Well, I'm alive and well 7 weeks after my transplant. Actually, I'm doing fantastic, as evidenced by today's appointment with the surgeon.
Initially, I was told my appointments for the first 3 months would be every week, but lately, I've been getting weekly labs, and bi-weekly appointments.
Today, the surgeon was very pleased with my progress, and is having me come back in 1 month, with labs in 2 weeks. My incision looks like it's been healed for a year, I'm maintaining at least 2.5-3 liters of urine output per day, I've maintained a steady weight (I'm about 0.5 kg above my dry weight at my last dialysis treatment), the swelling at the incision has gone down enough that my pants fit once again, and the edema in my legs is just about gone.
Some people can't understand it, but I can't WAIT to get back to work. Sure, I can take another month off, and have almost the entire summer off, but I'm getting bored at home, and am looking forward to getting back into a normal routine. In fact, I got my "Return to Work" note today, and will start back on Monday.
Lab wise, my creatinine is 1.2, and the surgeon said that it will probably stay there and that will be my new normal. My Prograf level isn't back yet, but I will find out about that tomorrow. My hemoglobin is still low (it's 9.2), and amazingly, I'm not fatigued.
That's all for now. For my next post, I plan on discussing a current issue in transplant. Feel free to post suggestions here.
[...] Transplant Week 7 Well, I’m alive and well 7 weeks after my transplant. Actually, I’m doing fantastic, as evidenced by today’s appointment with the surgeon. Initially, I was told my appointments for the first 3 months would be every week, but lately, … [...]
Wow! That's a lot of pee!
Hi Jeff
I am so glad to hear of your success. I am six weeks behind you in transplant land, yes that means i am 7 dyas post op. I received a 6 HLA match form my sister. Here is my quesion. I see your blogging didnt really start about the transplant until week 3. Is this when you finally turned a corner? I walked about 3 house lengths outside and up and down the steps 4 times yesterday, but now today i feel like i have been hit by a mack truck. I know my creatnine was.8 when we left the hosp and it is 1.1 now, higher maybe due to the fact that i have no desire to eat and or drink.... and i also know my hematocrit is 20..... they want me back on the pro crit shots, which is fine, but will that help me feel bette? Everyone askes can you feel a different, and right now, moving from the bed to this desk, was well effort.... is this all normal. HELP!
MP
MP,
So sorry for the late reply. I took a vacation the weekend after your post, and didn't see it until now.
Congrats on your transplant, although sorry to hear your not feeling well.
My blogging on MyKidney didn't start until after my transplant, but I've had my own blog going even before I started dialysis last year. I was on LiveJournal first (http://jsher.livejournal.com/) and then went to WordPress a few weeks prior to transplant (http://chronicpositivity.com/), where I am still blogging as well.
I had a decreased appetite the first few weeks, and my exercise tolerance wasn't too good. My hematocrit didn't get as low as 20, but it was low (high 20's), and my hemoglobin dipped to 9.2. It's slowly coming up (9.9 today); I'm told that it takes a few months for the new kidney to start producing Epo at adequate levels to reverse anemia. So, your low energy is normal (IMO), considering your anemia, amount of time post-op, and the fact that you aren't eating/drinking well. I felt better each day, but it was about 3-4 weeks where it was really noticeable.
Have you discussed this with your transplant team? It's easy for me to guess what's going on and offer my opinion, but that means nothing; it's your transplant team that has all of the information (and knowledge) to determine what's going on.
Hang in there. Things DO get better. You might have a few speed bumps along the way, but KEEP UP THE POSITIVE ATTITUDE. Feel free to email me; I'm at chronicpositivity at verizon dot net. Good luck.
Jeff