Post Transplant

[Porter20]

When did your transplant team release you to a regular nephrologist?

[Okiksaints1955]

My Nephrologist is part of my transplant team. They worked in tandem and consult each other.

It was 1 year after the surgery that the surgeon declared he doesn't "want" to see me anymore (But he kept an open appointment - I can call and schedule to see him anytime.

Hope this helps.

[Mgt8]

Hi,

As Okiksaints1955 says; your regular nephrologist is part of the transplant team.

Here in the uk they see you 3 times a week at first then as soon as they see you steadily improving, they see you weekly, then monthly, and progressively less. I'm 5 years post transplant and see mine every 6 months. A friend of mine whose had hers for over 30 years, sees her nephrologist every year.

They check bloods, weight, blood pressure etc... to keep an eye on things too. It's reassuring to know all is OK.

Hope this helps

Mgt

[Seanthesheep]

Hi. I was with the Addenbrookes transplant team for three months then back to the nephrology team at The Lister hospital after three months. Now after 30 months post transplant and doing very well I have blood tests and a phone consultation every four months. Best wishes to you and your family and good luck for the future .

Sean

[Hidden]

When I received my kidney transplant I was told that I would be followed for the life of the transplant by the team. They have a schedule they follow whereby visits decrease as time goes by and the patient remains stable. With CV19, some of my visits were replaced with phone calls. They monitor the blood work and advise accordingly. Best wishes!☺

[KathleenMA]

I had my transplant in another state. I stayed there and was followed for 7 weeks by the surgical transplant team then back to my nephrologist in Boston.

[Porter20 in reply to KathleenMA]

My transplant team is local they followed me for about 15 months after transplant the, released me to a regular nephrologist.

[Hydrangea2023]

No, I had my transplant in a major NYC hospital. I was told that it would be few years if not for life that my post transplant nephrologist would be caring for my health. My heart, orthopedic, OBGY, endocrinologist, ect, ect work with my nephrologist.

I was told I will be under their umbrella and I will be their patient unless I choose to go to a different medical practice or if I am to move out of the area. This is very important to consider for retirees who decide to move post transplant. IT make life easier. ... hopefully individuals who move will check to determine if there is good transplant medical center where they will be living. VIP.

Each one of my doctors can see the others labs, medical conditions, surgeries, treatments, medication each dr has prescribed to make sure there is not conflict with each prescription or treatment. . I consider myself very lucky. It's so expensive driving, parking and having lunch in NYC, none the less I can't complain. it's worth every penny.

As explained to me, each patient enters kidney transplant with other medical eg, diabetes, heart, ect ect. conditions so team of doctors in NYC has to be ready to treat if an emergency arrives. Yes, blood work is done monthly and I am able to facilitate a zoom appointments if an issue arrives.

As an example : We anxiously wanted to resume my regular life pre transplant. Mentally we may be okay yet physically we may not be as strong as we were prior to transplant. How much time it takes to totally recover will vary from person to person. Each person is different.

I learned my lesson in that I started gardening a bit too premature. I should have waited a few more months. I gave myself a hernia which I now have to have surgery for this coming month. I thought I was just gaining a little weight. As soon as my daughter saw me instantly she photographed my stomach and set it to my transplant team. Within minutes of my photos were seen by my doctors, I received a phone call and was told to come into NYC to have a CT scan next day. I was booked for surgery immediately. I was so pleased drs acted immediately. This is the beauty and advantage of a transplant team who has a gastro surgeon who is part of the same team, otherwise you will just be told to seek out your own gastrointestinal dr. and wait till you can get an appoint. Maybe best to go to a hospital if anything you are experience is urgent. Do not wait.

Your transplant team basic cares for your kidney health yet other drs you may be seeing eg, heart, osteo, hopefully communicate effectively with your transplant dr effectively to maintain your health. Much depends on results of your labs. IF your labs are consistent and stable for months this may be reason you would be told to go to another nephrologist. Only my opinion. . Best of luck

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

University of WI Transplant Center followed me with in person appts for the first year. Part of that was because I was in a drug study also. Then I started to see my regular nephrologist quarterly after the one year mark. UW Transplant Center continued to see me yearly after that. They would follow me for the life of my transplant. At the 17 year point we moved to WY. WY has no transplant center. I was going to be seen at the U of CO Transplant Center or could be seen back at U of WI yearly, but was happy with my nephrology care in WY. I am seen quarterly along with lab work with my local nephrologist. I am now 23 1/2 years post transplant and am very stable. If problems arise I would be sent to U of CO transplant.

[peregrin]

I alternate visits with my regular nephrologist and my post-transplant nephrologist. 3-1/2 years after transplant, I see each about twice a year.

[Darlenia]

My hubby, who has a transplant, is followed for life by our transplant team located at a city a good 2 hours away. Our transplant center slowly reduces your in-center visit from monthly, to every 3 months, then 6 months, and finally yearly. Everyone, including those who had their transplant for decades, comes into the center on their "transplant anniversary" for in-depth lab work, etc. This frequency of appointments can change immediately if your health condition deteriorates. In the meantime, if all continues to be fine, we were told to schedule periodic appointments with our local nephrologist to catch any issues that may arise before we get to regular appointment at the center. This said, our center told us that my hubby can contact the center anytime he feels he needs to do so.

I'd like to add that it's very important to always keep in touch with one's center even though it may be further away than you like. Recently, our local pharmacy wasn't able to fill one of his important immunosuppressants due to supply chain issues so we quickly turned to his transplant center who came through for us immediately. Also, my hubby was wound up in the emergency room of our local hospital (passed out from low blood sugar) and that hospital didn't have access to immunosuppressants. So it's worth a lot to stay in touch with the people that can vouch for you.

[Hydrangea2023 in reply to Darlenia]

👍

[AndrewT]

With me it was almost eighteen months. I was Transplanted in July 2013 and was Transferred 'Back' in December 2014..... a Good Christmas Present😀.

AndrewT