A kidney transplant is more like a second chance of their life for many people. Undoubtedly, there are many benefits of kidney transplants, such as a long life span and flexibility, to name a few. However, things do not stop here! Once you have a successful kidney transplant, it is vital to have a healthy recovery at a rapid pace. So, in this post, we will read about what things you need to consider after getting a kidney transplant. So, let’s dive into the post.
What is a Kidney Transplant?
A kidney transplant refers to a surgical process in which a healthy kidney from a donor replaces a diseased or damaged kidney. In fact, a donor can be a living human or a deceased one. The donated kidney should be healthy. Kidney transplantation is for those with end-stage kidney disease or renal failure. Although many people prefer dialysis, it requires regular hospital visits. On the other hand, you don’t need to visit a hospital with a kidney transplant regularly.
Post-operative Care and Recovery after Kidney Transplant
After a successful kidney transplant, it’s time to recover! Many factors influence the recovery of kidney transplant patients, such as overall health, age, infection level, and problems before and after the surgery. Of course, emotional support and encouragement from loved ones also play a vital role in a speedy recovery. Moreover, a patient should have a positive attitude and strong willpower to recover as soon as possible.
In the hospital
After the transplant, the donor is taken to the recovery room, where he/she will recover until the effect of anesthesia wears off. Although they may feel tired and drowsy for some hours, they can get out of bed in a couple of days and walk in the next couple of days. As they heal, the doctor removes various intravenous lines and catheters. Besides this, they have to follow a liquid diet for 2-3 days. Also, in 1-2 days, they will be moved into the ward and discharged within a week. The doctor prescribes some pain medications, and the patient has to follow up after a week.
On the other hand, the kidney transplant receiver will be on a ventilator overnight and withdrawn when completely awake. The doctor will monitor any bleeding, infection, or other problems constantly. The first 24 to 48 hours are critical, and periodic blood tests closely monitor their status and renal function. The medical staff will remove various intravenous lines, catheters, and drains as the patient progresses/recovers over 3 – 4 days. Patients are given a liquid diet for 2 to 5 days, followed by a normal diet.
Preventing of Infection After Kidney Transplant
After a kidney transplant, patients are more likely to catch the infection. So, in order to prevent infections, you have to take care of several aspects such as:
- Clean and Disinfect your house properly
- Make sure not to climb too many stairs.
- Instead of using a wheelchair, the patient should walk.
- The patient should strictly avoid contact with other sick people with colds, flu, cough, and fevers.
- Moreover, to minimize infections, patients should avoid contacting birds and animals.
- Patients should wear masks and avoid visiting busy public places like restaurants, stores, theaters, and malls for the first three months.
Nutrition and Diet
Most of the time, patients lose their appetite after kidney transplant surgery. However, it will slowly improve with time. Doctors often recommend a high-protein diet to heal wounds. You can also consult a dietician for diet supplements. Regardless of what you eat, make sure to consume it under the supervision of an experienced dietician.
Exercise and Activities
After discharge from the hospital, patients have to involve themselves in routine physical activities, including light exercises and walking. Regular exercise helps increase energy levels, make one feel more active, and strengthen muscles. Although it is common to feel weak and mild abdominal discomfort, be regular in exercises and activities.
Also, you should try practicing deep breathing exercises to help cough out the sputum and expand your lungs. Your physiotherapist will help you understand limb exercises to strengthen your limb muscles and increase blood circulation. If you are working out on your own, make sure to increase the exercise level while optimizing the exercise schedules. Don’t forget to take enough rest and avoid lifting any weight more than 5 kg, including babies. It takes around three months to resume normal physical activities after a kidney transplant and perform exercises like swimming, weight training, and abdominal exercises.
Kidney transplant aftercare is very important. It is the time when the patient needs proper care and precautions. However, it is also important to get your kidney transplant from a reputed surgeon of a renowned hospital. If you seek a reputed hospital and surgeon for your kidney transplant, Lyfboat is worth visiting. The online destination provides you with all details about India’s best doctors, treatment options, hospital, and overall kidney transplant cost in India. Visit now! To read more about health blogs, please click here!
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