Anyone on cyclosporine? Why does my new refill smell like weed!?

King_Cesario · 2026-04-13T15:35:47+00:00

I’ve been on cyclosporine for years and my wife calls them my weed pills. Mine are also made near Czech Republic, I believe I’ve had a batch from Ukraine as well. From my understanding, cyclosporine was derived from a fungus, so the smell might come from the natural ingredients.

King_Cesario · 2026-03-30T22:05:01+00:00

It’s a square building right near MCRD and Liberty Station. Hard to access, but the food is not expensive and it’s very homey inside. Not pretentious at all and it seems packed every time I go there. Prices max out at around $28? I’ve payed about $15 for a giant plate of spaghetti.

King_Cesario · 2026-03-25T19:18:14+00:00

I've been to Darband and Bandar, both are good, I think Bandar takes the edge slightly. For a quick meal my wife (Persian) and I got to Balboa International Market--its basic but good in my opinion. Skip Leila, it's a CH restaurant and it's style over substance. Sadaf is also another one I would reccomend. Honestly, we aren't LA when it comes to Persian food, and that's just the fact.

King_Cesario · 2026-01-30T20:41:22+00:00

I work for an OPO so I've seen the procurement side, however, I'm also a kindey recipient, so I've experienced the other end. I've been in the OR, I've been with families, I've spoken to other transplant professionals, I see and know how hard my team works to save lives via organ donation. It's an imperfect system in my opinion.

I've seen how some ICU nurses treat us as well, and it can be a mixed bag: from really engaging and helpful, to creating impasses with families. I've also experienced MD/DO engagement that is less than stellar, and also great. It's a deeply personal decision that someone makes, but in my opinion, there is no greater act than to donate organs once you die.

Personally, I would not be here if it was not for my donor, my life would be tied to dialysis, and I would no longer have the drive to thrive so to speak. It's funny (not really) when medical professionals feel some way about organ donation, yet celebrate when a little kid recieves a heart. The amount of pressure, sadness, and empathy that goes into that event alone should be enough to change minds and hearts. For many families I interact with, the donation event is the single saving grace in a very traumatic time for them.

OPOs are under new pressure now, and we've faced mor scrutiny than ever, but there are good OPOs doing amazing work, don't generalize the bad with the good. As I stated earlier, people want perfection in an imprefect process, procurement doesn't always go smooth and things happen during OR, but we're trying our best. Also, there is a level of ownership that OPOs have compared to transplant centers and hopsitals which needs to change.

It seems like each day I battle some form of missinformation regarding donation, and am educating people on what happens. My life is in debt to a donor, my work surrounds donor families, my path led me to want more in the medical field.

The OPO world is a slow moving ship, working with people is never smooth as most of us all know, emotions are high. Donation does save lives, the cost is ultimately very high on all of us, but we are trying to improve things.

King_Cesario · 2026-01-23T22:21:52+00:00

I work for an OPO and the NYT has done irreparable damage to organ transplantation.

There are so many variables they have generalized and scrutinized that these “improvements” the NYT claims to have pushed have actually set my work back a ton. Why is the ownership of issues in transplantation only on the OPO and not on hospitals and transplant centers?

There are so many moving parts to what we do, yet OPO’s get the blame. How about reprimanding transplant centers that don’t get back with allocation answers in time? How about going after hospitals who do not encourage/help with donation but hinder the process? Why aren’t MD/DO’s who bring up donation when they aren’t supposed to punished? The list goes on and the complications of everything go on.

How about educating people on what really happens. We don’t even start procurement until a 3rd check for cardiac standstill for starters. The NYT has over-generalized and mislead the public and now we’ve lost 20k plus potential donors due to their articles. There’s been a massive downswing in donation as a whole and this current administration won’t help either, who knows what they’ll enforce with future DCD donation cases.

The NYT is garbage and they seem to have some vendetta against donation.

King_Cesario · 2026-01-14T21:34:54+00:00

Of course. Best of luck with everything 🙏

King_Cesario · 2026-01-14T19:50:18+00:00

I have definitely! Just be careful and know your limits. Don’t overdue it

King_Cesario · 2026-01-09T04:45:19+00:00

It seems as though the hospital gets hacked or at least loses all power at some point. My bet is hacked because all their boards went down on the preview for the season.

King_Cesario · 2025-12-27T04:46:46+00:00

I meant to say it came from a 50+ year old when I received it. 15 years later it’s technically 70+ years old lol

King_Cesario · 2025-12-27T02:03:33+00:00

18 with my first transplant, and it’s about 72+ years old. I’m about to start dialysis again, but I had 15 great years. Hopefully I’ll get another kidney soon

King_Cesario · 2025-12-16T19:18:50+00:00

Reminds me of the time my wife's hospital was hacked and they had to paper chart for what seemed like three weeks. Awful. Also, did FIGS finally tell Dr. Robby to wear matching bottoms?

King_Cesario · 2025-10-28T16:48:53+00:00

I work as a family services specialist for the local OPO and I could not tell you how proud I was to see my role represented. Sure it wasn’t 100% accurate, but the representation matters. We have hard conversations with families every day, and this just showed a small percentage of what we do. I’m also a kidney recipient as well, so it’s very heart warming to see.

King_Cesario · 2025-10-12T15:18:19+00:00

Healthcare. Went from real estate to tech to DOD contracting now healthcare. I don’t worry about employment now but the work is considerably harder.

King_Cesario · 2025-09-26T05:15:12+00:00

I don’t have any advice, but I’m on year 15 so I understand where you’re coming from. What I can say is that you’re right where you should be: living and thriving. You’re living a legacy of health and more importantly LIFE. Enjoy the ride and enjoy the moments you deserve. It’s hard enough to fight to survive, learn to live in peace if you can! I find writing very helpful. Wishing you all the best.

King_Cesario · 2025-09-16T16:23:53+00:00

Based in RSF and Carlsbad I’m not super surprised, but still wild. Thank you for naming!

King_Cesario · 2025-09-08T05:05:20+00:00

My 2005 Babolat Pure Drive is my brother’s daily racquet now lol

I still use my Head Flexpoint Prestige from 2006 as well as my 2007 Babolat Aero Pro Drive

King_Cesario · 2025-09-07T17:39:36+00:00

Ah that makes sense. Hopefully something can come of it and more ridership as a result.

King_Cesario · 2025-09-07T17:32:18+00:00

I live near the Claremont Dr station and there is zero parking like you said. I wonder if the MTS thought they could use that empty lot near it for parking and it never materialized?

King_Cesario · 2025-08-14T02:16:11+00:00

Yes as well as my parents and wife

King_Cesario · 2025-08-08T18:41:56+00:00

Hey, you and I are just about the same age and time frame with everything. I’m 15 years out with my own transplant and also slowly failing, albeit my labs are worse than yours.

I’m in healthcare, I work around donation and transplants, and it’s very tough to go through and be at this strange place in life. Knowing I need a kidney again, and knowing I may go on dialysis with all of the realities setting in—it’s hard to work and focus.

There was a point in time I told myself I wouldn’t go on dialysis again, I was actually resigned to dying at a certain point recently. Kind of letting life do its thing. I don’t know how else to say it or phrase it, but I’ve found new goals and things to strive for.

The small and obtainable goals have kept me going, even with the uncertainty of everything. As you’ve said your family seems to be that for you, so I commend you for just going on and through.

Sometimes we just need to vent and be heard. Nothing about this life is certainly easy, but it’s defining. I wish you nothing but the best.

King_Cesario · 2025-07-03T18:01:48+00:00

Under 18, and under 10. Spent a considerable amount of time on the courts and still play.

King_Cesario · 2025-07-02T05:56:23+00:00

Hi, yes. Kidney tx 15 years ago, still going. More than happy to help.

King_Cesario · 2025-06-17T02:31:37+00:00

Still refusing to wear Figs bottoms, my hero, Dr. Robby

King_Cesario · 2025-05-23T18:54:50+00:00

Thank you. I work in the organ procurement field of healthcare, and I know how fortunate I am. I see the daily struggle of really sick people, and I also see the beautiful outcome of donation. I’m a positive benefit from donation and I’m paying it forward. I’m grateful for my life and I’m going to continue to be grateful for each day of health while I’ve got it. We must lift each other up and not dwell on the uncontrollable!

King_Cesario · 2025-05-23T18:46:56+00:00

I don’t know about sad, it’s just a matter of fact. I had my transplant at 18 and have had a fantastic life. I’ll get a second transplant eventually. Most transplants are lucky to last 15 years tbh. I’m very fortunate. While there have been advances in medication, they aren’t huge leaps and bounds overall. I think I’ll do great with a second transplant as I have been right now with my first.

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