BK Virus
Some thing transplant patients don't want to hear, however, sadly I have heard this.
I was called from the transplant clinic and informed I have the BK Virus.
I had read some in the past about the virus and knew it was a possibility with any transplant patient. The virus will effect the urinary track and can cause one to loose the transplant. The virus is not contagious and there seems to be little know about how people get this virus. It's just something that can happen to transplant patients because of all the immunosupression medications they are own.
The nurse informed me that this was something they would monitor and she did not seem concerned about it. She told me that some patients have a BK count in the millions and do just fine with the virus and that some transplant centers would not even treat any count under 5000.
Wouldn't you know my count was 6000.
The treatment includes decreasing the immunosupressing medications. I was pretty scared because I read that 30-80% of patients with BK will loose the transplant. Then I read some more and learned there was a BK Virus and BK Nephritis. Luckily I have the virus and not nephritis.
Then I also read that most patients that had a reduction of immunosupression medication usually would have a good long term outcome. So I was pretty happy to read that and now not as worried. :)
But none the less it's something they have to monitor closely. Usually they check all transplant patients for the BK virus every month, however, now I have to be tested every 2 weeks.
and with the decrease in medication now more than ever I have to keep a close check on my creatinine because with the reduction of medication it can allow the immune system to attack my kidney.
Thanks to all for the support and prayers.
Blake
Some thing transplant patients don't want to hear, however, sadly I have heard this.
I was called from the transplant clinic and informed I have the BK Virus.
I had read some in the past about the virus and knew it was a possibility with any transplant patient. The virus will effect the urinary track and can cause one to loose the transplant. The virus is not contagious and there seems to be little know about how people get this virus. It's just something that can happen to transplant patients because of all the immunosupression medications they are own.
The nurse informed me that this was something they would monitor and she did not seem concerned about it. She told me that some patients have a BK count in the millions and do just fine with the virus and that some transplant centers would not even treat any count under 5000.
Wouldn't you know my count was 6000.
The treatment includes decreasing the immunosupressing medications. I was pretty scared because I read that 30-80% of patients with BK will loose the transplant. Then I read some more and learned there was a BK Virus and BK Nephritis. Luckily I have the virus and not nephritis.
Then I also read that most patients that had a reduction of immunosupression medication usually would have a good long term outcome. So I was pretty happy to read that and now not as worried. :)
But none the less it's something they have to monitor closely. Usually they check all transplant patients for the BK virus every month, however, now I have to be tested every 2 weeks.
and with the decrease in medication now more than ever I have to keep a close check on my creatinine because with the reduction of medication it can allow the immune system to attack my kidney.
Thanks to all for the support and prayers.
Blake
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