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TransplantBuddies.org Forums » Kidney - Pancreas Transplant » Post-Transplant... 100% stay at home? « Previous Next »
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Maggie
Member
Username: Xartswhy

Post Number: 1
Registered: 02-2014
Posted on Monday, February 17, 2014 - 02:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hi folks.

I am a 26 year old and about to get a transplant and need advice to schedule it. My doctors say that for three months afterwards I will be severely immunosuppressed and should expect to be off work for that entire period. I guess I'm trying to get a feel for individual experiences as to what you're really able to do in months two and three - I have a wedding in June that I am supposed to be a part of and I worry that "three months" is really supposed to be completely stay at home, do nothing. Is this accurate? Or can you do activities within reason like work from home via computer (basic admin stuff), and attending a wedding or a sit-down function like a concert? Just curious. There are some things I planned and would love to still be able to do, but know taking care of my new kidney is the most important!

A little background info: not on dialysis, no underlying conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, I lead a relatively healthy and normal life for the most part besides the occasional cramping and am not on dialysis. My kidney disease is congenital, no known cause. Cheers.
Cora
Member
Username: Cora

Post Number: 544
Registered: 06-2007
Posted on Monday, February 17, 2014 - 02:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

While you have to be more careful at the beginning, you certainly don't need to lock yourself in the house. I had my transplant away from home and flew back at the 2 month mark. And you don't get much dirtier/more contagious than a commercial airline. I used a lot of hand sanitizer and when you go to the wedding I would maybe avoid hugging/kissing too much. Also, think of it this way, you are going in for lab work quite frequently during this period, and are certainly going to be in proximity to sick people. So you should be fine.

Talk this over with your transplant team, but I suspect that the biggest issue here is that your first year paranoia is just working a bit overtime. Obviously, not going back to work is due more to the damage and recovery from the cutting of the surgery. Immune wise, you should be fine. I had cmv at one point and had a white count of almost zero, and didn't catch anything.
Dx with T1 in 1966
Kidney tx in Minneapolis 2002
Pancreas tx in 2008
Maggie
Member
Username: Xartswhy

Post Number: 3
Registered: 02-2014
Posted on Monday, February 17, 2014 - 02:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Thanks Cora for the reassurance! That is a big relief. I am someone who goes stir crazy very easily and was honestly thinking the only place I'd see for the first three months is the transplant center at the hospital, which was making me feel a bit crazy. And you're right, I feel the paranoia working around the clock these days. Trying to take it one step at a time but it's easy to feel overwhelmed.
bill s
Member
Username: Bill_s

Post Number: 154
Registered: 08-2011
Posted on Monday, February 17, 2014 - 03:24 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Read up on post recovery activities for kidney transplant patients. I felt great afterwards and could have gone home in 2 days (I was at UCSF). You can't drive for about 4 weeks and have to go to your TX center twice a week for blood tests. They want you to stay away from crowds due to risk of catching something thus no flying since the air is shared by everyone on board. If you can work at home you could probably be working the day you get home (you have a 10 pound weight lifting limit). How you feel and how quickly you recover will determine how aggressive you are with doing things outside of your home. As Cora said, after about 2 months I was essentially doing everything I did before except was a little more cautious near people that had colds, etc. One oddity I noticed is that the drugs side effects did not hit me for about 1-2 weeks later. Read many of the messages posted on this web site and the sister site, TransplantFriends, to see how varied the experiences are of the many people who have gotten transplants. The only sickness I get are UTIs which give you a temperature and you go to your friendly ER for treatment and usually go home after an antibiotic IV. Hope your TX experience is good.
Kidneyboy
Member
Username: Kidneyboy

Post Number: 58
Registered: 01-2012
Posted on Monday, February 17, 2014 - 08:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hi Maggie,
I can only add that most important aspect of the transplant is it's success, something you cannot schedule. Infection, rejection, recovery, and balancing the medications will consume a significant amount of your time early on post-Tx . Developing good practices in your routine will directly affect the life of the Tx, and must become your highest priority. Remember, transplantation is a treatment not a cure. I'm sure you want the kidney to last as long as possible.

I hope you do have a successful transplant and pray that you enjoy many years in good health.
Maggie
Member
Username: Xartswhy

Post Number: 4
Registered: 02-2014
Posted on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 - 11:01 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Thanks everyone :-) I appreciate the support.

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