How do you manage severe fatigue after kidney transplant?

Fatigue is very common. Anti rejection drugs is probably the main reason. Low red blood cell count can cause fatigue. Stress is another cause. Good night's sleep is essential and a good diet with veg, fruit and plenty of protein. Hydration is really important as well. I'll be 3 months post in a week but I've been walking my dog a mile a day for a month now but I tend to force myself regardless of how I feel because activity is important. Try keeping your muscles active with walking and light weights even if your feeling fatigued. Be patient and confident in the process because you went through major surgery and still healing.

THANK YOU for that Ernest. My fatigue limits daily activity and ability to walk more than20 feet. It causes my heart to race and leaves me breathing heavily. Heart and lungs are good. Hopefully, ongoing med changes and treating cmv will help. Congratulations on your transplant.

@kahlor, I am trying to remember how I felt when I was 3 months post transplant, and what I do remember is that my energy level did not allow for me to over-do my activity (PT or a walk or errand) I quickly learned that I needed a day of rest between my active days. My strength returned slowly, but my endurance and energy followed. I do remember that at my first return to Mayo for my 4 month checkup, I was prescribed either Iron (or maybe ferritin) because I was slightly anemic. I don't take that anymore, and am now 17 years post transplant.

@kahlor, When will you be having a follow-up with your transplant team? I know that they will want to adress your shortness of breath and racing heart after a short walk. I also notice that you mentioned treatment for cmv, have you asked the doctors whether that might be causing your symptoms? (If you are a transplant patient at Mayo Clinic, you can send a message/question, on the patient app, to your coordinator with any questions between appointments.
Welcome to Connect!

@kahlor Wow. That's what I was going through before transplant. Just getting up to go to the bathroom was a chore. Balancing out my blood pressure helped me gain more energy. Hang in there. I'll be praying for you.

This was my experience too. What was the med change?

@kahlor - What was the med change they tried?

Diflucan to itroponol, now back to diflucan
TAC to cyclosporin, now back to TAC ?
They know have stopped my bp meds and I am improving!

@rosemarya
I see them every week for CMV monitoring. But my four month is late August

Hi Kahlor, I had a kidney/liver transplant 1 year & 3 months ago. I am 71 yrs old. I had severe fatigue & weakness after my transplant. I walked with a walker & my husband had to take me to the doctors in a wheelchair post-op. The fatigue improved after about 3-4 months. I still was fatigued but not as much. With time the fatigue should improve. It seemed like every 3 months was a milestone in improvement of my post-op period. Now I'm feeling really good! I drive myself to my doctor appts. I'm not fatigued anymore! You will improve with time, I think our bodies need to adjust to the stress of the surgery! Good Luck & hang in there!

Thank you for that. My fatigue has lifted after the stopped blood pressure meds. I feel like a new woman. So glad you are doing well.