I have accumulated the need for several other specialities and they like to write perscriptions. I try to keep it to a minimum by discussing options other than another pill. I would ask whomever writes each one if it is necessary at this time or is there a change you can make in your daily routine to replace it. I don't have a nephrology coordinator, but if you do, start there with medication questions.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Sorry. Prescriptions not Perscriptons.

[Randy1805 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you kidney 1982. I will talk to my doctor see if I can get off of some of these meds thank you for your advice

[TaffyTwoshoes27]

BTW: Speaking of prescription medicine, I heard on either the local or national news this week that pharmacies are having a difficult time keeping pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in their employ and in hiring. Some national chains have taken to shortening hours so that the pharmacists and staff can catch up on what was reported as an "overwhelming backlog" of filling prescriptions. In fact, the pharmacist they interviewed (who said -- in the past -- she had always loved the profession) has decided to quit the business and is pursuing another line of work. She said that the pay was quite low for the pharmacy technicians, they are overworked, and customers have become quite difficult and stressful to work around (retail work is hard work).

I guess this harkins back to the person who posted that she has multiple specialists that continue to write prescriptions. I can't help but feel that many of these doctors feel that a pill will cure their patient's ailments and do not take the time to really look at the history of the patient.

Anyway, just a heads up that during this pandemic, pharmacies are overwhelmed and having a difficult time keeping pharmacists and pharmacy technicians -- which is sure to slow the dispensing of prescriptions!

[Randy1805 in reply to TaffyTwoshoes27]

Yes I have noticed that it is taking two or three days to get my prescriptions filled. Thank you Mhusband27

[Hidden in reply to TaffyTwoshoes27]

So true. Our favorite Pharmacist quit because there is so much expected from them now. According to my state's Board of Pharmacy, the Pharmacist is in charge of filling and checking prescriptions and answering prescription questions. The Pharmacist should be accompanied by two technicians. When I had a DVT Nephrology diagnosed it as gout . My uric acid level was normal. My Pharmacist told me to stop the gout medication and go to the ER. I had an ankle fracture and it was all the prednisone that caused the clot, by that time was the length of my leg. No evidence of that mistake ever appeared in my Nephrologists notes.

[TaffyTwoshoes27 in reply to Hidden]

Hmmm....I used to be a paralegal in the medical malpractice legal field. If it caused you any other issues, maybe you should speak to a lawyer! I hope you're feeling better! Happy New Year!