Behaviour Modifications
- Eat slowly is a god habit. By eating fast you will fill your stomach more than you require.
- Have regular meal pattern with frequent interval.
- Never skip meals (3-4 meals).
- Serve food in the smaller plate.
- Enjoy every meal.
- Eat wisely and le
- When you are not hungry, you should not eat.
- Eat always in pleasant atmosphere.
- Last meal, that is dinner, should be around 8.30 pm.
- Don't sleep immediately after taking your meals.
Food Hygiene :
- Raw vegetables and fruits should be washed properly with clean, preferably boiled, water.
- Don't cut the vegetables until just before cooking.
- Don't over cook the vegetables or allow them to soak in water for long.
- Used oil/ghee should not be used again.
- The food you take should be cooked hygienically to prevent any infection.
- Uncooked food should not be taken; avoid eating out.
- Take only boiled water or mineral water.
- Try not to have left over food, always have freshly prepared food.
- You should have your breakfast compulsorily
- You should always eat in a sitting down position.
What to Expect After Kidney Transplantation :
The life after transplant is a complete change from what you had before transplant. Most kidney transplant patients find they look somewhat different after surgery. They no longer have a pale, dry complexion, dialysis catheters or swelling between dialysis treatments. As early as the day after surgery, their cheeks turn pink and eyes brighten. Rough skin may soften and scars become lighter Some unwelcome changes caused by anti-rejection medications may also occur. These include weight gain, thinning or overgrowth of hair and a variety of skin problems. Your doctor will adjust medications and keep unwanted changes to a minimum while protecting the kidney. A healthy kidney means a better chance for a healthy appearance.
Resuming Normal Activities :
Although the patient is encouraged to resume normal activities after recovery, it is important to understand that having a new kidney brings new responsibilities.
- Healthcare
- Skin and Hair Care
- Sexual Activity
- Pregnancy
- Women's Health
- Men's Health
- Smoking
- Socialising
- Vacations and Travel
- Work
- General Health
- Dental Care
- Exercise
- Aches and Pains
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Vaccinations
- Pets
- Psychological Health
Behaviour Modifications
You will not need any special skin care unless you develop acne or dry skin. Generally, you should shower or bathe as often as necessary to keep your skin clean. Most soaps are appropriate.
a) Acne:Prednisolone can cause acne on the face, chest, shoulders, or back. Cyclosporine can make the skin more oily. If acne develops, you should wash the area three times per day with a mild soap, scrubbing gently. Rinse the soap completely from the skin to leave the pores open and clean.
Ways to control acne :
- Keep hands away from the face and avoid rubbing the affected area. To avoid infections, do not pick or touch the acne. Do not use cosmetics.
- Avoid the use of medicated hypoallergenic cosmetics intended to cover acne. Wearing makeup will prevent acne from going away.
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Do not rub or scrub the skin vigorously. This can irritate the skin.Avoid soaps that contain creams and oils, because they will aggravate acne.If the skin becomes very dry, stop washing those areas temporarily so the skin can recover its natural moistness.
Do not use RETINO-A® (retinoic acid cream) on the skin without consulting a physician, because it will increase the sun sensitivity caused by prednisone.
Warning :
- Remember that severe or infected acne must be treated by a dermatologist (skin specialist). If acne remains a problem, the physician should be contacted for advice.
- Cuts and scratches:-Wash minor cuts and scratches daily with soap and water. For treatment of large cuts, contact a doctor immediately.
- Skin growths:- The transplant team should be notified if the patient discovers any unusual skin growth, rash, or discoloration.
- Hair care:- Prednisolone will probably affect the condition of hair. Permanent hair dyes, tints, wave lotions, and bleach may cause hair to become brittle and to break. A good hair conditioner can be used.
- Unwanted hair growth:- Cyclosporin causes increased body hair growth. This usually reduces after dose reduction. The patient might 15consider waxing or electrolysis to remove extra hair. Even if hair growth is excessive, do not alter medication.
- Foot care:- Keep your feet clean & nails cut short. Wear closed and comfortable shoes to avoid injuries. If you suffer from in rowing toe nails, corns, consult your doctor than treating yourself.
Sexual Activity :
In addition to returning to work as soon as possible, a patient may resume sexual activity as soon as he feels well enough. How quickly he feels ready will depend largely on his recovery progress. Some people avoid sexual activity because they are afraid of organ rejection or infection. This is a subject that should be discussed during clinic visits. If you are sexually active, it is essential to use condoms to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS, syphilis, herpes, hepatitis, or gonorrhea. You must also we contraception to prevent unplanned pregnancy.
Pregnancy :
There have been a number of successful pregnancies among women who have had kidney transplants, although pregnancy may have special risks for both the transplant recipient and the baby. Women should avoid pregnancy for at least 1 year following transplant surgery to ensure that kidney function is stable and immunosuppressive medications have been tapered to lower doses. Risks related to birth control should be discussed with the doctor. Most couples will have completely normal and healthy babies. Expectant mothers on immunosuppressives should be followed closely by their obstetricians as well as their physician.Men with kidney transplants have been able to father children. Because of the medication that you take, it is important to discuss the possible risks to the baby with your transplant team.
It is advised to have cervical smear once a year along with a breast examination as there is a small increase in the risk of developing cancers when taking immunosuppressive drugs. At home you should examine your breasts every month, reporting anything unusual.Mensruation will return to normal after transplant. If you wish, you can discuss suitable contraception with your doctor. Barrier methods such as condoms or the cap(diaphragm) are preferable to taking oralcontraceptives as they are associated with high blood pressure and deep vein thrombosis. The coil (Cu-T: intra-uterine device) is not advised because of the infection risk.
Men's health:
As your general health improves your fertility and sex drive will also probably return, so care must be taken to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Women's health16You should examine your testicles regularly every month. Ask your doctor how to do this correctly and report anything unusual.
Smoking :
Smoking is strictly prohibited as it is harmful to health. It causes lung damage leading to chest infections. If your partner smokes, this would be an ideal time for them to give up so that you won't suffer the effects of passive smoking. Smoking inevitably reverses the benefits of a successful transplant.
Socialising :
Keep away from crowded places eg. theatres for the first three months following transplantation. Stay away from people suffering from infections like cough and cold.
