Kidney Patient Guide

Hi Sue In a few weeks time I will have had my transplant for 4 years and am grateful to my deceased donor and their family every day. I don't think there is any way of accurately predicting how long a transplant will last and it depends on so many factors. Taking good care of yourself, taking your m...

Hi Notso I had my transplant in Sydney over 3 years ago now, from a deceased donor with a 5/6 mismatch. My Renal Specialist told me the same as yours has told you. I am also on a lower dose of drugs than many transplant patients. I have attached a link that may also be helpful. http://www.ucdmc.ucda...

Hi Sadz I will be 3 years post transplant (deceased donor) on 11/2, my creatinine level was around 140 for several months post tx and my Renal Specialist was very happy with this. Recently is has been in the mid 90's. My Specialist told me that you need to look at all the results of blood test to ge...

Hi Dibs I too refused a kidney just a few months after starting dialysis. My consultant phoned me to say there was a kidney available but he had some concerns due to the deceased donors health and the circumstances regarding their death. I waited another 4 years before I received a transplant, nearl...

Hi Jimmy I had a transplant in Feb 2014 and as is the normal protocol here I was prescribed valganciclovior 1 tablet daily for 6 months to prevent CMV. In December 2014 I tested positive to CMV at a very low level. Initially I was prescribed valganciclovior 1 tablet daily and then 1 tablet 3 times a...

I was in hospital for 4 weeks following transplant and lost more than 10kg as I had no appetite and struggled to eat. I was given a supplement called Sustagen which was recommended by the dietician, I also had a lot of soup.

Hi Sarah I had a transplant in Feb 2014 and as is the normal protocol here I was prescribed valganciclovior 1 tablet daily for 6 months. In December 2014 I tested positive to CMV at a very low level. Initially I was prescribed valganciclovior 1 tablet daily and then 1 tablet 3 times a week for 12 mo...

Hi Alison Many prescription and non prescription medicines can cause confusion or make you less alert. I have noticed warnings about this in the information sheets about medication that I have been prescribed both while on dialysis and after transplant. Mention it to your consultant so that the caus...

A great sportsman, a good man, a life well lived and an inspiration to others with kidney disease. Taken much too soon, will be sadly missed by many.
Suz

Hi Jooles I tested positive for CMV 10 months post transplant last December. I had been feeling unwell with a mild sore throat, headaches and very low energy levels. I was put back on Valganciclovir 450 mg daily, it took a few months for my energy levels to return to what is normal for me. After abo...

I was diagnosed with PKD in my early 30's and had I been diagnosed earlier I was told that my two pregnancies and border line blood pressure would have been monitored more closely and probably treated differently. I would also have been able to avoid prescription drugs that can affect the kidneys. I...

Hi Notso I am a fellow Australian and spent nearly 5 years on hemodialysis. In my experience it is an individual thing and for me I did much better on 3.5 hours 3 times a week than 4 hours 3 times a week. There were a couple of people in my unit who did 5 hours 3 times a week, there was also one ver...

Hi Runedog I also have poly cystic kidneys and was on HD for coming up to 5 years prior to receiving a transplant earlier this year. I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be able to continue to attend your yoga classes and train your dogs. Two of the men who attended my dialysis unit one in his m...

Hi Sporti I have a graft in my thigh as my veins are too small for a fistula. I was on dialysis for over four and a half years, during that time I didn't have any infections in the graft and it continued to work very well. I understand when you say you are not sure that you even want to do dialysis ...

Hi Chris I was on HD for over four and a half years and initially like you I had really bad headaches following each session. I also continued to pass urine and would come in for my next dialysis session either the same weight or slightly less than the weight I had gone out at the previous session. ...