r/transplant

Hi,

My dad had his liver transplant a few days ago and there were some complications - significant blood loss, low blood pressure etc so whilst they completed the transplant after a lot of hours they had to do the closure a couple of days later by taking him back to theatre. After the initial operation he was put in an induced coma.

My question relates to now, they have been trying to ‘wake’ him the last couple of days by reducing sedation etc to see if he can breathe well with the use of oxygen mask rather than a ventilator. However they’ve had issues with trying to get him to wake. They did try again today and said he was ‘agitated’ and seemed to be shaking his head back and forth.

Does anyone have any idea what’s going on? Is this some form of ICU delirium? Will he be ok?

I’m 20 and I just transferred to a college about 2 hours away from my hometown and care team, I have reliable transportation and family that would drive to pick me up and bring me straight there if I were to get my call for liver transplant. I’ve been listed for 6 months now, but listed low. My daily symptoms are nausea, low appetite, migraines, low oxygen after walking long distances and abdominal pain. The biggest thing is that I cannot get sick. I had a cold or maybe it’s allergies the other day and I disinfected everything but once I’m around people again my runny nose comes back. I’ve gotten immune support vitamins and wash my hands frequently. I’m not sure what else I can take or do to not get sick because I cannot get sick when I get my call. Im looking for advice and please do not tell me that I’ve made ambitious ridiculous plans because that’s not realistic. My college is in state, close to home, doctors and my care team. If I needed to be there in 2 hours I could be immediately and have family more than willing to pick me up and drive me back. I’ve already went all this way to enjoy my life and not put it on hold just because I’m waiting on a transplant. When the time for surgery comes then I’ll have the surgery and come back when it’s all over and I’m completely recovered. I just want to know how to keep my immune system up! Luckily I live in an apartment and have my own room,bathroom and closet, so I’m not in a dorm, but I do have roommates. I have dreams and goals and I work too despite all my transplant stuff. I understand it’s important but I can’t dwell on it and pause my life when I’m doing okay right now, I’m not very sick I do the normal things, just can’t be getting colds a lot. Any advice is greatly appreciated!!!

To those of you who have taken care of parents who have had transplants, how are you dealing with it? My mom is 7 months post op from a liver transplant and she’s only 50 years old. Recently she’s gotten a biopsy and a liver scan done. She started Everolimus last week with 2 mg BID and stopped taking Mycophenolate. Her Tacrolimus dose is now 5 mg BID. The Everolimus drastically changed her and her moods are off and on, she can’t stop crying sometimes because she gets very upset. The NP updated us with her lab results and mentions it’s the medication that’s messing with her moods and we shall wait till the end of the week to reach out again about her status. Her Everolimus dose got increased to 4 mg today and she doesn’t want to continue increasing her dosage nor taking her medication because she feels it’s too much. This entire process is a rollercoaster with lots of ups and down and it’s unfortunate I can’t relate to her situation nor can I find a comfortable way to help her or feel better.

8 weeks pregnant and a living kidney donor—what do you wish you had known?

Hi everyone! I’m currently eight weeks pregnant and donated one of my kidneys twelve years ago, in 2014. This is my first pregnancy since donating, and I’m hoping to learn from other living kidney donors who have gone through pregnancy—or anyone with relevant experience.

I will absolutely follow the guidance of my OB and kidney specialists, but I would really appreciate hearing about your real-life experiences:

• Did you see a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, nephrologist, or both?
• Were you monitored differently from other pregnant patients?
• Which kidney-function, urine-protein, or blood-pressure tests did you receive, and how often?
• Were there any medications, supplements, foods, exercises, or everyday activities you were told to avoid?
• What helped you stay properly hydrated and nourished, especially during first-trimester nausea and vomiting?
• Were you advised to change your protein or sodium intake?
• What symptoms or warning signs were you told to take especially seriously?
• Did you experience high blood pressure, preeclampsia, kidney-function changes, early delivery, or other complications?
• How were your kidney health and blood pressure monitored after delivery?
• What questions should I bring to my first prenatal appointment?

I would love to hear positive stories as well as honest experiences about challenges. I’m not looking for Reddit to replace medical advice—I’m trying to educate myself, prepare good questions, and advocate for the healthiest possible pregnancy for both me and the baby.

Thank you so much for sharing anything you wish you had known at eight weeks. ❤️

When I disclosed to my friends that I needed another kidney transplant back in May, I was overwhelmed by the offer of a friend of a friend (whom I've never met) to get tested and learn more about the process. We kept in touch about every week until the day of her full testing battery - 7/29. She texted me that morning to check in -- and I haven't heard a word from her since.

Obviously I don't want to pester her, and any number of things could have happened (including simply changing her mind), but it sucks to not know for sure what's going on.

Bummed. 😥

Hi everyone! I’m hoping some former PD patients can help me out. 💜
I received a new delivery of PD supplies just 4 days before I got my kidney transplant, so now I have a bunch of PD bags, lines, and supplies that I no longer need.
I called Vantive, but they told me they don’t pick them back up, and my PD nurse doesn’t want them either.
For those of you who had a transplant while on PD, what did you do with all your leftover supplies? Were you able to donate them somewhere or find an organization that would take them?
I’m in Central Florida, if that helps with recommendations.
I’d really appreciate any ideas because I hate the thought of all these supplies going to waste! 💜

I’m 20. I’m currently on the waitlist for a liver transplant unfortunately. I have non cirrhosis liver disease portal hypertension, a history of esophageal varices , anemia and enlarged spleen. I recently got an iud about a month ago since birth control wasn’t working for me and my care team recommended iud since it’s lower risk of clotting when the time of transplant arrives. I have had my period now for 2 weeks! I’m still bleeding everyday and it’s making me exhausted and in some pain! I also had a fever a couple weeks ago and then was congested the past couple of days. Not sure what to do. I just went back to school for the year and I just don’t feel good and i need to figure out what to do!!

Hi everyone, ive been struggling with my Mental Health for quite some years now and i feel im tending to commit. Ive been through alot and i dont see any purpose to live anymore. I feel like my Donor is the only one whos keeping me alive right now. I quit smoking because of him/her.

I feel bad and dont wanna do this, not after i got a heart and someone else didnt. Someone else couldve be saved by it, but it was me and i should not do this, it would be extremely disrespectful and a waste. Especially because in my opinion i dont even deserve it, surely there was a Person in a lot worse condition then me and they shouldve got it.

whats your opinion on this. i hope i dont make anyone angry

Hi, M34 here. Its been 4 months since my kidney transplant. My baseline for creat was settled at 1.5. Initially it kept on increasing to 2.13 from 1.8 in 3.5 months. Then my doc introduced everolimus dose at 0.5 day and night and tacrolimus reduced to 1 day and night from 1.5. Creatinine started to decrease, and in 10 days it went to 1.75. Then everolimus dose is increased to 1 and tacrolimus dose in reduced to 0.75. Creatine again reduced to 1.59 with tac level 3.9. Now following the same dose for 20 days, my tac level increased to 4.9 from 3.9 and creatine increased abruptly from 1.59 to 1.85.

Is it happening because the tacrolimus or is there any other concern. Let me know if you can related to this situation or else feel free to give your suggestions/opinion

I have had a very good run after transplant, been able to get back to doing a lot of what a normal person can but I feel like I am so far behind!

Got sick and I was the one doing well, had a good job, had my dream car and everything was great. I felt like I was ahead of everyone.

Got very sick and spent the last two years before transplant just focusing on not dying! Lost all my freelance contracts, my job and loads of friends.

Slowly starting to rebuild but it feels like I am way behind everyone. All my friends are married, buying house, having kids then there is me just floating along.

Anybody else had this feeling? It is tough being in your 20s and needing a transplant. Kind of just feel like I have my health (well mostly minus the becker muscular dystrophy that cause all of this in the first place.)

I donated my kidney to my father around 3 years ago. My latest creatinine is 1.11 mg/dL and my eGFR is around 69. My blood pressure is normal and my urine test was also normal, with no protein or blood.

I’m just a bit worried because it seems like my eGFR has gradually gone down. It was around 78 post op then 73, (2025) and now around 69. (2026)

is this alarming or very normal to happen after years of donating thank you! Im 29yrs old blood pressure and sugar are normal level

Hi everyone.

My dad has his appointments later this week to see if he is eligible for a heart transplant. I'm wondering what sort of support is needed if he is deemed eligible to receive one? It's not a matter of if he needs it, it's a matter if if the transplant team thinks he's a good candidate to get one. And so if he is deemed good, what is the recovery like?

I ask, as realistically, he does not have a good support system. I live in a city 4 hours away, but should he get the transplant, he would travel to my major city to get it done. My sisters live within 1.5 hours of his home town for whenever he does get to go home. But really, my one sister has 4 adolescent children and is a SAHM, the other works full time. I also work full time and can't afford to take additional long term time off to help. We're just trying to see realistically what sort of care would be needed for the recovery. It's also uncertain if he will be deemed a good candidate given his myriad of other health issues, but we will know more later this week. I cqn answer any additonal questions if i can. Any and all information is much appreciated. Thank you

I had my kidney transplant in July and mostly things are going great. The only drug I've had side effects from is the tacrolimus. Mainly hand tremors, which is problematic as I like to color and draw and shaky hands make that extremely difficult. Most people have said changing to the extended release envarsus helped them a lot. However I just found out the medication would be $700 and I just cannot afford that longterm. How are others affording this?? I'd love to get rid of my shaking hands but I'm not sure it'll be possible. Anyone have tips, a website, anything to suggest?

Edit: Thanks everyone for your helpful responses I really appreciate it!

earlier this year a client showed me a fake clear sti screening result and turned out he had both chlamydia and herpes and had given it to me.

for backstory i am 18F and have worked in sex work since i was 15 i make sure to see each clients sti result before agreeing to sex, this is because i am immunocompromised due to a heart transplant 18yr prior. that being said i now have chlamydia (which i have treated and i believe is gone) and this condition which obviously gets worse with lowered immune system which i have constantly. i no longer am working in that field of work and have a boyfriend.
i would really appreciate if anyone had any tips on
1)how to make breakouts less common?
2)do i need medication for every breakout?
3)will i be able to have unprotected sex again without it causing a breakout?
4)will i be able to receive or give head to my bf without either one of us developing it in our mouth aswell.
5)will i be able to have a kid/get pregnant?

any information at all would be greatly appreciated.

Hi everyone! I wanted to share some positive news about my dad, which I have shared a couple of posts in this subreddit in the past. He is approaching one year next month, and thanks to the awesome team and his donor, he is doing amazing.

My dad suffers from GERD from scleroderma esophagus related issues, but after multiple tests and time (!!), they are ready to transition him to eating by mouth!! We are a bit nervous….but very excited and proud of him for reaching this milestone. We were told he may never eat by mouth again. If anyone is in a similar situation, there’s hope.

I hope everyone is well and has an amazing week.

Hey y’all,
Is anybody or has anybody gone back to school and received a Pell grant? If so does it affect your disability review or payments?

Back story :
*Liver transplant 8/12/25 (so it’ll be one year)
* was told I was approved for disability , but haven’t received payments yet
* I have a few other problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis as well, as anxiety and depression. ( up to date and going to doctors)
* wanting to take some Community college classes because it’ll all be paid for so technically I can use my Pell grant refund for other bills including school.
*will be taking online courses mostly but maybe one or two in person?

*my question is since they haven’t paid me for
my disability yet but I am a year out will it mess my case that I applied for 8/4/25.
*if I told them I’m able to do school online because I can do it at my pace will that be okay?

Let me know any experiences, advice , you guys may have.

*also those going to school, would you let you schoolsss as know you might have major doctor s you cannot do miss or might need more time for test taking?

But
Thank you

im gonna be straight i got my kidney in may 2025
i started vaping since august 2025 and have been doing it since in the start i used to get guilt trips and id put it down , the longest i went was 2 weeks
i just CANT STOP
also i go to the gym a lot and ive started taking preworkout supps today was my second time i feel fine and all but im very scared also since the realization is so late is there hope for me now?