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Norovirus in lung transplant patient: Can oregano oil be taken orally?
Transplants | Last Active: Apr 1 7:07pm | Replies (10)Comment receiving replies
Thanks for your reply! When you're worrying about these setbacks, it's comforting to speak with someone. Transplant team wrote for the metoclopromide. They did this no doubt because anything ingested, including immune suppressing meds, seemed to be 'sitting' where the esophagus enters the stomach. That's how it felt to her. Before increasing frequency of Zofran dosing, some of the suppressant drugs may have been lost. So it's a tough call. I'm sure the team is familiar with tardive dyskinesia. Now that she has been able to keep down meds and some food for a couple of days, we will suggest to the team that we try to back off the Reglan. I don't know what might better replace Reglan. She's already taking Zofran, but that doesn't do much for upper GI motility. If we wanted to be off Reglan, the only thing I can think of is IV meds, fluids, and nutrition. Hopefully we're to the point now where food and meds can reliable be absorbed......
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@flonachtegalle I thought of some other things. Your sister’s norovirus was diagnosed from a stool sample? How often does she have post transplant labs drawn (blood work to check immune suppressant drug levels)? My post transplant lab orders includes a variety of other tests too. That is helpful to catch any complications early on so changes in treatment can be made right away.
When I started immune suppression medication the protocol was to have 2 forms of immune suppression. It had to do with different aspects of the immune response. The 2 types of meds worked in different ways on the immune system. Have you found out what your sister’s meds are?
Regarding Metochloprmide / Reglan and Tardive Dyskinesia, Tardive Dyskinesia is most often associated with psychotropic medications. I’m a former licensed psychologist / therapist and was trained to identify and rate Tardive Dyskinesia in mental health clients. I was prescribed Reglan by my primary to treat gastroparesis (a nasty GI complication of diabetes). Long story short - I developed Tardive Dyskinesia, lost my career and several years of well being due to bizarre uncontrollable movements. I couldn’t walk, talk or care for myself. I knew something was drastically wrong but what? It took a huge toll on my family. They sent me off to a psychiatrist. Myself, the primary nor the psychiatrist made the connection to the Reglan. This went on for years until I was referred to a neurologist. I’ll never forget when after examining me and my records he blurted out “it’s the Reglan, I want you off the Reglan!” After all of that I learned that Reglan can be helpful to treat GI issues but should be the smallest dose possible for a very limited and temporary time. Have you had any response to finding an alternative med for your sister &/or weaning her off of Reglan?
Last but not least you mentioned that your sister felt that food &/or meds were stuck where the esophagus meets the stomach. A thought to try is to ask if there are alternate forms of meds and nutrition such as liquid medication, clear &/or full liquid diet. There are even different “routes” that could be considered. Some meds come in suppository form which is helpful for a patient that can’t keep anything down. Nutrition / hydration can be accomplished in IV type form. These are things to consider and ask your providers about. How is your sister doing?