As a nephrologist, I treat patients with kidney problems, and when your kidneys fail there are only two options — dialysis, where a machine does the work of your kidneys for you, or a kidney transplant, where a healthy kidney is placed inside your body. The healthy kidney can come from a deceased donor (someone who has died and chosen to donate their kidneys), or a living donor (someone who has two healthy kidneys and chooses to donate one).
Will a kidney transplant cure my kidney disease?
While a successful kidney transplant may allow you to live longer and live a life free of dialysis, you will need to take anti-rejection medicines for as long as your new kidney is working. These medicines can have side effects and you will have a higher risk for infections and certain types of cancer.
Most transplants can last for many years, around seven to 10 years, but this can vary from one person to the next, depending on the health condition that led to kidney failure in the first place.
What are anti-rejection medicines?
These are immunosuppressants, medicines that “hide” your new kidney from your body’s immune system to protect it from being attacked and destroyed. Always take these medications as prescribed, as well as other medications that your doctor may prescribe. These medicines are there to prevent your body from rejecting your new kidney. Make sure to inform your transplant doctor about any new medications or supplements that you are taking as some may interact with your transplant medications in a negative way.
The key to maintaining a healthy kidney transplant is to have open and honest communication with your transplant team.
What happens when I go home after my transplant?
After surgery and you are allowed to go home, the most important work begins — follow-up. In the first few months your doctors will see every week with regular blood tests to make sure that your kidney is working well and that you are taking the right amount of anti-rejection medications. As times passes and you are doing well, you will need fewer checkups. Remember that you need to see you doctor regularly, at least every three months.
Once your laboratory tests show that your immune system is in a stable state, your doctor will advise you on when you can go back to school or work.
What kinds of food should I be eating?
After your kidney transplant, your diet will change. Your food must be fully cooked. And unlike the time when you had chronic kidney disease or were on dialysis, you will now be able to eat more protein. You will be able to and may need to drink more water as well, something very different particularly for the patients who were on water restriction during the time that they were still on dialysis. A sensible diet is still best. And when in doubt, “if you can’t cook or peel it, you can’t eat it.”
CONSULT your doctor regularly, at least three months after the kidney transplant.
When can I start exercising?
After a kidney transplant, people can respond differently. The amount of activity you can handle depends on your age and personal health. But the goal is to get moving in some way. For one person, “moving” may mean sitting up in a chair. For another, it may mean walking several times a day. If moving is challenging, your transplant team may prescribe physical rehabilitation to get you started in the safest way possible. And keep it up once you’ve started exercising regularly.
The key to maintaining a healthy kidney transplant is to have open and honest communication with your transplant team. As I always tell my patients, there are no silly questions. And I would rather they asked me first, instead of doing something they shouldn’t have done and potentially endangering not only their new kidney, but their health as a whole.