I'm 2 years post-renal transplant. I've had no kidney complications, but I get bloodwork and see my doctor routinely every 1-2 months to monitor my health.
Three weeks ago during routine bloodwork, my serum (blood) creatinine level (a measure of kidney function) went from a very stable 1.0 (normal for me) to 1.4-1.5 (abnormal for me) indicating a problem.
Since, I have had several tests to determine what is wrong, including a renal ultrasound (to check for blood flow/blockages) extensive bloodwork, and medication changes. Today (July 27) I had a renal needle biopsy performed using sedation (mild anesthesia) at Tampa General Hospital. The procedure went as expected, without complications and only very little residual pain.
If the problem is urgent, I will know tomorrow morning and will be re-hospitalized to receive IV medications. If the problem is chronic or only mildly acute, it will continued to be monitored on an out-patient basis (with bloodwork and doctors visits, etc.) over the next few weeks, months, and ultimately throughout my lifetime.
I know that I have a 25% chance that my transplanted kidney could eventually become diseased with the original chronic kidney ailment (FSGS) that lead to my native kidney failure/dialysis/need for transplantation. So far, however, no other signs of FSGS reoccurrence have been clinically present, so at this time the doctors feel it is most likely not this issue.
It is also quite possible there will be no explanation for the jump in creatinine (the loss of kidney function) as this does happen from time to time in transplantees. The most I can hope for is that any damage already done can be reversed, or if not reversible, will not continue.
Hope this explanation helped!
Thank you all for your thoughts and messages - they've all meant so much to me.
<3 K
Thank you for the explanation, that really does help us non-technical (at least in a biological way) folk get an idea of what's going on. I guess it doesn't change the fact that there probably isn't anything I can do to make things easier on you, other than just try and be there when you need someone to talk to, but it does strangely make me feel a bit better somewhat knowing what's going on instead of being mostly clueless.
Hope all goes well. They're getting good at doing the biopsies and my doc told me there was less than 1% of anything happening.
Sorry to hear about your spike in creatinine. I'm crossing my fingers that the new kidney is not under attack! I've been a silent blog fan of yours for many years, but, to be honest, have not read much since your successful transplant a few years back. My google "FSGS" news alert picked up your recent blog. As a fellow FSGS'r (is that a noun?) I do have a question. I have a solitary kidney from birth, and the docs performed an open renal biopsy, as opposed to the needle. I was told the needle procedure carries a small risk of kidney bleeding, and is thus not performed on those of us without a backup (like you and me!). If you don't mind my asking, was this a concern for your doctor? Perhaps the technique has been improved since my biopsy in 1996.
I've put your blog feed back on my startup page....praying for good health for you and your family.
Regards..Mike.