Update almost 3 weeks out.

[bette1]

I had my transplant May 24th.  My labs have been very good with my creatinine at 1.2.  Although I feel much better than I did on dialysis, I am still weak and find myself needing to rest a lot.  I've mostly been at home, though I did go to a program at my daughters school.  I find myself wanting to do things around the house and then realizing that I don't have the stamina to do everything I want to do. 

I am not having too many problems with the prograf or the prednisone, but the cellcept is giving me a lot of stomach cramps.   I'm hoping that they lower the dose when I go for my follow up appointments.  I am also having a bit of a problem with insomnia. 

I also miss my coffee.  The transplant center doesn't want us to drink it so I switched to herbal tea.  It's just not doing it for me.  I think a lot about my deceased donor and I feel bad that their family is going through this time of loss while I am so happy. 

I have a 10 year old, and she worries about me.  She asked me what would happen if the kidney failed and I told her I'd go back on dialysis and that seemed to calm her down.   I'm looking forward to being able to drive again so I can take her out to the park and stuff. 

[Chris]

Bette, do they have you on an anti acid like Zantac (Ranatidine), Pepcid (forgot prescrition name)? That is usually taken to help with the CellCept and other transplant meds  problems on the stomach. Also there is Myfortic that is similar to CellCept that is suppose to be easier on the stomach that they may want to try.
 
As for the coffee, that's odd that they want you to stop drinking that. I'm curious to what their reasoning behind that. I thought my center was odd when they told me to stop drinking caffeine, but years later didn't tell cariad that same waning with her transplant (we went to the same center). Most aren't told to stop drinking coffee or avoid caffiene from what I have read on various sites.
 
Good Luck at next check up.

[Dianejt]

So glad to you are doing well. I hope they get your meds straightened out. How wonderful you where able to go to your daughters program, I'm sure it meant the world to her to have you there. Keep resting when you need to you have been through alot & need to take the time to heal, it has only been 3 weeks. 

[kellyt]

I felt/feel the same way, Bette.  You seem to be right on track.  My creatinine is also hanging around 1.1 and 1.2.   

[natnnnat]

Takes a little while for the body to get used to the new situation too.  For example, Gregory had restless leg syndrome for about a month, then it went away.  Good to hear things are progressing well.  Nice answer to your daughter.   

[bette1]

Things are still going pretty smoothly,  I am feeling better every day - more like my normal self.  I think I may be a little euphoric.  The myfordic still gives me gas pains but the transplant docs don't want to lower it because I'm high risk due to this being my second transplant and I'm african-american.  I'm tolerating the drug better now though.  I am also starting to get the fat cheeks from the prednison, but I can live with that.  The huge appetite is hard though.  I don't want to get too fat, but I am starving all the time.  I'm trying to fill up on fruit and veggies.

My only problem is that I wake up in the morning feeling great, start planning my day and then putter out.  I know that this is just temporary, so I allow myself to rest as needed.  I am also still having abdominal pain, and they don't seem to want to give me anything stronger than Tylenol.  What's up with that?

[monrein]

You're still recovering from a pretty major surgery so the abdominal pain and puttering out both sound fairly routine to me.  Things ought to slowly improve until you're feeling stronger and stronger.  So glad to hear that you have no major issues to report.   

[Dianejt]

  Glad you are doing so well. Please take it slow, rest when needed & don't push yourself. As far as  fat cheeks I love far cheeks they are the best to paint on (LOL I am a face & body painter). So happy to hear you have "The hungry horrors" & you know what foods to stay away from so enjoy one of lifes pleasures. Keep up the healing & enjoy your new freedom.