Updates from my visit to my nephrologist last week. Lots of random points hit because I wrote down questions in advance on the phone and took notes as they responded.

Another member asked me if my Dr was ok with the shingles vaccine because their program didn’t allow it.  The Dr’s response was that’s because prior to very recently and the introduction of SHINGRIX it was a live vaccine that immune suppressed people could take.  Now the the new non live SHINGRIX.  He also mentioned worry at me getting the vaccine at a pharmacy as the risk is too high if they should instead give me the live vaccine.  At his practice the cost is $299 per injection for the two (1 then 1 after six months). I’ll have to pay out of pocket because I’m too young to get it per insurance. Luckily I was just added to my wife insurance that has a health savings like think, so there is saved cash for things like this.

I asked about who I should talk to if I had a bad cold.  His PA said contact her and she could escalate to the nephrologist or the transplant center.  She said with older patients they will give Z-Pac fairly fast for congestion but for me (45) its probably fine to wait out.

I also asked about cold medicines because I’ve read or felt that most of the complex AM or PM style over the counter products are bad us.  They were not as worried about it since my kidney is basically good, but were fine with me using the base medicines in pill form of:
* Guaifenesin for chest congestion
* Dextromethorphan for cough suppressant
I left feeling that if I go the over the counter route it should be very basic single symptom products, such as Robitussin (Dextromethorphan) not one of the modern Robitussin products with many more drug components.

My Allosure test from November was not released into my CareDx portal (https://caredx.careevolve.com/Patient/Profile/Login), at the visit the released it and the PA complained that the center should be releasing them, especially since people who received transplants long ago are getting calls for the test and that works them up a lot since they know nothing about the test..  I also received a call to schedule this quarter’s test so I asked the CareDX scheduler if something can be done to allow me to read them without the Dr’s release. (For Example LabCorp releases test results after 5 days where the Dr’s get them much faster.). This year’s test was < 0.15%, where last year’s test was < 0.19%, both were NOT abnormal.

I’ve skipped a few doses of Mycophenolate, they would rather me have it with food over skipping a test…

For stomach gas/acidity its ok to use Calcium, and all base mental products like Mylanta (Magnesium) etc are ok, again don’t do the high tech products with all other types of additive meds which might affect the important medicine.  I asked because my Calcium is boarder line high so I worried about adding more Calcium.  BUT avoid aluminum products.

Dexa scan was back with no major changes so ok to wait 4 years now. (I have damage already from presiosne use throughout the 1990’s.

From: http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=34003.msg532262#msg532262