Work-up is essentially to check you are ‘fit enough’ for a kidney transplant. It’s a series of tests that cover a wide range of health factors. The tests might be slightly different where you live. But that typically include:
- Complete Blood tests (one month prior)
- Urine tests (mid-stream)
- Chest x-ray (check there is no lung disease or fluid on the lungs) and checks your heart size
- ECG – the activity of the heart
- Dental exam (normally arrange by yourself which your normal dentist)
- Cardiac (heart) tests such as Echocardiogram
- Surgical review
- Body Mass Index (height/weight comparison)
- Breast screening
- Cervical screening
- Psychological Evaluation
- Nutritional Evaluation
- Cross Match
- Anesthesia Evaluation
📝 Preparing for the Work-Up: My Advice
Your transplant team should arrange most of these tests. My advice would be to get all of these done as soon as possible. Once completed, you can check if everything falls within the necessary range. If not, taking corrective action early can help ensure you’re ready for the transplant process.
🛑 Things to Organize Yourself
Here are a couple of important things to organize yourself before starting the transplant process:
💉 Vaccinations
Start early on your vaccinations. It’s essential to get as many as you can before starting immune-compromising medications that you’ll take for life. The vaccination process often requires more than one dose for each vaccine, with breaks between doses, so planning ahead is key.
🤝 Identify a Support Person
Choosing a family member or friend to help you throughout the transplant process is critical. Your support person will assist with everything from pre-surgery care to post-surgery recovery, ensuring you have the physical and emotional support you need.