Well, it's been 3 months since my transplant, and everything is going well.

Being that my hemoglobin has not hit 10 since before surgery, my Transplant Nephrologist started me on Procrit, and I had my first dose last week. I'm on 10,000 units weekly (had my 2nd dose today), and, of course, this dose will be adjusted based on my labs. I have labs tomorrow, but I don't expect a huge jump in my hemoglobin just yet.

Last Thursday, I had my first Dermatology appointment for a skin screening. I have some “atypical” moles on my back that will have to be watched (although my Family Practice doc has been doing that for several years now). The Dermatologist told me that with these types of moles, there is a propensity to Melanoma. He explained that with these types of growths there is a higher incidence of melanoma, but not a HIGH incidence. He also told me to wear sunscreen "370 days out of the year", and that I should apply it with the regularity of applying my deodorant. That will take some getting used to (the sunscreen, not the deodorant). I also had a “suspicious” mole removed from where the top of the thigh meets the buttock. I didn’t even know when she took it off, but it hurt for about 2 days after. The doctor called me yesterday, and as I suspected, it was benign. I'll be going back in a year for my next check, unless something comes up before then.

Although I knew that the incidence of skin cancer is higher while on immunosuppressants, I never thought that the incidence of warts is also higher. It makes sense, since warts are caused by viruses.

I’ve been exercising on a regular basis, and I can feel the difference. I walk for 20-25 minutes/day, with the beginning of the walk up a fairly good sized uphill grade. I'm also starting to get back to riding my recumbent bike. For the past several years, I was just too tired to exercise much. As long as I can stay motivated, I hope to keep it up on a regular basis.

My Prograf level is never really consistent, but for the last three times, it's been within or close to the desired range of 8-10. No problems with any of the meds, and I took myself off the Prilosec last week. So far, so good.