Hi @fifi11 😊
It's very nice to meet you! Thanks for joining in the conversation.
Regarding premedicating for dental work BEFORE the transplant, I believe it would depend on your other health factors.
For instance, things like heart stents, artificial joints, etc. are recommended to premedicate before dental work.
There are American Heart Association guidelines for dentists to use (available on line for patients to read too).
Are you on the transplant list for an organ now? Were you ever told to premedicate before dental work by your cardiologist, orthopedic surgeon, nephrologist etc?
@jaxpilot 😊
You are sooo right! What can be a little sickness or a minor infection for others becomes a major scare (and a lengthy period of misery) for us. Was your misery mainly the RSV or did you also have major stomach issues when you took Doxycycline? I took 100mg twice a day for seven days after my squamous cell surgery. Doxycycline did a number on my digestive system. (When I take amoxicillin I don't usually have any problems, so I am wondering if Doxycycline is just rougher to take).
Thanks!
Hi @caretakermom 😊
It's great to hear from you! I have been having a lot of worry. I was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma and had surgery by a local doctor. The stiches became inflamed looking so the nurse called in a prescription for Doxycycline. (the doctor went out of town immediately after the surgery). I took the Doxycycline which totally destroyed my stomach and gave me awful diarrhea. Yesterday, I had a dental cleaning. I was told that for dental cleaning there was no amoxicillin needed. Unfortunately, my hygienist was extremely aggressive with lots of blood. I regretted my decision to not premedicate.
Last night I had the chills (no temp) and nausea. I contemplated the idea of going to the ER to test for sepsis. I waited until this morning, and now I am blowing my nose with what I am guessing is a cold. Very stressful. When these decisions have controversy, it's difficult to know what to do. Too many antibiotics are not good. Not enough is not good either.
I am so happy you joined in the conversation. Your comment that it's "controversial" is right on and helps me identify how I am feeling!
I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well let's hope it's just a cold and not an infection. If you're not developing a fever that's good news. Hopefully you will get feel better after some rest? Is there a different hygenist in your dental office you can request?
Have you been able to get your BK numbers down? Are you back on normal doses of your immunosuppressant meds now?
Previously when hubby had dental done(fillings) his local neph prescribed cephalexin which he took 30-min to hour before the procedure. Fortunately it did not cause any adverse side effects.
Our transplant team emphasized that it's imperative to get dermatology checkups regularly because skin cancer is a common cause of taking the immunosuppressant drugs. My hubby sees one once every 6 months. My friend's husband(he's almost 80) is a kidney transplant patient of Mayo AZ and he is just 3 years + post transplant. He sees his dermatologist once every 3 months and at every visit there is always some discovery of some sort of skin abnormalities. He's been diagnosed with skin cancer issues about 1 year post transplant. The good thing is his dermatologist is able to remove the cancerous skin cells before they become critical issue! Sounds like you're doing everything right. Hope you get better soon.
@jaxpilot, yes I agree that Everolimus is a very expensive but effective drug(and requires prior authorization)even though it is a generic drug!! Its predecessor is Sirolimus, much less expensive but has more side effects. My husband has been CMV free since December 2022. I am hopeful that his CMV is under control now that the transplant team has found the right mix of immunosuppressant drugs.
I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well let's hope it's just a cold and not an infection. If you're not developing a fever that's good news. Hopefully you will get feel better after some rest? Is there a different hygenist in your dental office you can request?
Have you been able to get your BK numbers down? Are you back on normal doses of your immunosuppressant meds now?
Previously when hubby had dental done(fillings) his local neph prescribed cephalexin which he took 30-min to hour before the procedure. Fortunately it did not cause any adverse side effects.
Our transplant team emphasized that it's imperative to get dermatology checkups regularly because skin cancer is a common cause of taking the immunosuppressant drugs. My hubby sees one once every 6 months. My friend's husband(he's almost 80) is a kidney transplant patient of Mayo AZ and he is just 3 years + post transplant. He sees his dermatologist once every 3 months and at every visit there is always some discovery of some sort of skin abnormalities. He's been diagnosed with skin cancer issues about 1 year post transplant. The good thing is his dermatologist is able to remove the cancerous skin cells before they become critical issue! Sounds like you're doing everything right. Hope you get better soon.
Hi @caretakermom 😊
I have good news. First, is that I am feeling better. Also, my BK blood test is negative. I still have approximately 7,000,000 on my BK urine test so my immune suppression meds are going to remain reduced. My TAC target is 6 to 8, but lately it has been riding a little high. Has your husband experienced a higher TAC number when he's eaten a high potassium food like sweet potato or spinach? I have been trying to figure out why a dosage that has always worked well is suddenly getting elevated. All I can think is that I started to eat sweet potatoes again (my favorite!!).
Regarding the dermatologist, I go every 3 months. As a teenage girl, I used to bake in the soon at the pool or at the shore. I thought a tan looked healthy. Not a smart decision. My dermatologist always finds something to spray, remove or biopsy.
It's wonderful to talk with you! I always like to see your name pop up. And I am happy to hear that your husband is not having any CMV problems since the med change, that's wonderful news!
@jaxpilot 😊
I truly enjoy your style of writing! Lots of metaphors mixed in with lots of very helpful advice. I assume you are a pilot from your Connect address, but are you also a professional writer?
OMG, @jaxpilot 😊
I knew it! You are an amazing guy with a super interesting and extraordinary life experience.
I could tell by the way you communicate that not only do you have a strong logical, technical background, but you have a very kind heart.
Thank you so much for sharing your fantastic background and thank you for confirming my strong intuitive skills about people! You are definitely a special person and I am so happy you participate on Mayo Connect!
Hi @caretakermom 😊
I have good news. First, is that I am feeling better. Also, my BK blood test is negative. I still have approximately 7,000,000 on my BK urine test so my immune suppression meds are going to remain reduced. My TAC target is 6 to 8, but lately it has been riding a little high. Has your husband experienced a higher TAC number when he's eaten a high potassium food like sweet potato or spinach? I have been trying to figure out why a dosage that has always worked well is suddenly getting elevated. All I can think is that I started to eat sweet potatoes again (my favorite!!).
Regarding the dermatologist, I go every 3 months. As a teenage girl, I used to bake in the soon at the pool or at the shore. I thought a tan looked healthy. Not a smart decision. My dermatologist always finds something to spray, remove or biopsy.
It's wonderful to talk with you! I always like to see your name pop up. And I am happy to hear that your husband is not having any CMV problems since the med change, that's wonderful news!
I'm glad that you are feeling better now! Next time hubby goes in for cleaning I'll have to remind the hygenist to be extra careful and not poke too hard!
In a few occasions, my husband did have a higher Tac level but we were told that the increased Tac level depends on what you eat previous to the lab draw. We never tracked what caused the rise, however, lately his trough levels are pretty consistent, even when eating high potassium food. Ever since his team took him off of fluconzaole(1 year post) his Tac dosage increased by 1 mg(2x daily) but trough level is pretty stable. Nurse says it's because the fluconazole makes Tac absorption easier so they when they took him off of fluconazole, it was expected that his Tac would have to be readjusted.
I'm so glad you're testing negative in the BK blood. Never knew that BK can also be present in urine. Our neph orders BK blood test only but I'll have to ask him about testing BK in the urine the next time! Will the BK in the urine be eventually resolved? Is your team still following you now, or just your local neph?
I'm glad that you are feeling better now! Next time hubby goes in for cleaning I'll have to remind the hygenist to be extra careful and not poke too hard!
In a few occasions, my husband did have a higher Tac level but we were told that the increased Tac level depends on what you eat previous to the lab draw. We never tracked what caused the rise, however, lately his trough levels are pretty consistent, even when eating high potassium food. Ever since his team took him off of fluconzaole(1 year post) his Tac dosage increased by 1 mg(2x daily) but trough level is pretty stable. Nurse says it's because the fluconazole makes Tac absorption easier so they when they took him off of fluconazole, it was expected that his Tac would have to be readjusted.
I'm so glad you're testing negative in the BK blood. Never knew that BK can also be present in urine. Our neph orders BK blood test only but I'll have to ask him about testing BK in the urine the next time! Will the BK in the urine be eventually resolved? Is your team still following you now, or just your local neph?
Hi @caretakermom 😊
You have an excellent question regarding if the BK in urine will ever be resolved. My transplant nephrologist said that if the BK in the urine ever goes to negative, my immune suppression meds should be adjusted up. I assumed that BK in the urine would always be my "new normal". But my local nephrologist mentioned that BK in the urine is not completely benign. He said it can cause stenosis. So when I go for my annual visit with transplant next month, I am going to ask about it. I will definitely keep you posted.
And thank you for the scoop regarding your husband's TAC level and potassium foods. I am hoping that eating sweet potatoes has nothing to do with my latest increase in TAC level....They are my favorite!
Thanks again for always being there with good questions and good advice!
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What about dental work before the transplant?
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1 ReactionHi @fifi11 😊
It's very nice to meet you! Thanks for joining in the conversation.
Regarding premedicating for dental work BEFORE the transplant, I believe it would depend on your other health factors.
For instance, things like heart stents, artificial joints, etc. are recommended to premedicate before dental work.
There are American Heart Association guidelines for dentists to use (available on line for patients to read too).
Are you on the transplant list for an organ now? Were you ever told to premedicate before dental work by your cardiologist, orthopedic surgeon, nephrologist etc?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@jaxpilot 😊
You are sooo right! What can be a little sickness or a minor infection for others becomes a major scare (and a lengthy period of misery) for us. Was your misery mainly the RSV or did you also have major stomach issues when you took Doxycycline? I took 100mg twice a day for seven days after my squamous cell surgery. Doxycycline did a number on my digestive system. (When I take amoxicillin I don't usually have any problems, so I am wondering if Doxycycline is just rougher to take).
Thanks!
Hi @hello1234
I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well let's hope it's just a cold and not an infection. If you're not developing a fever that's good news. Hopefully you will get feel better after some rest? Is there a different hygenist in your dental office you can request?
Have you been able to get your BK numbers down? Are you back on normal doses of your immunosuppressant meds now?
Previously when hubby had dental done(fillings) his local neph prescribed cephalexin which he took 30-min to hour before the procedure. Fortunately it did not cause any adverse side effects.
Our transplant team emphasized that it's imperative to get dermatology checkups regularly because skin cancer is a common cause of taking the immunosuppressant drugs. My hubby sees one once every 6 months. My friend's husband(he's almost 80) is a kidney transplant patient of Mayo AZ and he is just 3 years + post transplant. He sees his dermatologist once every 3 months and at every visit there is always some discovery of some sort of skin abnormalities. He's been diagnosed with skin cancer issues about 1 year post transplant. The good thing is his dermatologist is able to remove the cancerous skin cells before they become critical issue! Sounds like you're doing everything right. Hope you get better soon.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@jaxpilot, yes I agree that Everolimus is a very expensive but effective drug(and requires prior authorization)even though it is a generic drug!! Its predecessor is Sirolimus, much less expensive but has more side effects. My husband has been CMV free since December 2022. I am hopeful that his CMV is under control now that the transplant team has found the right mix of immunosuppressant drugs.
Hi @caretakermom 😊
I have good news. First, is that I am feeling better. Also, my BK blood test is negative. I still have approximately 7,000,000 on my BK urine test so my immune suppression meds are going to remain reduced. My TAC target is 6 to 8, but lately it has been riding a little high. Has your husband experienced a higher TAC number when he's eaten a high potassium food like sweet potato or spinach? I have been trying to figure out why a dosage that has always worked well is suddenly getting elevated. All I can think is that I started to eat sweet potatoes again (my favorite!!).
Regarding the dermatologist, I go every 3 months. As a teenage girl, I used to bake in the soon at the pool or at the shore. I thought a tan looked healthy. Not a smart decision. My dermatologist always finds something to spray, remove or biopsy.
It's wonderful to talk with you! I always like to see your name pop up. And I am happy to hear that your husband is not having any CMV problems since the med change, that's wonderful news!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@jaxpilot 😊
I truly enjoy your style of writing! Lots of metaphors mixed in with lots of very helpful advice. I assume you are a pilot from your Connect address, but are you also a professional writer?
OMG, @jaxpilot 😊
I knew it! You are an amazing guy with a super interesting and extraordinary life experience.
I could tell by the way you communicate that not only do you have a strong logical, technical background, but you have a very kind heart.
Thank you so much for sharing your fantastic background and thank you for confirming my strong intuitive skills about people! You are definitely a special person and I am so happy you participate on Mayo Connect!
Hi @hello1234
I'm glad that you are feeling better now! Next time hubby goes in for cleaning I'll have to remind the hygenist to be extra careful and not poke too hard!
In a few occasions, my husband did have a higher Tac level but we were told that the increased Tac level depends on what you eat previous to the lab draw. We never tracked what caused the rise, however, lately his trough levels are pretty consistent, even when eating high potassium food. Ever since his team took him off of fluconzaole(1 year post) his Tac dosage increased by 1 mg(2x daily) but trough level is pretty stable. Nurse says it's because the fluconazole makes Tac absorption easier so they when they took him off of fluconazole, it was expected that his Tac would have to be readjusted.
I'm so glad you're testing negative in the BK blood. Never knew that BK can also be present in urine. Our neph orders BK blood test only but I'll have to ask him about testing BK in the urine the next time! Will the BK in the urine be eventually resolved? Is your team still following you now, or just your local neph?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHi @caretakermom 😊
You have an excellent question regarding if the BK in urine will ever be resolved. My transplant nephrologist said that if the BK in the urine ever goes to negative, my immune suppression meds should be adjusted up. I assumed that BK in the urine would always be my "new normal". But my local nephrologist mentioned that BK in the urine is not completely benign. He said it can cause stenosis. So when I go for my annual visit with transplant next month, I am going to ask about it. I will definitely keep you posted.
And thank you for the scoop regarding your husband's TAC level and potassium foods. I am hoping that eating sweet potatoes has nothing to do with my latest increase in TAC level....They are my favorite!
Thanks again for always being there with good questions and good advice!