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Side effects of kidney transplant meds

Posted by hardaway3 @hardaway3, Mar 23, 2017

I received my 2nd kidney transplant in Sept 2015 at Mayo. About a year later
I started experiencing severe diarrhea, nausea and vomiting and was hospitalized
at Mayo in October 2016. There I received an upper GI and a colonoscopy.
It was determined that I was having side effects from one of my
immunosuppressant and my magnesium meds. My immunosuppressant
was changed and I was given Zofran to help with the nausea. I like the
Zofran because it works right away and I only take it as needed. I notice
that most of my meds have nausea as a side effect.
I need a refill on my Zofran and now my nephrologist refused to write the
script.
He wants me to go back to my GI doctor at Mayo to get my refills.
I noticed most of my meds have nausea as a side effect.
I feel my nephrologist should write the prescription for
the Zofran because I take it for the relief of nausea which is
a side effect of my transplant meds. I would love to hear others
opinions on this issue as I am considering changing nephrologist.

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Apr 10, 2017
In reply to @chattykathy "I have 2 teams; one is the transplant team at Mayo and the other is the..." + (show)
@chattykathy

I have 2 teams; one is the transplant team at Mayo and the other is the "home team." I see the nephrologist every 3 months locally, the local GI every year or so, and my PCP. I have prescriptions from both teams. All my local docs have been really good about checking new things or meds out with Mayo since the beginning. They all exchange medical records about me.

I hope your problems are resolved soon. I had some of those symptoms of nausea and diarrhea in the beginning but they settled down after a month or two. I remember taking the immunosuppressive drugs and then throwing them right back up even while I was in the ICU. This continued for a short while after coming back home.

There are so many struggles to face and meet each day on the way to recovery.

I agree with Rosemary that you should talk to both "teams" and get them on the same page as far as your meds are concerned.

Wishing you all the best,
CK

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@chattykathy CK Thank you for this information. My current GI is actually moving to a hospital as an in-hospital care provider. Already he has referred my girlfriend to a GI who is 45 miles away for her liver condition. I will learn more in early May. I don't mind the 45 mile drive (that is where my original transplant hospital is) , but I am afraid because there is not any GI on our local town hospital staff. And with my past history with liver complications.....you know what? I don't have to explain this to you because I know that you know what I'm talking about.
I'll let you know how it goes,
Rosemary

REPLY
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Apr 10, 2017
In reply to @chattykathy "I have 2 teams; one is the transplant team at Mayo and the other is the..." + (show)
@chattykathy

I have 2 teams; one is the transplant team at Mayo and the other is the "home team." I see the nephrologist every 3 months locally, the local GI every year or so, and my PCP. I have prescriptions from both teams. All my local docs have been really good about checking new things or meds out with Mayo since the beginning. They all exchange medical records about me.

I hope your problems are resolved soon. I had some of those symptoms of nausea and diarrhea in the beginning but they settled down after a month or two. I remember taking the immunosuppressive drugs and then throwing them right back up even while I was in the ICU. This continued for a short while after coming back home.

There are so many struggles to face and meet each day on the way to recovery.

I agree with Rosemary that you should talk to both "teams" and get them on the same page as far as your meds are concerned.

Wishing you all the best,
CK

Jump to this post

@chattykathy My liver diagnosis was Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC). Progressive, no cure except transplant when it progressed. My PCP noticed irregularities in routine labs and referred me to GI. Tests, scans, biopsies, consults with liver specialist led to my diagnosis. This was around 2002. I was listed in Nov. 2008 at Univ.of Ky for liver but was inactivated from list Jan 2009 due to possible cancer in bile ducts. Referred to Mayo Rochester after unsuccessful attempt to get biopsy samples. 2 days before going to Rochester, I had to be transferred from my hometown ER to Univ of Ky for 5 days in ICU with sepsis and acute kidney failure. Emergency dialysis. Air ambulance flight to Mayo Rochester (800 miles) and 2 weeks in hospital. No cancer. Go ahead for liver transplant listing and evaluation. Now need kidney,too. Remain on dialysis until transplant. 11 weeks in Rochester. Received successful double transplant.

I am sorry for the loss of your brother. In addition to your grief, there must be a deep fear and questioning. It must be somewhat comforting to know that your sisters have no symptoms.
My disease, they think, has some possible autoimmune component. I have 4 brothers and 2 sons. None have any symptoms, as far as I know. My grandpa and my mom had some autoimmune things like psoriasis and vitiligo (nonpigmented white areas on skin). I have the vitiligo and that was one thing that caused suspicion about by my GI about this type of disease. We've been told that if any of them begin to have any liver problems, that they 'might' want to mention it to the doctor. The problem that I see is that , except for a special specialist, that the doctors don't know much about it.
Rosemary

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