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What is a Kidney Transplant
A kidney transplant is a surgical procedure in which a healthy kidney from either a living or deceased donor is placed in place of your damaged kidney present in your lower abdomen. It is not a cure, but a treatment for chronic kidney failure. It is the treatment of choice for those who are considered suitable candidates for a transplant. After a transplant you no longer need to go for dialysis, your new kidney will filter your blood.
A successful kidney transplant may allow you to live longer and to live the kind of life you were living before you got kidney disease.
What are the types of Kidney Transplant?
If you’d like to get a kidney transplantation as a treatment option, there are two types of transplants to consider.
- Living Donor Transplant
- Deceased Donor Transplant
Your transplant team will work with you to determine which option is right for you.
Living Donor Transplant
A living donor kidney comes from a healthy adult. When a person comes volunteers to be a potential living donor, blood tests are performed to determine compatibility with the patient.
In this type of transplant, the kidney is removed from a living donor and placed into the body of the patient who is suffering from kidney failure. One kidney should be obtained from the donor to replace the two failed kidneys.
- Living donation from a person you know.
Most living kidney donors are close relatives, partners or good friends of the patient. You should ask family and friends if they are interested in donating a kidney to you Tests will be done to make sure your living donor can donate safely If your living donor is not suitable for you, you and your donor may be able to join the National Living Donor Kidney Sharing Scheme. - Matching or joint donation.
If a potential living donor is not suitable for you, it may be possible to join the National Living Donor Kidney Allocation Scheme. The sharing system offers the possibility to exchange or swap a donor kidney with another donor-recipient couple in the same situation as you. What happens during a double transfer? Sometimes, if you have few antibodies against the donor, it may still be possible to transplant a kidney from them. In this situation, you may need treatment to reduce the level of antibodies in your blood so that you can safely receive a new kidney. The risk of rejection may be higher and you may need additional immunosuppression. Your kidney transplant team will guide you in detail. - Living donation from someone you don’t know.
Sometimes kidney disease patients ask on social media for people to come and donate a kidney to them. If you don’t know the featured person and the person specifically wants to donate to you, it’s called a directed altruistic gift. Sometimes people contact transplant units and want to donate their kidney to someone on the national transplant waiting list. This is called an undirected compassionate gift.
Receiving a kidney from a living donor has many advantages over donating a deceased kidney. Living donor kidneys take longer on average and the waiting time is usually shorter. When a potential living donor comes, it usually takes 3-6 months before he has all the tests and before the operation is arranged. If you are not yet on dialysis, but your kidneys are not working, it is more likely that a kidney transplant will be done before you need dialysis. They can also be pre-planned, so they almost always happen during the day.
Kidney transplants from living donor function longer and the survival rate for live donor kidneys is greater than 95 % for the first year. The average life of a kidney donated from a perfectly matched (tissue typing identical) sibling is 25 to 30 years and the average life of a kidney donated from a half matched or unrelated donor is 16 years. No live donor candidate is allowed to donate a kidney unless the transplant team is certain, to the best of their ability, that the donor will live a normal, healthy life with one kidney.
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Deceased Donor Transplant
A deceased donor kidney comes from a person who has chosen to be an organ donor and has been declared deceased. Like the living donor, the deceased donor must have blood testing performed to show compatibility with the proposed recipient.
It is when a kidney from someone who has recently died is removed with consent of the family or from a donor card and placed into a recipient whose kidneys have failed.
The kidney transplant survival rate for the first year with a deceased donor kidney is 85 to 90 %. The average functional time period of a deceased donor kidney transplant is between 8-20 years.
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Advantages of Living Donation over Deceased Donation.
Living kidney donation has many advantages as compared to a deceased donation:
- Living donor kidney transplants may have several advantages over deceased donor transplants: Some living donor transplants are performed between genetically similar family members. A better genetic match reduces the risk of rejection.
- A living donor kidney usually works immediately, because the kidney is outside the body for a very short time. The kidneys of some deceased donors do not work immediately, and therefore the patient may need dialysis until the kidney starts working. Potential donors can be pre-tested to find the best match with the recipient. Organ transplantation can take place at a convenient time for both the donor and the recipient.
- A living donor transfer can be planned, giving the recipient and donor time to prepare. Recipients do not know when a deceased donor will be available, and surgery must be performed very quickly once it becomes available. The risk of rejection can be reduced, especially if the kidney is donated by a blood relative.
- A living donor transplant is a fast process and takes less time for a recipient to wait to receive a kidney transplant. The average waiting time for a kidney from a deceased donor can be three to five years.
Some F.A.Q's Related to Kidney Transplant
Some things to consider before you go for a kidney transplant:
- The risks and benefits of the transplant
- Medications and their side effects
- Overall Cost of the transplant surgery
- Financial help (available insurance options)
- Your ability to continue monitoring and follow instructions.
The final decision about a kidney transplant should be taken after considering all these points. When evaluating, you need to ask questions so that you can be satisfied with your final choice. Therefore, it is beneficial to learn as much as possible about all the options for renal replacement therapy.
Yes, you may be at risk both during and after the transplant surgery.
Risks of Kidney Transplant can be both short term or long term:
- In the Short Term:
Similar risks to any other surgery, such as bleeding, clots and infection (such as: urinary tract infections, colds and flu). - In the Long Term:
Increased likelihood of developing diabetes and hypertension as well as an increased risk of infectious diseases and tumors due to immunosuppressive drugs needed to reduce the chance of rejection of the new kidney.
For some people with kidney failure, kidney transplants may be more serious than dialysis.
Ineligible cases include:
- Untreatable heart disease, such as severe heart failure and severe occlusion of heart arteries.
- Bacterial or viral infections, until treated.
- Cancer – A patient who has recovered from cancer needs to wait for a period of time to be decided by the transplant physician, given the risk of cancer recurrence after the transplant due to immunodepression.
- Mental illnesses that are difficult to treat and control.
- Any kind of drug addiction
Although most kidney transplant patients are old, in between the age group 45 to 65, there really is no upper age limit. However, for the best results, your healthcare provider will likely look for a donor close to your age.
In some cases, people may have two or even three or four kidney transplants in their lifetime. Your doctor can tell you if this is an option for you.
Before Transplant
In the initial steps, you will have to contact a transplant center to decide if you are ready for the kidney transplant. If the evaluation team decides you are ready, the next step is to find a perfect kidney match. Your transplant team will help you with this. There are other things you will need to prepare for, like paying for your transplant and for the medicines you will take after. You will also need to prepare for the transplant surgery itself.
What are the tests done before kidney transplant?
Before Kidney transplant, your doctor will examine carefully and make sure whether you need a transplant or not. Your doctor will suggest you some blood test and know about your general health condition based on co-morbidity, history or pathological findings: –
- Full Blood count – To monitor your blood count.
- Blood grouping – Your blood group is needed to find a suitable donor.
- CRP – The C-reactive protein (CRP) level is a reliable marker of inflammation in renal transplant recipients.
- Antibody tests – Your doctor will need to check if you have any antibodies in your blood that increases the risk of kidney transplant being rejected.
- HLA (Human leukocyte antigen) Tissue typing – Your transplant team will look at your tissue type and compare it with possible donors to see if the donor’s kidney is safe to transplant.
- Abdominal ultrasound – You may need ultrasound scans of the blood vessels (arteries and veins) in your groin to make sure there are no problems. As the new kidney will be transplanted near the groin (an area of your hip between your stomach and thigh).
- Electrolytes – An imbalance of certain essential electrolytes is generally seen in kidney diseases.
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Who is in the transplant team?
There are many people at the transplant center who work to make your transplant successful. Each person in the “transplant team” is an expert in a different area. The transplant team includes all or some of the following professionals: –
- Transplant Surgeon will conduct an evaluation, from a surgical standpoint, to ensure that you remain an acceptable candidate while you are on the list at BMC. The surgeon is available to discuss your case with your nephrologists should the need arise.
- A Transplant Nephrologist will conduct an evaluation to ensure that you remain medically suitable to receive a transplant at BMC. The Transplant Nephrologist is available to discuss your case with your nephrologists should the need arise.
- The Transplant Coordinator provides reinforced education regarding the transplant process, listing for transplant and patient responsibilities before and after transplant. The coordinator is your advocate throughout the transplant process and will work with you to ensure all your needs are met. This coordinator is your contact person here at BMC and a resource for you. The coordinator is responsible for ensuring you fully understand the transplant process and your responsibilities in partnering with BMC for your continued care.
- A Psychiatrist and Social Worker are available to you throughout the waiting period and will meet with you to evaluate your ability to cope with the stress of transplantation and your ability to follow a rigorous treatment plan, both before and after transplantation and address any additional concerns that may arise while you await your transplant.
- A Dietitian will evaluate you while you are on the wait list to ensure your nutritional status remains optimal for transplant. The dietitian is also available to you at any time while you wait for transplant.
- A Pharmacist will also evaluate your current medicine list and identify any possible drug-drug interactions that may occur after transplant and they will make recommendations to either avoid the interactions or decrease the potential side effects. The pharmacist will also teach you about your medications and assess compliance with your medication regimen.
You may be required to see other specialists during your evaluation and follow-up visits depending on your health conditions and age, like a cardiologist. Each member of a transplant team.
Is there any disadvantage of kidney transplant?
Yes, you may be in risk both during and after the transplant surgery. You can
- Arterial narrowing
A narrowing of the artery associated with a donated kidney, called arterial stenosis, can sometimes occur after a kidney transplant. Sometimes it can develop months or even years after the transplant. Narrowing of an artery can cause an increase in blood pressure. The artery often needs to be stretched to widen it, and a small metal tube called a stent can be placed inside the damaged artery to prevent it from narrowing. - Blocked ureters
The ureter (the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder) can become blocked after a kidney transplant. It can be blocked soon after the transplant – with blood clots, for example. It can also become blocked months or years later, usually due to scar tissue. A blockage in the urethra can be removed by emptying it with a small tube called a catheter. Sometimes surgery may be necessary to remove a blockage in the ureter. - Leakage of urine
Sometimes, after surgery, urine can leak from the junction of your ureter with the bladder. This usually happens in the first month after the procedure. Fluid may collect in the abdomen or leak through the surgical incision. If you develop a urinary leak, you will usually need further surgery to fix it.
What should you do before a kidney transplant?
You will have to take care about your diet and follow this step before going for your kidney transplant surgery:
- Avoid blood thinners, including aspirin, for at least a week before surgery.
- On the day before surgery, eat light meals until lunch and then clear fluids.
- Stay well hydrated, drink water in intervals.
- On the day of surgery, you must drink clear liquids two hours before arriving at the hospital.
- Do not eat solid food or complex liquids after half an hour before surgery.
- Make sure you have a good bowel movement either the night before or the morning before surgery
- If you have difficulty passing stool, start a clear liquid diet the day before surgery.
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Does transplant surgery always happen?
No, transplant surgery does not always happen. Sometimes it is not done by the doctor if the kidney of the donor is not a good match or there is something wrong with it. In such situations, you can wait for a more suitable donor.
During Transplant
How is the kidney surgery done?
A kidney transplant involves placing a healthy kidney in the body, where it can perform all the functions that kidney failure cannot. Your new kidney will be placed on the right or left side of your abdomen, where it will be surgically connected to nearby blood vessels. Placing the kidney in this position allows it to be easily connected to the blood vessels and bladder. The vein and artery in your new kidney are connected to the vein and artery. A new renal ureter is attached to the bladder to remove urine out of your body. The original kidneys are not removed.
How long does kidney transplant surgery take?
A kidney transplant operation takes an average of two to four hours. The time may vary, it depends person to person
After Transplant
After Transplant You will be told how to take care of yourself after the transplant.
This will include information about:
- Medicines
- How often you need to visit the doctor or clinic
- What daily activities are allowed or off-limits.
Why are medications so important after transplant?
Your body’s natural response to a foreign object (i.e., the transplanted kidney) is to destroy it. To help block your immune system’s natural response, your transplant doctor will prescribe medications that suppress your immune system, so that the immune system does not try to destroy your new kidney. As time passes, your immune system’s response will become less powerful and the doses and/or number of your immune suppressant medications will slowly be reduced. When your immune system is suppressed, you are at a higher risk of getting infections from bacteria or viruses. You will also take new medications to prevent infections, but they are usually only needed for the first 6 months after your transplant.
Why are medications so important after transplant?
Your body’s natural response to a foreign object (i.e., the transplanted kidney) is to destroy it. To help block your immune system’s natural response, your transplant doctor will prescribe medications that suppress your immune system, so that the immune system does not try to destroy your new kidney. As time passes, your immune system’s response will become less powerful and the doses and/or number of your immune suppressant medications will slowly be reduced. When your immune system is suppressed, you are at a higher risk of getting infections from bacteria or viruses. You will also take new medications to prevent infections, but they are usually only needed for the first 6 months after your transplant.
What are the possible complications after transplant?
The two major complications that can occur after transplant surgery are
- Infection
- Rejection
Infection
Although very uncommon, an infection can occur in your surgical incision (body part operated). It is very important for you to keep this site clean and dry. There will be a sterile dressing covering the incision most of the time while you are in the hospital. If you notice any redness, tenderness, or drainage at the incision site, you should notify your doctor or nurse. Other infections include pneumonia, urinary tract infection, fungal and viral infection.
Indeed, the transplant recipient is at increased risk for post-transplant infections due to immunosuppressive medications, so avoiding exposure to bacteria is prudent. But don’t despair. Keep your living area clean. Good practice can be good hand washing with antibacterial soap or using hand sanitize.
After Transplant
Intro
After a successful kidney transplant, the new kidney filters your blood. You need medication to suppress your immune system so that your body does not reject the donor kidney. Because these anti-rejection medications make your body more susceptible to infections, your doctor may also prescribe antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal medications to cure infections. It is important that you take all medicines as prescribed by your doctor. Your body may reject the new kidney if you skip medication for even a short time. Contact your transplant team immediately if you have side effects that prevent you from taking your medication.
You will also have to have a proper diet to care of yourself after the transplant. Learn in detail about:
- Complications after Transplant
- Medicines to take after transplant
After Transplant You will be told how to take care of yourself after the transplant.
This will include information about:
- Medicines
- How often you need to visit the doctor or clinic
- What daily activities are allowed or off-limits.
What are the possible complications after transplant?
The two major complications that can occur after transplant surgery are
- Infection
- Rejection
Some Complication You & the Kidney can face after transplant
What are the possible complications after transplant?
The two major complications that can occur after transplant surgery are
- Infection
- Rejection
Infection
Infection
Although very uncommon, an infection can occur in your surgical incision (body part operated). It is very important for you to keep this site clean and dry. There will be a sterile dressing covering the incision most of the time while you are in the hospital. If you notice any redness, tenderness, or drainage at the incision site, you should notify your doctor or nurse. Other infections include pneumonia, urinary tract infection, fungal and viral infection.
Indeed, the transplant recipient is at increased risk for post-transplant infections due to immunosuppressive medications, so avoiding exposure to bacteria is prudent. But don’t despair. Keep your living area clean. Good practice can be good hand washing with antibacterial soap or using hand sanitize.
Kidney Rejection
What is Kidney rejection?
Rejection is your body’s way of not accepting the kidney transplant. Although rejection is most common in the first six months after surgery, it can occur at any time.
Rejection occurs when your body tries to get rid of the foreign object (transplanted kidney). In this case, the foreign object is your new kidney.
What are the types of Kidney rejection?
There are three types of rejection- hyperacute, acute and chronic.
- Hyperacute rejection is very rare and occurs during the surgery or within the first few hours after the surgery. This rejection results in complete failure of the kidney. It can be avoided by careful matching the blood of the donor and the recipient.
- Acute rejection – It is the most common. This can happen any time after transplant, usually within days to weeks after transplant. You are at the greatest risk for developing this type of rejection in the first three months after surgery. It is important that you recognize signs of rejection and contact your transplant team as soon as possible. If detected early, this type of rejection can be treated successfully.
It classifies into the following types: –- Antibody-mediated rejection:
ABMR: which usually demonstrates evidence of circulating donor-specific alloantibodies and immunological evidence of antibody-mediated injuries to the kidney. Like inflammation of glomeruli (glomerulitis) or peritubular capillaries (peritubular capillaritis). - Acute T-cell mediated rejection:
TCMR: which is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the tubules, interstitium, and sometimes the arterial intima.
- Antibody-mediated rejection:
- Chronic rejection occurs gradually over a period of years and may be difficult to treat. It can either be chronic antibody-mediated rejection or chronic T cell-mediated rejection.
How can I know that my kidney is rejected?
It is vital for you to be aware of the possible signs of kidney rejection. If you think you are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your transplant team immediately:
The following are possible signs of rejection: –
- Fever more than 100 degrees
- Sudden weight gain of three or more pounds overnight.
- Decreased urine output
- “Flu-like” symptoms: chills, aches, headache, dizziness, nausea and/or vomiting
- Pain or tenderness over the kidney transplant site
- Increase in serum creatinine
What are Anti-rejection medicines?
The most important thing you can do to prevent rejection is to take your anti-rejection medications exactly as they are prescribed. You will need to take these medications for as long as you have your new kidney. Missing anti-rejection medications will put you at risk for rejection.
Your body fights off anything that isn’t part of itself, like germs and viruses. That system of protection is called your immune system. To stop your body from attacking or rejecting the donated kidney, you will have to take medicines to keep your immune system less active (called anti-rejection medicines or immunosuppressant medicines). You’ll need to take them as long as your new kidney is working. Without them, your immune system would see the donated kidney as “foreign,” and would attack and destroy it.
Medications After Transplant
Why are medications so important after transplant?
Your body’s natural response to a foreign object (i.e., the transplanted kidney) is to destroy it. To help block your immune system’s natural response, your transplant doctor will prescribe medications that suppress your immune system, so that the immune system does not try to destroy your new kidney. As time passes, your immune system’s response will become less powerful and the doses and/or number of your immune suppressant medications will slowly be reduced. When your immune system is suppressed, you are at a higher risk of getting infections from bacteria or viruses. You will also take new medications to prevent infections, but they are usually only needed for the first 6 months after your transplant.
What medications should I take after Kidney transplant?
Each person’s medications will be individually determined by the transplant team. Doses are often changed based on your blood levels and side effects. You and your family/support person must have a good understanding of your medications. Not only should you know the names of the medications prescribed, but also the doses you are taking, the time you take it, and any side affects you are having.
Your nurse will begin teaching you about the medications as she/he gives them to you and a pharmacist will teach you about your medications before discharge. You should study the medications in addition to the information included in this manual so that you have a good understanding of them and feel comfortable leaving at discharge.
You should learn about your new medications and take them exactly as they are prescribed. It is important for you to know the following about each medication:
- Immunosuppressant medications
Your immune system will never completely adjust to the new organ. Therefore, you will be taking medications to suppress your immune system for the life of your kidney after your transplant. In most cases, your doctor will prescribe you two or three different immunosuppressive medications so that each can be given in the lowest possible dose.
These medicines have some side effects. By using a combination of different medications, we can maximize the overall immunosuppressive effect but minimize the individual drug side effects.
- Induction –
Your immune system’s response against your new kidney will be the strongest immediately after your surgery. Therefore, you may receive very powerful immunosuppressive medications while you are in the hospital. These strong medications are a part of what is called “induction therapy”. Induction therapy ensures that your immune system is suppressed enough so that it will not reject your new organ while we get you on the right amount of medication.
Besides the immunosuppressive medicines, you will take other medicines as well. You will take medicines to protect you from infection, too.ssss
What are the nutrition Concerns after Kidney Transplant?
Dining Out and Carryout Food After Transplant Eating out can be enjoyable, but there are some simple guidelines you should follow to help prevent foodborne illness: –
- Always eat well cooked meat, poultry, and fish well done. Do not eat raw seafoods.
- Avoid eating foods that contain uncooked ingredients such as eggs, sprouts, meat, poultry, or seafood.
- Don’t go to salad bars and buffets – others may have left germs behind.
- Eat food immediately while still hot. Leftovers should be refrigerated within 2 hours of purchase or delivery.
How can I care after a Kidney transplant?
You need to follow these simple steps after Kidney Transplant:
- Make sure to have periodic tests and follow-ups.
- Drugs should be taken to help prevent the immune system from attacking and rejecting the new kidney, as well as to reduce the risk of complications (such as: infections
- Stop smoking, as it can reduce the lifespan of the new kidney and increase the risk of some cancers.
- Follow a healthy diet by avoiding foods that contain salts, fats and high sugars and making sure to get food from clean and sterile places.
- Maintain regular physical activity after recovery from surgery.
- Avoid contact with people with contagious diseases (such as: influenza patients).
Pay attention to personal hygiene by washing your hands regularly with soap and water, especially after going to the toilet and before preparing food and eating meals.
What fruits should be avoided after Kidney transplant?
The following foods have been shown to effect absorption of immunosuppression drugs and should be avoided:
- Pomegranate
- Papaya
- Grapefruit or anything containing its juice (Fresca, Squirt)
- Pomelo
- Starfruit
What are the natural products that affect the immunosuppressant medicines after transplant?
The following natural health products/herbal supplements (especially in pill form) have been shown to affect absorption of immunosuppression drugs and should be avoided:
- Astragalus
- Ginseng
- Garlic (supplement only; garlic cloves for cooking can be used)
- Ginger (supplement only; can be used as spice in cooking)
- Green tea extract
- Evening primrose oil
- Herbal tea
Some Do's and Don'ts' we should follow After Transplant
How can I care after a Kidney transplant?
You need to follow these simple steps after Kidney Transplant:
- Make sure to have periodic tests and follow-ups.
- Drugs should be taken to help prevent the immune system from attacking and rejecting the new kidney, as well as to reduce the risk of complications (such as: infections
- Stop smoking, as it can reduce the lifespan of the new kidney and increase the risk of some cancers.
- Follow a healthy diet by avoiding foods that contain salts, fats and high sugars and making sure to get food from clean and sterile places.
- Maintain regular physical activity after recovery from surgery.
- Avoid contact with people with contagious diseases (such as: influenza patients).
Pay attention to personal hygiene by washing your hands regularly with soap and water, especially after going to the toilet and before preparing food and eating meals.
What fruits should be avoided after Kidney transplant?
The following foods have been shown to effect absorption of immunosuppression drugs and should be avoided:
- Pomegranate
- Papaya
- Grapefruit or anything containing its juice (Fresca, Squirt)
- Pomelo
- Starfruit
What are the natural products that affect the immunosuppressant medicines after transplant?
The following natural health products/herbal supplements (especially in pill form) have been shown to affect absorption of immunosuppression drugs and should be avoided:
- Astragalus
- Ginseng
- Garlic (supplement only; garlic cloves for cooking can be used)
- Ginger (supplement only; can be used as spice in cooking)
- Green tea extract
- Evening primrose oil
- Herbal tea
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Foods to Avoid
What fruits should be avoided after Kidney transplant?
The following foods have been shown to effect absorption of immunosuppression drugs and should be avoided:
- Pomegranate
- Papaya
- Grapefruit or anything containing its juice (Fresca, Squirt)
- Pomelo
- Starfruit
What are the natural products that affect the immunosuppressant medicines after transplant?
The following natural health products/herbal supplements (especially in pill form) have been shown to affect absorption of immunosuppression drugs and should be avoided:
- Astragalus
- Ginseng
- Garlic (supplement only; garlic cloves for cooking can be used)
- Ginger (supplement only; can be used as spice in cooking)
- Green tea extract
- Evening primrose oil
- Herbal tea
How is kidney transplant compared to dialysis treatment?
How is kidney transplant compared to dialysis treatment?
Kidney transplantation has many advantages as compared to dialysis. A successful kidney transplant can improve your quality of life and increase life expectancy. It can treat your kidney failure, improve your overall health, and provide a lifestyle free from dialysis. Usually, you will have fewer fluid and diet restrictions after getting a “new kidney.”
Most people even feel well enough to return to work. With transplantation comes responsibilities. For your new kidney to work, you must take medications every day, exactly as instructed by the Doctor, for as long as the kidney is working, and perhaps for your whole life
Why should I choose transplant over Dialysis?
If you are young and have a long life ahead of you, kidney transplantation should be the first and foremost choice of treatment for chronic kidney disease. You can undergo dialysis while you wait for a donor and then receive a healthy organ transplant.
Here are some reasons why you should choose kidney transplant over dialysis treatment if you are looking for better health for the long-term:
- Increase life expectancy – What you may not know is that people on dialysis treatment have a severely reduced life expectancy as compared to transplant. Transplant patients live longer and better.
- Improves your Quality of life – You can freely do things that you enjoy and have a better health.
- Live the kind of life you were living before – As there are fewer limits to what you eat or drink, you can do mostly everything you did earlier before you got kidney disease.
- Work and Travel is easier – You no longer have to go to dialysis center on daily basis, so you can visit your favorite places or travel for work.
- Improved and increased fertility – The newly transplanted organ does not affect your fertility; you can successfully become parents.
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Complications after transplant
You are likely to have the following Complications after the Kidney Transplant:
Hight Blood Sugar
- Weight Gain
High Blood Sugar after Transplant
Why my Blood sugar is high after transplant?
Steroids and anti-rejection medications can raise your blood sugar. Uncontrolled blood sugar can decrease your body’s ability to heal after surgery and, if it continues, can cause the new kidney to fail. Some people will develop diabetes after transplant, so it is important to check your blood sugars regularly. Maintaining a healthy weight and physical activity can help control blood sugars.
What diet can I take to control my high Blood sugar after transplant?
The following tips can help control blood sugars: –
- Eat a variety of foods – Choose plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat milk products and lean protein or meat alternatives.
- Avoid skipping meals – Eat balanced meals around the same time every day. Try not to go longer than 4 to 6 hours between meals.
- Take a balanced diet– Fill half of your plate with vegetables, one quarter as lean protein and one quarter plate of complex carbohydrates (whole grain cereal, bread, rice, potatoes). Each meal should contain 60 grams of carbohydrates.
- Your body needs carbohydrates -They fuel your body’s need for energy to maintain healthy organ function. Too little carbohydrate is just as dangerous as too much. It is good to limit “simple” carbohydrates in your diet. Simple carbohydrates include sugar, sweets, juice and soda. “Complex” carbohydrates, such as pasta, bread, unsweetened cereal and grains should be included in the daily diet.
- Don’t drink your carbs – Avoid regular soda pop, juice, sports drinks or any beverages that are high in carbohydrate. Stay hydrated by drinking water and calorie-free beverages.
Weight Gain After Transplant
Weight Gain After Transplant
Weight gain after kidney transplantation is common but has not been studied. The average weight gain during the first year after a kidney transplant is about 10%. This increased weight, along with changes in lipid metabolism, may be important in quantitatively altering the risk of cardiovascular disease.
How can I control my weight gain after transplant?
Weight gain after transplant is very common. You feel better and have a better appetite when you have a working kidney. Steroid medications may stimulate your appetite causing you to increase food intake resulting in unwanted weight gain.
- Start doing physical activity after consulting from your doctor: –
- Your goal is to exercise for at least 150 minutes per week.
- You may break up your exercise sessions into 10-15minute intervals.
- Move around any way that you can.
- Walk around in free time in office, every bit of movement counts.
- Plan or schedule exercise each day.
- Proper eating habits helps: –
- Eat 3 balanced meals at regular times with 4-5 hours between meals.
- Eat at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables each day.
- Eat a half plate of vegetables/fruit, one-quarter grain/starchy foods and one-quarter lean protein (chicken, fish, pork or turkey).
- Avoid intake of unnecessary calories like sweetened soda pop, juices, and other beverages.
- Limit high calorie snack foods (candy, cakes, cookies, crackers, sun chips).
- Choose cooking methods that do not increase the fat content of foods.
- Healthy cooking methods include grilling, baking, boiling, and steaming.
- Avoid foods that are fried and deep fried.
- Use good quality cooking oils to cook your food.
- Say No to Outside food: –
- Limit restaurant meals to 3 times per week or less.
- Read nutrition information posted by restaurants about menu items to help make decisions. Plan meals ahead of time. Shop with a list. Avoid shopping when hungry.
- Buy more in-season fresh foods.
Remember Consistency is the key in weight management. If you follow these steps strictly you can notice changes in your body weight. You can also track your meals and count your daily calorie intake. You can also download any calorie counting apps for it.
