I think preparing for a kidney transplant is key!!! There is heaps you can do before the transplant to give you the best possible outcomes once you’ve had the surgery. There are all the obvious ones – like quitting smoking, taking your prescriptions, avoiding crowds (to avoid colds/flu). Here are some tips I think could make a huge difference in your recovery:
1. Take Care of Your Teeth
Get any dental work done beforehand. Visit the dentist and explain your situation. Get any regular cleaning etc. done. In the year after your transplant, it will be more difficult to get dental work done as you will be on immune suppressing medications – so get it done early. As part of the work-up your dentist will make sure everything is in good shape before surgery.
2. Stick to Your Dialysis Routine
If you’re on dialysis, it’s crucial to stay consistent with your treatment schedule. Dialysis is helping to keep you stable and healthy until you receive your new kidney, so keep following your care team’s advice to manage your health. Unfortunately, I did meet someone whose transplant surgery was cancelled as they had not kept up with their dialysis and had too much fluid to have the operation.
3. Manage Your Weight
Maintain or get to a healthy weight. Check your BMI! Speak to a nutritionist! If you are trying to lose weight – start by having more kidney-friendly fruits and vegetables (often this can fill you up, so you want to eat less ‘unhealthy’ foods. Maintaining a healthy weight is important for both the surgery and recovery process. You are more likely to have staples to close your surgery if you are overweight – so there is a real advantage of being a healthy weight.
4. Stay Active
Exercise can be really hard before a transplant. But do as much as you can. Try to stand more than you sit. Try to record how much you are doing to keep you honest. You don’t need to run a marathon – even light activity, like walking or stretching, can help you build strength and improve circulation.
By making these healthy changes, you’ll be giving yourself the best chance for a smooth transplant and recovery. Take it one step at a time! You got this.