Life after Kidney Transplant

Dr.Vikas Agarwal, 3 mins read

After discharge what are the precautions?

At discharge, your nephrologist and transplant surgeon will counsel the patient, donor and family regarding strict compliance with medications and regular follow-up.

For a successful kidney transplant outcome, the important thing is a disciplined lifestyle and stent removal after 2 weeks of discharge.

• Do not miss medications
• Get regular investigations
• To get drug levels of (immunosuppressant) medications as advised
• Eat healthily and stay away from dirty environment
• Monitor sugar, blood pressure and urine output at home
• If at all any problem like a fall in blood pressure, fever, cough, breathing difficulty or pain please contact your doctor at the earliest 

How do I know my new kidney is functioning well?

After transplant in the initial period, the chances of rejection are a maximum of almost 4-6 % of patients suffer from rejection, which is treatable with medications.

In the first month after the renal transplant blood investigations are done twice a week. After that, if everything is on the course the frequency of tests goes down.

If at all one has any symptoms of pain in the kidney area, fever or blood in urine and decrease in urine output, one must report immediately to his nephrologist.

What about my sex life?

After a kidney transplant, one has an improvement in sexual relations. Post-kidney transplant men have fathered children and women patients have successful pregnancies and bear healthy children. It is advisable to plan pregnancy after one year of kidney transplantation under the strict care of a nephrologist as we need to change some medications and requires strict supervision during the course of pregnancy.

When can one go to work after kidney transplant surgery?

Advised to discuss with your treating transplant team as it also depends on the type of job profile.

Mostly after 8-12 weeks after kidney transplant surgery, one can start work if the patient recovers well. It is always better

Also Read: Know How Can You Protect Your Kidneys