New transplant

[Mgt8]

Morning everyone, have just had my transplant. Five weeks since the op.

Feeling happy but drained of energy.....

How long before you guys felt human again after your op?

[Philipjm]

Good morning,

Wonderful news, you must feel on top of the world

Philip

[Mgt8 in reply to Philipjm]

Thanks Philipjm,

I do.....best bit is being able to rest up and get better without having to dialyse......

How's things with you?

Margaret

[Philipjm in reply to Mgt8]

Hi Margaret,

So happy for you and your family.

Dialysis going well, few teething problems but all part of the learning exercise.

I have a great support team vat my unit in Derby.

In 3 weeks time I will be starting nocturnal dialysis which willl make life almost normal, whaterver normal is!!!!

Best wishes and hope slll continues to be gods for you

Philip

[Mgt8 in reply to Philipjm]

Everyone I speak to who tries nocturnal dialysis says it works for them as it frees up the days and you can feel part of the human race again......

My dad did nocturnal 3 nights a week in the 70s and he somehow managed to keep a full time job and bring up 3 little girls......

It certainly worked for him.....

Good luck with it, hope it works for you.. .....

Margaret

[Hidden]

My husband had his transplant last May. He managed without dialysis as I donated a kidney before he got to that stage. He felt more energised immediately after the transplant and was walking up to two miles with our dog about a week later.

[Mgt8 in reply to Hidden]

That's great.....a week later!

I've had a few complications....had to have 9 sessions of plasma exchange then went back in hospital again with high potassium.......

On the up now though and all the results are good.. .....

Looking forward to long walks.....

[Hidden in reply to Mgt8]

Yes, Phil (my husband) had various problems with potassium. He had to be on a low potassium diet prior to the transplant (e.g. no bananas, tomatoes. mushrooms etc), but now he can eat all these things (in moderation).He still goes for check ups at Renal Outpatients every 6 weeks, but seems to be on an even keel now. Hope you continue your upward trend.

[Charlene_Coxhead]

I'm so pleased for you Margaret. I'm sorry to hear your still struggling with tiredness but it's early days and your bodies been through a lot and remember you started at a weaker position as have been on dialysis for a year or so where the man that was walking for 2miles after a week wasn't on dialsyis (amazing achievement though). Everyone is individual and your get there.

Be proud of how your doing keep resting and eating yet and one day soon your wake up and be the old you.

Take care.

Charlene

[Mgt8 in reply to Charlene_Coxhead]

Thanks for you kind words of support Charline.....

Feeling much better in the last few days, starting to really appreciate the amazing gift I have been given.....

Margaret

[CNeb]

Had my living donor transplant on 1/19/18, stayed off dialysis for 7 months by going to a plant based diet. I felt great immediately after the surgery, and was walking a couple of miles the following week. My donor, bless her heart, is smaller than me so the best the surgeon expected was a 2 for creatinine. I left at 1.2, and holding around 1.4-1.5. Started running this past week, and I’ve already put in over 7 miles. Even though I no longer have “food restrictions”, I have not changed my diet. It kept me off dialysis, and I want this to hopefully be my one and only transplant.

[PeterChao in reply to CNeb]

Would love to know what protein sources you are using. I was told for post transplant recovery I would need to get 3-4 oz of protein.

[CNeb in reply to PeterChao]

PeterChao, I get all the protein I need from plants. I eat a wide array and colorful selection of veggies, fruits, whole grains (preferably sprouted grains), beans and nuts. 3-4 oz protein, I believe they mean weight of meat protein. Since 4 oz is 113 grams, and that’s way more than your body actually needs. A 4 oz chicken breast has approximately 35 grams of protein. Plant-based proteins are easier on the filtration, unlike meat protein that will put kidneys into hyper filtration. I have no deficiencies being on a plant-based diet. I try to avoid processed foods, even if claimed to be animal free. I’ll try to pull an earlier post that has some detail of a typical day of meals.

[PeterChao in reply to CNeb]

Thank you, are you watching you potassium intake?

[CNeb in reply to PeterChao]

Of course can’t cut and paste, so here’s an example of a typical day.

Breakfast - rolled oats with unsweetened almond milk, topped with 1 Tbsp of chia seeds, 1 Tbsp of flaxseed meal, ground cinnamon, handful of crushed walnuts, strawberries, blueberries, banana, and a little maple syrup.

Lunch - Engine2 Poblano Black Bean veggie patty on sprouted grains bread and a salad.

Dinner - Large mixed greens salad, topped with shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, black beans, fire roasted corn, red onion, kalamata olives, 1/4 sliced avocado, couple spoonful of hummus, harissa, vinaigrette, and half a squeezed lemon. My wife likes this salad and she’ll add crumbled feta. Sometimes we will also top it with couscous or falafel.

Snacks - veggies, fruit or nuts.

I only drink water and a sports drink by Skratch Labs, since it is vegan and doesn’t contain phosphates like Gatorade.

Yea, I don’t absorb potassium like others since I don’t have a large intestine due to Hirschsprung’s disease. I actually need to get my potassium.

[PeterChao in reply to CNeb]

Thank you so much for sharing daily regimen. It’s helpful to know how a plant based diet can work with kidney issues.

[CNeb in reply to PeterChao]

You’re welcome. I hope that small example of just one day helps.

[Sandybru]

Hi everyone is different ,after two months I was taking daily walks around the block, just after 3mnth I returned to work part time and I was lucky I could determine my hrs . Overall I was back to 80% after ten month. You have to listen to your body it will let you know if your doing to much.

[Mgt8 in reply to Sandybru]

Thanks for your reply, 2 months after the op now and feeling a little stronger but still very tired. I have low haemoglobin but my iron level is good. Consultant says all I can do is wait for haemoglobin to rise.