Post transplant study biopsy....

[Jess21]

So I scheduled my Post transplant biopsy. I'm part of a study (GoCAR I think?) which requires a 2 year post transplant. I signed up for this the day I was waiting to get my transplant. I realize this will help people in the future... but I'm currently worried about it and it's not til the end of June!

[Chris]

I was always told that a biopsy should be avoided as much as possible unless necessary. Maybe the thinking has changed. I never had a post transplant biopsy to see how my kidney was doing unless I was very sick. Thankfully I have been out when they did it. I was awake for my liver biopsy and do not want to be awake for another. However it is different for everyone.

[edersham]

I have had three post transplant biopsies at Mayo Phoenix in a year.  All were part of the standard post tx protocol at Mayo and all have been totally painless with no effects afterward. I've read on ihd about the potential risks but Mayo feels the benifits of early detection far outweigh the risks. I will now have one a year from now on. But the main point is they have been totally without pain for me. I know liver biopsies are a whole different animal.


Ed

[Sax-O-Trix]

Ed - don't they have to numb the area first with a local (needle)?  Every local I have had to have has hurt.  I was spared a potential biopsy following my transplant (they did schedule one but my condition improved enough overnight that it was cancelled.)  I was told that they were going to inject a local for the procedure.  Mind you, I am a wuss, lol.

[edersham]

Yes, they do numb the area but i just feel a little pressure,no pain. I guess the area near the surface is stil without much feeling even ayear after surgery. I guess Im lucky.

[Chris]

Well I am also sensitive to touch also. Doctors have a hard time feeling my abdomen, but the liver was enlarged at the time of my first biopsy due to CMV. That procedure just puts me off to knowing what is going on if I need another.

[RichardMEL]

Yeah the local can hurt a little bit going in the first time, but gee it's really about the same as a blood test needle - not like a dialysis needle or anything like that, and once the first lot is in all you feel is the pressure. The bit that always got me was the "click" when the sample is taken even when I knew it was coming I'd still flinch somehow and then freak out that I'd done more damage to myself by moving despite all efforts not to (I was assured it was all normal and OK).

I think the worry about the potential bad things that can happen with a biopspy (pretty rare, I understand) are far worse than the "bite" of the actual biospy. Having had two in the space of 2 months post-tx it really was over before I knew it and not such a big deal.

Yes, I agree that you want to avoid going in there if you can - after all any time they are sticking needles and stuff into your transplant there's a risk something can go on, but if it were me I'd consider the potential benefit down the track of helping research to be worth it. Remember the chances of anything bad happening are pretty slim.

[rsudock]

I think my transplant center is of the same mind not to do biopsies unless you are in acute rejection. I had a transplant for 10 years and never had a biopsy. I had 2 liver biopsies but it was through the vein or artery in my neck and they fed a catheter down to the liver and tugged a piece out. I would prefer that type of biopsy then putting a huge needle through my abdomen. They do the liver biopsies like that b/c of the anemia.

xo,
R

[Jess21]

So I had it done....
I had the option to have twilight with the biopsy but declined.  I have a high pain tollerance so local would be fine.
Too bad I have general anxiety disorder that decided to come with avengance when they were about to poke me.  Who knew 5 people staring down at you would be an issue? 
But I stayed still, got it done, no pain.  Preliminary results said no rejection at all.  I then had a change in my transplant coordinators so never got the rest.  Never got a call though! Now I'm just getting it straightened out cause my insurance got billed for a STUDY.  Oooopsie on the billing department's part!

[coravh]

I've had a couple of biopsies  and the end results for me were prograf toxicity. I was on prograf originally and had to go back on for my subsequent pancreas transplant. I always found the worst part was the sting of the local anasthetic. And it really was just a brief sting. It's hard having to lie flat and still for the several hours afterwards and it can get boring (but I was lucky and had someone interesting next to me in the procedure room and we had a lovely chat). I had no bleeding or subsequent side effects. All in all an experience I can certainly do again without trepidation.

Cora