Chronic kidney disease affects millions of Americans. In many cases, a kidney transplant is the best option to live longer and feel better.
Since 1988, surgeons at UPMC have done more than 4,200 kidney transplants. Our experts provide care before, during, and after your transplant, guiding you through the entire process.
The steps leading up to a kidney transplant are long and involved.
You may have to wait years before a deceased-donor kidney is ready for you. If you find a living kidney donor, you may be able to receive a transplant sooner.
After the kidney transplant, most people are anxious to get their lives back to normal. But it's vital to follow certain steps to give you the best chance of a full recovery.
As with any major surgery, kidney transplant has some level of post-op risk.
The world-renowned nephrologists at the UPMC Kidney Disease Center will help you:
Organ rejection can happen anytime after transplant. The most common cause is not taking your anti-rejection drugs.
Based on what type and how severe of organ rejection, the transplant team may be able to address it.
It is imperative to take your anti-rejection medications as prescribed, obtain lab work as recommended, and follow up in clinic as recommended.
Anti-rejection, or immunosuppressant, drugs decrease the chance of your body rejecting the new kidney.
But they weaken the whole immune system, making infections and cancers, such as skin cancer, more likely. And they can make you more prone to certain diseases, such as heart disease and bone disease.
You'll need periodic checks from your doctor for problems as they often can present without warning signs.
Side effects can occur with anti-rejection medications and the transplant team can work with you to address should they arise post-transplant.
Call your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms after your kidney transplant:
Many transplant recipients feel much healthier after their surgery. But to fully heal and get back to a “new normal," you'll need to follow your doctor's instructions to the letter.
Once you're home, we recommend that you:
You should eat foods low in salt and sugar to help control your blood pressure. A diet rich in whole grains, lean protein, and fresh fruits and veggies will also help you maintain a healthy weight.
It's important to be active after your transplant. Your transplant team will urge you to walk as much as you can soon after surgery.
Once you're home, it's vital to stay active to keep your weight and blood pressure at a healthy level.
Your transplant team will tailor your workouts to your needs, which could include:
Having a kidney transplant can bring some mental health challenges. You may even struggle with conflicting feelings in the weeks after surgery.
For instance, you may:
Talking with family and friends can help with feelings of sadness, anxiety, or guilt.
You can also reach out to your transplant team at UPMC for guidance or about support groups post-kidney transplant.
If you have contact with someone who has respiratory viral illness (flu, COVID-19, or RSV) or pneumonia, then you could get very sick.
Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly, use antimicrobial gel, and mask when going out during cold and flu season.
You'll need to take anti-rejection drugs after your transplant, most likely for the rest of your life. You'll also need to keep taking medications for any other health conditions you have. It is important to continue to follow up with your primary care provider and your other health care providers regularly after transplant.
Talk to your transplant team if you have any questions about the medicines you take.
You should avoid children or others who've had live vaccines for:
Post-transplant, there are some vaccines you shouldn't get. Talk to your doctor about those you should and shouldn't receive.
Even if you're feeling better, only your doctor can tell if your medications are working right by checking your lab results.
And the closer you follow your doctor's instructions, the more likely you are to have a healthy, successful recovery after kidney transplant.
To learn more about post-transplant care at UPMC:
