I have been a transplant patient for 20 years. I have had two transplants, my first a living related that lasted 12 years and my second, a living related that I am now chronically rejecting.
I have had a horrible problem with depression and mania since I started taking this drug. I don't feel that transplant teams do enough to help with the psychological side effects of this drug and I am wondering if anyone else is having a hard time with steroids.
I am now on a new med to treat the mania and depression. I think in the past the mania was just ignored by my docs and they only adressed the depression. I am finally sleeping through the night and feeling much calmer during the day. My moods seem to be even without that flat feeling some meds give.
I strongely believe that patients who are on this medication should be evaluated every so often for mental health issues. It should be the transplant teams or Nephrologist office that helps to get their patients treated. I am a patient at Georgetown University Hospital and the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland. Both at the top of their game when it comes to kidney disease and transplants. I just feel they have missed the boat on this one issue and people are suffering needlessly.
Any thoughts on this issue?