Biopsy - trouble post bed rest

[kidney4traci]

My drs. have me on a high risk protocol that says I need a biopsy at 10 days, 4 weeks and 6 months post transplant.  So yesterday I had my first one.  It was really uneventful - and I was fine after for the 5 hour bedrest.  Then I got up on my own to go to the bathroom, and started having realy bad abdominal pain.  It was so bad I couldn't stand up straight.  They ended up keeping me for observation, did a CT scan too.  At first it did feel like VERY intense gas pain.  Then within 30 minutes it was so bad I was in tears.  Now I have had natural child birth, so I feel I am pretty tough in the pain department.  But when the dr palpated my stomache it was very sharp pain.  Well, they had given me a form of morphin again during the biopsy and I think I am just ultra senstive to that stuff.  The pain disapated after about three hours, and became just sore over the site.  What makes me upset though is why they made me go through that (biospy)  so soon.  My labs have been great and the kidney is functioning very well.   My creatine is at .08 now and my hemoglobin is 11.2 and the rest is good too.  I also came home with a JP drain, and they removed that on Wednesday this week.  THAT was PAINFUL!  And no warning, no pain meds for that!  With all that they have put me through this past 10 days, I was really worried last night.  Thankfully they released me this morning after seeing alot of gas, and nothing else!   HA ha I know, but better safe than sorry, I guess. 

[Chris]

That many biopsies 
That just puts the kidney at a greater risk. It shouldn't be done unless necessary. Only time I have had it done was when I was sick and levels were off.

Sorry to hear you had such a trouble with this biopsy

[charee]

Hi Traci, I have had 4 biopsy's and I'm 14 weeks post transplant, i had my first one only 4 days after transplant as my creatine went up really high and i also are high risk but i have never had really bad pain after them , the first one showed rejection but with high does of IV prednisone it came good, then i had 2 more in about a 1 month as my creatine went high again but both times there was no sign of rejection and the last one i "had to have  " as everyone has to have one at 10 weeks , that one showed some damage to the kidney from the Tac so they are trying to keep my Tac levels  between 8 and 10 they tell me its only mild but i still wasn't real happy so now i'm hoping i won't need anymore biopsy for awhile the next one i have to have is at 12 months , I worry about the damage they could cause but at my transplant hospital they seem to love doing them . Hope the next one doesn't cause that pain. Take care

[okarol]

Hi traci, Sorry you were hurting! You can refuse a biopsy anytime. The only reason we let them do Jenna's is because I insisted that unless the surgeon who transplanted the kidney did it - it wasn't going to happen. I figured he had the most interest in being sure not to do any harm, and he was very careful with Jenna. She had one at 30 days (no problem) - 6 months (bled a lot for an hour, then fine) and 1 year - no problem. But she never had pain, so I imagine they hit a nerve or caused bleeding in the area around the kidney.
You don't "have to do" anything. They can recommend it - but you have the right to say that you don't want to take the risk.
 

[kidney4traci]

I didn't have any bleeding and the ct they did last night only showed gas. I really think it was the meds. I a sore today though. What happens if you refuse it?  Are you listed as AMA?  Does medicare give you grief?

[Romona]

I have not had to have any biopsies. The transplant center I go to doesn't do any unless there is a problem.