How to Care Following Kidney Transplantation

Long term success of kidney transplantation depends upon several factors. Firstly, the patient will have to regularly visit the transplantation team & follow the instructions provided by them. The kidney transplantation patient will also need to take proper daily dose of anti-rejection medications as directed by the transplant team. Patients should also adhere to the recommended schedule of clinic visits & lab tests in order to ensure that the kidney is working properly. Lastly, but not the least, the kidney transplantation patient must essentially follow a healthy lifestyle which includes exercise, proper diet & weight loss if required.

Caring Following Kidney Transplantation

• Rejection & Kidney Transplantation Medicines – Rejection is one of the most common & important complication which is found to occur following kidney transplantation. As it is not part of the organs the patient is born with, the transplanted kidney is identified as a foreign tissue by the immune system. Rejection therefore is a normal response after any organ transplant surgery. In order to overcome this factor the kidney transplantation patient will have to take anti-rejection medications for the rest of his/her life. Moreover, kidney rejection is difficult to diagnose in early stages & is almost not reversible after it starts. This is the reason why the kidney transplantation patient must continue taking anti-rejection medications even when the transplanted kidney is working well.
• Infection – Viral & other infections can still be a problem for the kidney transplantation patient while anti-rejection medications lower the response of the immune system. Early detection & treatment of infection is the best way to stay healthy in this situation. Exposure to diseases like pneumonia & flu can make the patient very sick; however vaccine programs as recommended by the transplant team can help the organ transplant patient stay healthy. Moreover, it is important for the kidney transplantation patient to wash hands frequently or use antimicrobial gel during flu & cold seasons.
• Vaccines – These are meant to help protect the body from infection. However, the kidney transplantation patient must check it out with the transplant team before taking a vaccination or booster as some vaccines are not good for them.
• New-Onset Diabetes After Kidney Transplantation – Also known as NODAT in short, this can occur as side effect of anti-rejection medications that are required to be taken following kidney transplantation. Chances of a person having NODAT are higher among patients who are obese. Moreover, chances of NODAT also increase when any other member of the kidney transplantation patient’s family is having diabetes even when they did not have diabetes prior to kidney disease treatment.
• Heart Disease – People who have undergone kidney transplantation for kidney failure have greater risk of developing heart disease. Hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol & blood lipids, obesity, smoking & number of years on dialysis as kidney disease treatment & management are some of the causes for this.

Other conditions which a kidney transplantation patient must keep check on include high blood pressure, high cholesterol & blood lipids, gout, cancer, obesity, bone disease & anemia. It would be wise for them to quit smoking as well. Most sexual functions & fertility issues following kidney transplantation however return after successful outcomes in case the problem was due to kidney failure or dialysis at the first place. Nevertheless, women of child bearing age who have undergone kidney transplantation must consult the transplant doctor regarding pregnancy or contraception. They should also wait for at least 1 year following kidney transplantation before considering pregnancy.

Affordable Kidney Transplantation Surgery in India

Kidney transplantation is an ideal kidney disease treatment for kidney failure. Due to exorbitant costs involved most patients around the world avoid it until there is no other way. However, kidney transplant surgery cost in India is very reasonable & just about a fraction of what this would do in developed western countries like the United Kingdom, Canada & United States. Healthcare tourism in India presents a great opportunity for international patients seeking affordable kidney transplantation procedures for kidney disease treatment.