Hello,
I had a preemptive, living donor kidney transplant 7 weeks ago. The following morning after the transplant, I had to be rushed back into surgery for compartment syndrome (the new kidney wasn't getting enough blood and was becoming cyanotic). They cut the fascia and inserted a 6 inch piece of mesh between it to give the kidney more room. I was in the hospital for 9 days. My GFR pre-transplant was 11. When I left the hospital my GFR was 13. I went in and came out with ESRD. The kidney has been having a hard time waking up. My current GFR is 19, creatinine is 2.65. My creatinine has been cycling up and then down a little then back up since the transplant. Last Thursday I asked my transplant nephrologist when I could expect the kidney to settle in with whatever the creatinine level will end up being. He said give it 2 more months and we will see where it is likely to be. I have anemia from CKD and was being treated for it with iron infusions and EPO shots for two years prior to the transplant. When I left the hospital my hemoglobin was 7.0 and RBC was 2.4. I asked my transplant nephrologist about getting my anemia treated and he didn't want to do anything with it at the time. I think he was hoping my new kidney would start to take over. Two weeks after I was released from the hospital, my hemoglobin had dropped to 5.8 and RBC to 1.9. I was admitted to the hospital right from transplant clinic because I couldn't even stand up or walk I was so weak. They gave me two blood transfusions and I was in the hospital for another 5 days. My initial fistula failed in July 2024, then I got an AV graft in Oct 2024, which completely clotted off while I was in the hospital this time and they decided to leave it that way. Told me if I end up needing dialysis they will have to do a new access. Currently, my hemoglobin is 8.0 and RBC is 2.7. I've been referred to a hematologist to manage my anemia.
They were expecting my living donor kidney to work right away, but unfortunately that did not happen. They have been telling me since the beginning that they think it will eventually improve. I'm praying it does, but the more time that goes by the more worried I get. I know I have no control over it, so I just do what I'm supposed to and hope that it does improve.
I already know that everyone is different and has there own health issues, but I am wondering how many people had transplants, especially living donor, where it took time for the kidney to wake up and start functioning as it should? How long did this take? Or, did your new kidney start working pretty much right away? Please share your experience. Thank you.
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