How to keep healthy after renal transplant surgery?

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How to keep healthy after renal transplant surgery?

A renal transplant surgery is a major type of surgery that can give you a new lease of life and also improve the overall quality of your life. 

The healing period and recovery time following a kidney transplant surgery are extremely important in determining the long-term success of the procedure. It is recommended to understand how your life will be after the procedure before undergoing the surgery.

Making healthy lifestyle choices, eating the right type of foods, staying active, and quitting smoking after a kidney transplant help improve the outcome of the procedure and help you stay healthy after a renal transplant surgery.

In this article, we will be discussing ways to stay healthy following a renal transplant surgery.

• When is a kidney transplant indicated?
• How long will a kidney transplant last?
• How is the recovery following a kidney transplant surgery?
• How to stay healthy after a kidney transplant surgery?

When is a kidney transplant indicated?

Approximately 170 liters of blood is filtered by the kidneys every day to keep our body free of waste.

A person suffering from chronic or long-standing kidney disease is unable to remove the waste products from the body properly. This results in the build-up of fluids and other waste products in the body, causing problems like high blood pressure and kidney failure.

Individuals suffering from kidney damage are usually recommended to undergo either dialysis, which is a treatment involving the filtration of impure blood by a special tube or a dialysis machine, or a renal transplant surgery. Generally, a person undergoing a kidney transplant surgery has more chances of living a longer life compared to a person undergoing a dialysis procedure.

How long will a kidney transplant last?

The average lifespan of a transplanted kidney is about 10 to 20 years. A living donor kidney transplant will usually last for approximately 15 to 20 years, whereas a deceased donor kidney transplant will generally last for approximately 10 to 15 years.

How long the transplanted kidney lasts will depend on several factors. The most important factor is how well the patient takes care of the transplanted kidney and his or her general health. ( Know more about- What is Kidney Transplant Surgery? )

How is the recovery following a kidney transplant surgery?

In the hospital:

• The patient will generally stay in the hospital for three to five days after a renal transplant surgery before being discharged. The patient will be closely monitored for any signs of complications, like organ rejection and infection during this time.
• Certain medical tests may be performed during this time to check the kidney function and liver function of the patient and based on the test results the dosage of the medications may be adjusted.
• The new kidney may start functioning immediately or after a couple of days. Temporary dialysis may be needed during this period until the kidneys start functioning properly.
• Every patient has a different recovery time. The patient is discharged from the hospital based on the type of renal transplant surgery performed and the health of the patient. The medical team will provide instructions on how to take care of the transplanted kidney after going home.

Follow-up appointments:

• A follow-up appointment is recommended one week after the surgery to check how well the patient’s body is adjusting to the newly transplanted kidney. A few diagnostic tests may be recommended for the same.

• For the first four months after surgery, the patient needs to visit the doctor two to three times a week, then once a week. 

• In the fifth month, the patient needs to visit the doctor once every two weeks.

• Between the sixth and ninth months, monthly visits are recommended.

• After one year, a visit every six months is recommended.

Recovery at home:

The patient will be provided with specific instructions on how to help in a quick recovery at home, like:

• Take adequate rest.
• Avoid strenuous activities and lifting heavy objects during the healing period.
• Follow the exercise and diet regime recommended by the doctor.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption as they could increase the risk of developing infections.
• Ask for some help at home during the recovery period.

How to stay healthy after a renal transplant surgery ?

It is important to follow the instructions provided by the doctor to stay healthy following a renal transplant surgery, which may include the following:

• Take the medications as directed: Anti-rejection or immunosuppressive medications need to be taken lifelong by the patient after the procedure. These medicines reduce the chances of the body rejecting the transplanted kidney and need to be taken at approximately the same time every day, ensuring that a stable medication level is maintained.
• Regular follow-up appointments: regular follow-ups help in the early detection and management of any complications associated with the transplanted kidney. 
• Regular lab tests: Routine lab tests are recommended to check how well the transplanted kidney is functioning and check for early signs of organ rejection.
• Avoid strenuous exercises: Heavy lifting and strenuous activities should be avoided for at least six to eight weeks after the renal transplant surgery.
• Regular exercise: After six to eight weeks of a kidney transplant surgery, mild to moderate forms of exercise can be started gradually. However, contact sports should be avoided as they have an increased risk of damaging the transplanted kidney.
• Maintain hygiene: Anti-rejection medications can lower the body’s ability to fight an infection. Maintaining good hand hygiene and general hygiene is important to prevent infections.
• Stay well-hydrated: A minimum of 2 liters of water should be consumed every day to help in a successful recovery. Drinks containing caffeine should be avoided or limited as they could contribute to dehydration.
• Healthy diet: Eat a healthy diet that is rich in protein and low in fat and sodium. Avoid eating undercooked or raw food as it could be risky for a person having a weak immune system, such as a patient who has had a transplanted kidney. ( Know more about- Diet Plan for Immunity )
• Maintain a healthy weight: Keeping a healthy weight will reduce the chances of having problems with recovery following a renal transplant surgery procedure.
• Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption: Smoking and alcohol consumption would increase the risk of complications and interfere with the healing process after surgery and should be avoided.
• Avoid taking any medications without consulting the doctor: Do not take medications like painkillers, antacids, antihistamines, or vitamin supplements without consulting the doctor as they could interfere with the absorption of other prescribed medications being taken.
• Monitor your general health: Immunosuppressive medications can increase the risk of developing certain medical conditions like diabetes and cancer. It is important to monitor your general health parameters regularly and undergo regular cancer screening to help detect and manage any of these conditions early.

We hope that we were able to answer all your questions regarding how to keep healthy after renal transplant surgery through this article.

If you want more information about kidney transplant, you can contact a good Nephrologist.

We only aim to give you information through the article and do not recommend any medication or treatment in any way. Only a qualified doctor can give you the best advice.