Post – Operative Care After Kidney Transplant

By in Kidney Transplant Nephrology & Renal Transplant

Jan 17, 2019

Kidney transplant for any patient suffering from end-stage kidney disease is a gift of life. While the new kidney will bring with it freedom from dialysis, good health and quality of life, it comes with its own set of responsibilities. You need to take good care of your health and follow the advice of our best kidney transplant doctor’s of the best kidney transplant hospital to keep this kidney going.

What can you do to keep the new kidney working well for as long as possible?

• Take all medicines (especially immunosuppressants) on time as advised
• Get blood and urine tests done regularly as advised
• Do not miss any appointments with your transplant nephrologist. The best kidney transplant nephrologists at Metro Hospital Faridabad  will play a key role in taking care of your health
• Ensure blood pressure and sugars are kept under good control
• Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet
• Exercise regularly
• Do not gain too much weight
• Do not smoke

GENERAL POSTOPERATIVE CARE

ACTIVITY

• After discharge from the hospital, you should incorporate walking every day into your daily routine. Walking up and down a few stairs is permitted.
• Avoid lifting more than 5 kgs (10 lbs) (including children) for the first 6 weeks after surgery. Lifting and straining may result in the opening of your wound.
• You may drive ~2 months after surgery if you are not taking pain medications.

RETURNING TO WORK OR SCHOOL

You will be given permission to return to work or school once things are stable after transplant depending on various factors such as recovery time, complications, and the nature of work that is done. Most patients can start working again after 2 months of surgery.

INFECTION

The medications you are given to suppress the body’s immune system so that it does not reject the transplanted kidney (immunosuppressants), put you at a slightly increased risk of catching infections. The risk is more during the initial few months post-transplant.

    Report any of these changes, whenever they occur:

• Temperature any time it is over 100° F or 37.8° C for more than 24 hours. Report any sudden fever over 101° F or 38.5° C right away.
• Burning when you urinate, decreased urine output, cloudy urine, blood in urine, or change of colour of urine
• Nausea and vomiting that makes you unable to keep down your immunosuppressive medication or any fluids
• White patches in your mouth
• Change of color of stool or blood in stool, diarrhea
• Extreme pain within your incision or discharge from the incision
• Cold, runny nose or cough, severe headache
• Exposure to any of the following: chicken pox or shingles, strep throat or any other contagious diseases that can spread from one person to another

You may reduce the risk of infection by practising good personal hygiene measures.

• You should wash your hands properly and regularly
• Try to avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Wear a mask if you are going out into crowded places

NUTRITION

Many restrictions on your diet that you had on dialysis will be now lifted after you get a kidney transplant. For e.g. you no longer need to follow potassium and phosphorous restricted diet. Follow a well-balanced nutritious diet so that your new kidney remains healthy.

Expert doctors and dietitians at Metro Hospital Faridabad will provide you a personalized diet chart depending upon your particular dietary requirements.

General precautions:

• Follow the safety instructions on food packaging
• Avoid raw or undercooked meats, seafood or eggs
• Cook the food properly and serve hot
• Always check labels on food packaging for “best before” or “sell by” dates
• Use only pasteurized milk, cheese, and fruit juices
• Wash your hands properly before and after cooking food
• Wash all raw fruits and vegetables properly before cooking or eating

DRINKING WATER

You need to drink more than 3-3.5 litre of fluids initially after transplant.

• You may use bottled water or install a water purification system at home
• If you have to use well water/tap water for drinking purpose, it should be boiled thoroughly and rapidly

To get the best treatment from the best Nephrologist, Faridabad visits Metro Hospital, Faridabad or book an appointment online.