Anxiety: 1 Year Post-Transplant

Good afternoon

I'm 27 mos post transplant and still experience bouts of extreme anxiety. I don't take anything for it. I just "soldier on". Good luck on your journey. I find prayer helps.

@thatgirlneedsakidney
For a few months after my liver transplant I felt intermittently anxious which was new to me. I think for about 6 months. In retrospect I think it was the combination of tacrolimus which creates a shakiness, and a sort of post trauma effect- it was a scary time and I could finally take my guard down. I didn’t take medication for it but it might have helped. I don’t feel anxiety anymore but I think we’re all different. Try to get outside each day- to walk or sit- with intention, and thank the universe you’re alive. You’ll get through this, anxiety is natural.

@thatgirlneedsakidney, Congratulations on your 1st year with your transplant! I want to commend you for mentioning that you are working with your doctors to adjust your medicines. I am 13 years post liver and kidney transplant and I get the trembles on occasion even to this day, but nothing like what I experienced in the early post transplant time. Mine was apparently caused by my immunosuppressant meds, which I learned to live with due to the need for a particular level on immunosuppressants tom protect my organs. Over time I hardly noticed them, except in periodic times of stress. I also find that coffee/caffeine can be a culprit to increase the trembles.
Anxiety after can be made more problematic because of our medications. As I already said, you are doing the right thing to consult with your doctors about the immunosuppressants, and the anxiety medications. I hope that time will lead you to a resolution.

Were you prone to anxiety before transplant? Did you have a major medical event prior to transplant surgery that might be inducing the anxiety? I know that some people who have been hospitalized or spent time in ICU have indicted that they are struggling with anxiety after their experience. I'm just thinking out loud and if anyone of my thoughts leads you to a solution, I will be happy.
What about counseling? Have you tried counseling along with the medication?

I like this discussion on anxiety. I am prone to anxiety anyway, so 3 months post transplant, I trying to deal with it as best as I can. I know the tacrolimus causes shakiness and anxiety and meditation twice a day helps me, plus camommile tea. I was offered buspirone and celexa and saw that they can cause increased anxiety and restlessness in the first few weeks, so I did not try them. Walking helps in the sunshine, having a sun lamp helps and meditation. I am doing Feast for the Soul meditations now plus others. I used to take Chinese herbal supplements prior to transplant but they said no more supplements. I am open to other ideas for calming if you have them that are not meds. I always ask the transplant center to get permission to take anything internally. Thank you, BB

To add on to what Rosemary has said. Caveat here, I am not a transplant patient, but my husband is, having received a kidney October 2016.

When we go through something life-changing, that in itself can be anxiety provoking. New/different/scary surroundings, perhaps terms we don't understand completely, and in our compromised health state we are anxious. Then there is a procedure and now we have a different plan to follow, more medications, new way to eat, new way to live. Transplant notwithstanding, that can cause anxiety! My best thought is to talk to the transplant social worker and their team, get yourself some counseling, journal out your thoughts and feelings, get to the root of the anxiety. Medications in certain combination can cause increased anxiety, so think about getting a review of everything you take. It might be a simple as spacing your meds out to different times of day.

I don't know if any of this will help anyone, it's just what I have experienced in my health battles.
Ginger