Posted by Mel
on 8/11/2004, 7:00 pm, in reply to "Re: complications after transplant"
Hey Sheila-
Maybe I can help a little. I also had a KP transplant, after 15 years of type I diabetes. One of the biggest problems after that surgery is hydration and blood pressure issues. The fact that he gets really dizzy when he stands up leads me to believe he has "Orthostatic hypotension", which is common in diabetics and is worsened by being a little dehydrated. I couldn't stand up quickly, especially the first 8 months after transplant. It's caused by the nerves that control how fast the veins to constrict being a little damaged. It gets better, but can take days to years. If you test his blood pressure laying down, then sitting up, then standing, you'll see it drop progressively. The best thing you can do is drink lots of water, and add a little more salt to his food if the docs will allow it. V8 juice was my friend for a long time! The hematocrit can drop for a couple of different reasons. Mine continued to drop for about 12 weeks after transplant, because my kidney hadn't "caught up" yet, with it's production of epo (which is what stimulates the body to produce new red blood cells). He'll probably feel like crap if it's below 15 or so. The other thing that could make it look lower than it really is would be being very hydrated when labs are done. What he's going through is absolutely normal--so don't worry too much. Sometimes they even give KP recipients IV fluids at home for awhile to combat the dizziness. Hope that helps!
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