Considerations After Kidney Transplantation

• The surgical site continues to heal after the patient is discharged after kidney transplantation. It is important to use "bath tape", which they will obtain from the pharmacy, while bathing.
• Patients can swim in the sea three months after the operation, but it is not recommended to enter crowded environments such as pools, Turkish baths and spas.
• Exercises and movements during this period should not be heavy. Doing heavy work may cause hernia to form at the surgery site. The most recommended exercise is walking.
• Walking will not only prevent weight gain, but also reduce the weakness that may occur in the bones. In order to be able to drive, the inner layers that prevent the wound and hernia need to heal.

Possible Situations That May Occur After Transplant

One of the main problems that may be encountered after transplantation is infections. Antibiotics are used to prevent these infections in the first months after transplantation. However, post-transplant infections may occur and your medications may be changed.

Despite using drugs that suppress the immune system, your body will always try to discard the newly implanted kidney, so rejection attacks may occur. The diagnosis of rejection attacks is possible by examining the part to be taken from the kidney.

Post-Transplant Drug Use

• A large number of drugs should be used, especially in the early period after transplantation.
• The transplanted kidney is accepted as foreign by the body and is tried to be destroyed by the immune system. For this reason, drugs that suppress the immune system are used to prevent the kidney from beating after transplantation. Temporary antibiotics will be used to prevent infections that may develop due to the suppression of the immune system by these drugs. In addition to your treatment, blood pressure medication, diabetes medication and cholesterol-lowering medications can be added if deemed necessary.
• The most important point here is the regular and timely use of immunosuppressive drugs. You will be given a list showing the name of the drugs you will use, how often and how much you will use, at the time of discharge.
• The doses of some drugs are adjusted according to the drug blood level. For this purpose, drug levels will be measured at each polyclinic control. When you come to the outpatient clinic controls, it is important to give blood without taking your medicine.
• Blood levels of drugs that suppress your immune system are affected by other drugs used, certain foods, and bowel habits. Therefore, if you need to use a different medicine for any reason, you should definitely consult your doctor.
• Grapefruit, ginger, turmeric, pineapple, papaya, pomegranate and pomegranate juice will change the level of the immunosuppressive drug you use, so you should stay away from these foods after the transplant.
• Storage conditions of drugs are very important. In order not to deteriorate the effectiveness of the drugs, they should never be taken out of the packaging they are in, and the drugs should be taken out of the packaging when they are to be used.
• In cases of diarrhea or constipation, it is important to inform your doctor, as it will cause variability in the drug level due to drug absorption.