A kidney transplant is a surgical operation that involves the transplantation of a healthy kidney from a living or posthumous donor to replace failed kidneys. The kidneys are organs positioned directly underneath the rib cage on both sides of the spine. Each one is around the size of a fist. Urine production is their primary job, which involves filtering and removing waste, minerals, and fluid from the blood. When the kidneys lose their ability to filter, dangerous levels of fluid and waste build up in the body, raising the blood pressure and leading to renal failure (end-stage kidney disease). When the kidneys end up losing around 90% of the ability to operate normally, it is called end-stage renal disease. The end-stage renal disease requires the removal of waste from the bloodstream by a machine (dialysis) or a kidney transplant in order to survive.
When compared to a lifetime on dialysis, a kidney transplant is frequently the therapy of choice for renal failure. A kidney transplant can help reduce anxiety and increase life expectancy if you have chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease. Certain patients can gain from preemptive kidney transplantation, which involves having a kidney transplant before they can get dialysis. However, a kidney transplant might be a little more dangerous than dialysis for some persons with renal failure.
Diet and exercise
Even post a kidney transplant, nutrition is still important. It is critical to maintain a healthy weight and exercise on a regular basis. A well-balanced diet can assist to reduce the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and weight gain, as well as enhance general wellness and health. Plan to eat a low-salt, high-fiber diet after your kidney transplant. Fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, reduced-fat dairy products, whole grains, and lots of water are all part of a well-balanced diet. Additionally, you may need to refrain from consuming certain foods in consultation with the kidney transplant specialist and his/her team. From around a week post your transplant, you can start doing modest aerobic exercise like walking or light housework. One should progressively work up to a 20 to 30 minute exercise session three to four times per week to reap the most benefits. Before starting any workout regimen, consult a doctor.
Immunosuppressant medicines
After a transplant, you'll need to take certain medications. Immunosuppressive (anti-rejection) medicines are required after an organ transplant. These medications help your immune system avoid fighting (or "rejecting") the donor organ. They usually have to be taken for the rest of your transplanted organ's life. Again, it's critical that you inquire about the immunosuppressant combinations utilized by your transplant center. Immunosuppression is normally reduced 6 months to a year following transplant, and the risk of adverse effects should be minimal.
Anxiety, depression and mental health
Patients and family members go through a lot of emotional ups and downs prior, during, then after a transplant. According to the American Psychological Association, around half of all transplant recipients will have at least one episode of significant anxiety or depression during the first two years following their transplant. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are very common, with one study showing that over 25% of transplant recipients have PTSD symptoms. As organ transplantation is such a significant and life-changing procedure, it is vital that the patient and his or her family are aware of the long-term commitment required to enhance patient outcomes, and the surgical risks involved.
Kidney rejection
When the immune system recognises a transplant as foreign, it triggers a response that eventually destroys the transplanted organ or tissue. The transplant's long-term survival can be ensured by modulating the immune system to lessen the likelihood of rejection.
Rejection is the body's method of telling you that the kidney transplant isn't right for you. Rejection occurs most frequently in the first six months following surgery, but it can happen at any time. Fortunately, the transplant team can typically detect and treat a rejection event before it leads to serious or irreparable consequences.
Lifestyle changes
Following renal transplantation, inadequate physical activity and poor physical functioning are prevalent, culminating in a lower quality of life. Poor cardio-metabolic status is another prevalent post-transplantation issue, which is linked to poor long-term results in kidney transplant recipients (RTR). Weight gain in the first year following transplantation, particularly an increase in fat mass, is becoming recognised as a major determinant of cardio-metabolic risk. Two groups of kidney transplant recipients have been identified as being at high risk after the procedure. The first are nondiabetic patients who get kidney failure as a result of organ rejection when they are younger. The second group consists of elderly, frequently diabetic patients who are at danger of dying from causes other than organ rejection, such as cancer, infections, or heart disease. To reduce hazards, healthcare practitioners must treat these two groups differently. This involves focusing on immunosuppressive medication to prevent rejection in younger individuals. It is vital to manage chronic health conditions like obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes in older, typically diabetic people. Enhancing long-term results for kidney transplant recipients requires a focus on such lifestyle changes.
It is critical that care professionals emphasize the importance of continual lifestyle adjustments to manage obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes in these older individuals. Losing weight, exercising, and learning new diabetes management practices are among them. These improvements have the potential to have a greater influence on the person's health and renal results than immunosuppressive medicines.
Ask to your Surgeon about Kidney Transplantation Related queries
When thinking about a kidney transplant as a therapeutic option for your end-stage renal disease (ESRD), you may have a lot of questions and concerns. If you make a note of them, you'll be more likely to get answers to all of your essential questions at the next transplant appointment. It is essential that all the doubts, queries, and concerns are addressed before the transplant and post the procedure as well. This will enable you to not just go through the transplant seamlessly but be better able to go through the post operative recovery period to a normal lifestyle. The consultation process can be completed not just in person but even with a specialist online. Kidney specialist online consultation is now available at the click of a button and can be accessed from the comfort of your home.
Watch this video to know more about video consultation: https://youtu.be/lHv54B0e5Ok
NauseaVomitingFatigue & WeaknessDecreased mental sharpnessHigh blood pressureLoss of hungerItching & Skin DrynessSwollen feet, hands or anklesMore or less urine outputBreath Shortness These are some of the signs that a patient may experience when affected by Chronic Kidney disease.
Actually, these symptoms are common in kidney disorders so these signs do not confirm the presence of chronic kidney disease.
Urine test The test is carried out in order to determine whether a patient has blood or excess protein in his urine or not.
If the test results are positive, you need to get the proper treatment that can help you heal this disease permanently.
How one can get relieved from CKD?
In a nutshell, Allopathic medicines encompass a number of side effects as well.
Best hospitals for kidney transplant in India, Kidney filters waste from the blood and excrete it in the form of urine.
It also helps to maintain the fluid and electrolyte balance of the body.
Kidney failure may lead to accumulation of wastes in the body and may need a kidney transplant to replace the faulty kidney with a new, working kidney.
