Hi!

Hello everyone!

I recently received a kidney transplant this past weekend and I was just curious about how many of you who had also received one have been feeling the first couple days/weeks.

I’m terribly bloated and this pain is crazy. Thank god for painkillers right? lol. Has anyone had the stent removed? How did it feel?

I’m just really curious about everyone else but I of course remember that we’re all different and we deal with things differently. I guess you can say I’m a little anxious 😬

Thanks in advance!

[3Kidneys]

Congratulations!!🎈🎉 The first week will be the toughest, and for the next couple after you’ll be a little tender. But, your on the downhill slide to most of the craziness associated with dialysis! I was on PD, so no stent removal for me; although since “my kidney” started working while still in the OR they removed my dialysis catheter during my transplant surgery. Take your medication on schedule, watch your diet, and follow your doctors orders. But most of all...enjoy life!

[Hidden in reply to 3Kidneys]

Thank you for your reply! What would your recommendations be for a diet for the first couple days/weeks?

[3Kidneys in reply to Hidden]

Before you leave the transplant center you should have a dietary consult. I’d certainly follow their recommendations. If you have already been released from the hospital, call your post transplant nurse and ask her what type of diet the doctor wanted you to follow or for a dietary consult.

[curiousmind2019]

Congrats!!

[Hidden in reply to curiousmind2019]

Thank you! ❤️

[Herkidney]

Congratulations! It gets so much easier after the first few weeks. Follow your transplant center’s instructions completely. My stent was removed quickly and painlessly by the urologist about six weeks post transplant - I did not need any pain medications for the removal. Just make sure to rest and not exert yourself during your recovery. After the first month you’ll be able to move around more easily, but don’t do too much as your body is still recovering.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

Congratulations on your transplant!!! You will find that everyday will be better than the day before. I had my transplant in 1999, so in October it will be 20 years. I was not given any instructions for any kind of diet to follow. As long as your kidney is working well you should be able to eat whatever you want. I still remember having a snack size bag of potato chips on my lunch tray when I was still in the hospital. I think they were the best chips I had ever had! I hadn't eaten any for years.

The stent removal was no big deal. The urologist removed mine at about 2 months post transplant.

Any side effects of the meds or anything you didn't experience before make sure to report to your transplant team. What immunosuppressants did they put you on? It take Myfortic and Neoral. I was on Prednisone and after about 5 years, I was able to stop it.

Good luck to you! Remember to take your meds and ENJOY LIFE!!

[Hidden in reply to WYOAnne]

They put me on Tacro, Cellcept and Prednisone. Which they made it sound like those three are really common with new kidney recipients. I just been on them for about a week now and I think they’re not adjusting well. But then again I have to stop and remember, I have a whole different organ in my body and it’s going to be a working war zone for a few weeks so the night sweats/chills are really just a thing of the past. Just annoying to wake up feeling like you’re drenched in sweat 🤧

[Dustypye]

Hi! First, congratulations on your transplant! I received my kidney in Dec., 2017. I was born with only one kidney, and it wasn't a very good one. By the time of my surgery it was at about 15% - 12% function. The first thing I noticed after the transplant was how my mind bounced back. I could think so much clearer and faster. I actually felt like me again for the first time in years. And, yes, I thought they way undersold how much pain I'd be in. I lost a lot of weight and slept a lot. It was a couple months before I could wear pants (I wore sweatpants instead). My wife gave me her kidney, so I had someone with me going through the pain of recovery. Next, I noticed my reflexes were faster. One day I caught a glass that fell out of a cabinet and it was like I had superpowers or something. One thing that did kind of freak me out was how far out my new kidney protruded from my abdomen. It has settled in nicely now. I was also (and will forever be) a sudden germaphobe. And, adjusting to the dietary restrictions still bums me out (I miss getting tacos from Taco Bueno). As for the stint, well, I'm a male, so, it wasn't fun to have that removed. But, it only took like 45 seconds, so, it wasn't that bad.

The pain will eventually subside and you'll feel a little better every day. The important thing is that you give yourself time to heal. And, always remember: you stood up to death and won, and that's something very, very few people can actually say. You're tougher than most. Heal and savor life. Plan trips, buy concert tickets and put adventures in front of you!

[Kbressler NKF Peer Mentor NKF Ambassador]

Congratulations stay healthy. To give you some hope I was transplanted 32 years ago. You will do well.