Hot flashes with kidney transplant recipients

I am a liver transplant patient. I have experienced episodes of hot flashes, sweating and daily nightmares two to three times a night since transplant. I wake up from sleep each time. No one seems to know what to do to resolve these

Hi @westlove718 😊 Congratulations on your kidney transplant! Yes, I experience occasional hot flashes. (But because I am an over-60 female it's tough to know the exact cause!) Which immune suppression drugs are you on and what dosages? How long has it been since your transplant?

Hi my surgery was just on April 11th, 2022.
I am on Cellcept, Prograf, Valcyte and Prednisone.
I’ve been having some hot flashes for a few years because I’m in early meno pause due to Endometriosis and a birth control pill but then it got worse with dialysis and even worse now. I’m hot and cold ALL the time.😵‍💫

@westlove718 Wow, you really just got your brand new kidney!! 😊 Exciting!
Yes, I have hot flashes all the time too. I live in warm South Florida, I am over a 60 years old woman, and I take the anti-rejection immune suppression drugs too. I think your body will continue to adjust to the new immune suppression drugs and some of your drugs like Valcyte will probably come off in a few months. Will you continue on Prednisone or will they be weaning you off that drug in a few months?
I always take a nice cold shower in the evening and chill down my bedroom before I go to sleep. I also keep the air conditioning running on high during the day and a have a cold drink of water often. Have you portaled your transplant nurse to get her thoughts on your hot flashes? It sounds to me like you are having the perfect storm of early menopause and your new drugs (and the weather is getting warmer too!) I think your body will ultimately adjust to all of this and all will be well, but it's always a good idea to just double check any questions with transplant.

Yes very exciting! My eldest brother donated to me. I’m only 36 but my long time friend Lupus Nephritis finally caught up to my kidneys. I’m down to 5mg on the Prednisone but hey haven’t mentioned removing it yet I’ve been on it since I was 14. There are about 3 medications they did mention removing over 3 months , 6 months and a year. Yeah I will definitely be discussing these hot flashes with the transplant team this week at my appointment. I’m in NY and it’s about 60 and still chilly. I don’t like the cold and my room is the coldest in the house.. but once I snuggle under the blanket I get warm. My skin is cold but I’m burning up it sounds insane! I do put cold rags in my body at night to try to help and I too keep a cold glass of water on my night stand as well.
I sure hope it adjusts soon it’s the last thing I need disrupting my sleep.
I don’t think they’ve created a treatment for hot flashes yet 😁.

@westlove718 Please keep me posted on what transplant says about our hot flashes.
By the way, I would love to be in the coldest room in the house around 60 degrees...
it sounds like heaven to this hot flash queen living in South Florida. I am so happy to hear that you had a living donor (your brother!) and it sounds like things are going really well except for the hot flashes. Also, make sure to discuss this with your gyno too since you are in early menopause it may not be related to dialysis or the transplant at all. Your flashes could be hormonal. It will be good to tell both docs the whole story to see what they think. You are definitely not alone when it comes to hot flashes! I had a full hysterectomy at 40 years old and my transplant two years ago.

Ok I will let you know!
Yeah I will need to speak to GYN. That’s a good idea!

Hi I ended up in the hospital again last week Monday when I went for my office visit and BP bottomed out. Turns out my BP meds needed more adjusting. But I am doing better now. I haven’t spoken to the GYN yet but they lowered the PROGRAF and the hot flashes seem to calming down some I thing that may be the culprit. I’m walking better now without my walker and my visit when very well today. Now just waiting to seen when I can get in to see my Allergist my face is still breaking out and I’m still not sure which drug it is. My Rheumatologist always says I’m in the 1% for the rare reactions. Anyways hope you are doing well. Take care!

Hi @westlove718 I am happy to hear they were able to straighten out your BP meds. Sounds pretty scary to bottom out! Please tell me about your dosage reduction of Prograf. I was reading about the dosage reduction of Tacronlimis being helpful in reducing our hot flashes and also reducing hair loss. What is your new dosage and what Tacronlimis blood range target are they using for you now? Did they reduce your dosage because of the hot flashes or was your Tacronlimis blood level running too high? I am happy to hear you are getting some relief from the hot flashes...Yeah!! 😊

Yes and my Dr don't know what to do and they are so hot my skin feels like it is on fire or horrible sunburn