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Message |
alfy
Member
Username: Alfy
Post Number: 1
Registered: 03-2012
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - 08:45 am: | 
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Hi All:
I plan to receive a kidney from a live donor next month.
This is preemptive surgery. (In other words, I am not on dialysis but renal function hovers around 17 percent.)
I would like to hear from those on this list who have also had preemptive surgery, and can discuss energy levels and recovery time post transplant.
Doctors have been telling me different things. Some say I will NOT notice a change in energy, others say I will immediately feel more energetic. Also, how long did it take for you to settle on a regimen of lower-dose anti-rejection drugs?
Thoughts/comments? |
Cora
Member
Username: Cora
Post Number: 463
Registered: 06-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - 08:56 am: |
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I was on dialysis when I had my transplant, but here's my take on it. At 17% you are not feeling well, even though you may not realize it. Once you get the new kidney, you will definitely feel better. It's a big change in kidney function. That's my opinion anyway. As for the drugs, my doses didn't change that much over time, but then again I was on steroid avoidance so they didn't have to slowly drop the prednisone. I think I settled onto my "regular" dose by about the 4 month mark or so. It's been almost 10 years since my kidney tx so I don't remember that clearly. I had my pancreas transplant 4 years ago and there was no tapering down of the drugs. I just continued my regular regime.
Cora
Dx with T1 in 1966
Kidney tx in Minneapolis 2002
Pancreas tx in 2008 |
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CiscoKidney07
Forum Leader
Username: Gregg
Post Number: 5389
Registered: 03-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - 09:44 am: |
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Well, here is my take on it. I was on dialysis for 13 months before transplant, 3 months on Peritoneal and the balance on Hemo. I had my surgery and got my kidney from a live donor, who was my wife. I never realized just how badly I was doing until I got my kidney from her. I felt great post transplant! The prednisone had something to do with it I am sure. And all of the sudden, I did not have to eat that yummy renal diet. (my sarcasm meter is going nuts right now) Between November and February, I gained 20 pounds because I could eat what I wanted to eat. The doctors told me that I had better put the brakes on that and I did. I went back to the gym and to work. I have lost over 40 pounds since then. (That has been since February, 2008) I keep trying to lose another 10 pounds, but it has been slow. (NO, at a crawl) But the point is, I lift weights five days a week and do cardio about three or four days a week. My energy levels are great. What do I attribute that to? 1) Not letting the fact that I had a transplant slow me down. I want to be healthy. My eating habits also changed. I eat six times a day now. 2) Because I exercise so much and do so many other things now, my metabolism has changed for the better. I burn calories easier than I did before. I must caution you. There will be some time when your doctors will not want you to lift over 10 pounds. That will be over soon, so be patient. They will let you know when you can hit it. It does also take a time for them to taper you off of your medications, but it will happen. Above all, I would encourage you to ask questions of your doctors if you have any at all, before or after transplant. Good luck to you.
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cruizin
Member
Username: Cruizin
Post Number: 264
Registered: 09-2010
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - 10:16 am: |
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I was on 2.5 years peritoneal dialysis pre-tx.
I did not immediately feel better post-tx. This is mostly because my hemoglobin went from about 120 to 70 due to blood loss during surgery and the drug regimen you are on slows the red blood cell rebuilding process.
One week after transplant I was able to walk to the bus stop. A week after that, I could walk 0.5 kms. A week after that I was back at work. I managed to recover very quickly, but my full energy level didn't return for maybe 1.5 months. I think at two months out, I was playing basketball and squash again.
I didn't get my transplant until I think my kidney function was in the single digits. One reason I'm glad I waited was that during that time my hospital switched to a prednisone-avoiding regimen. You definitely want to make sure your hospital practices this for low immunological-risk patients.
I think by 6 months out, as long as you don't get hit with a viral infection and your drug levels are where they should be, you should be feeling MUCH better than you have in years. It's worth the wait while your body rebuilds years of damage. I think it really helps to physically push your body too during the recovery (at least do as much walking as you're able to).
Received kidney Mar 16, 2011, from my brother! 3/6 match
St. Joe's, Hamilton, ON
Peritoneal dialysis Nov '08 - Mar '11
Dx 1995 - believed to be chronic glomerulonephritis
Started CAPD Oct 2008 |
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sssteph
Member
Username: Sssteph
Post Number: 8
Registered: 12-2011
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - 11:08 am: |
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I was also at 17% kidney function, not on dialysis before my tx. I was also highly anemic and my Neph said that because of that I would feel much better after tx, but I didn't feel bad before.
Once I was told I was going on the list I started exercising 4 days a week, wasn't much of an excerciser before, plus I had high potassium levels was put on a very restrictive diet. I think those 2 things actual made me feel better than I had most of my life since I lost about 30 lbs.
After tx, I recovered very quickly and didn't feel any different than I did just before. I am 6 months out now and still feel like I did, which is pretty darn great! I still go to the gym 4 days a week doing weights and cardio and am pretty active on the weekends too, bike riding, hiking, walking.
My med regime has also stayed the same for the past few months too.
Best of luck in your upcoming tx! Mine changed my life in many ways, not only health wise but I changed many other aspects in my life for the better!
Kidney/Pancreas 9/13/11
Scripps Green Hospital, La Jolla CA
"Dream like you will live forever,
Live like you only have today"-unknown |
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alfy
Member
Username: Alfy
Post Number: 6
Registered: 03-2012
| | Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2012 - 12:02 pm: |
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Thanks to all, for your feedback. |
Boop
Member
Username: Betty
Post Number: 126
Registered: 08-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, March 29, 2012 - 11:45 am: |
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I'm a living donor preemptive transplants recieved my kidney when my creatinine was hovering around 6 I didn't realize how bad I felt until after I was transplanted. Still trucking on. Best wishes
Boop
polycystic kidney disease
living organ recipient 9/30/04
Lifelink/ Tampa General Hospital |
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