Returning to Dialysis after a failed Transplant

by Harriet Anne Larder, 2003

I have had a successful transplant for a month short of ten years. For just over two years now my health started to decline. After experiencing well-being, it came as a shock with all the continuous setbacks I was having.

• Chest pains – cramp over the heart region
• Swollen legs – looked like elephants, skin was tight and pitting
• Swollen feet – looked like pigs trotters, skin was also tight and pitting
• Shortness of breath – unable to walk five yards unaided
• Hearing difficulties – as I was wearing a hearing aid, the sound of the fluid was just like holding a shell to my ear and hearing the sea.
• Chest and urine infections
• Emotional distress – I did not understand what was happening.
• No information available – no-one told me anything about rejection and its consequences.

All these things left me confused and sometimes the symptoms were so bad I was frightened. After going through pre-dialysis symptoms previously it still did not occur to me what the trouble was. I received continual treatment, then was finally told I was in kidney failure.

I am feeling much better now that I am dialysing again, even though it is an inconvenience. I hope this will help other kidney patients. Thank you for your website. I gained a lot of useful information from it.

NKF Controlled Document No. 192, Returning to Dialysis after a failed Transplant, written 14 October 2005. Last reviewed 19 October 2011.

The National Kidney Federation cannot accept responsibility for information provided. The above is for guidance only. Patients are advised to seek further information from their own doctor.

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