Weight

[horsie63]

I understand the transplant centers often ask people with the higher BMI's to lose weight prior to transplant but does anyone know if there is any king of criteria for people who might weigh a little less? I'm small at 4'9" and 92lbs with a calculated BMI of 19 something and I'm concerned they might want me to weigh more. I'm trying to get to 95 lbs at least but finding it difficult while maintaining a plant based diet. I have a whole host of questions once I actually get to the evaluation stage. Just wondering.

[Denise-80]

Hi Horsie63 - I’m 5’8 1/2 and weighed about 120-122 (fully clothed) right around the time I was transplanted. I think my BMI at that time was similar to yours. I was never told to put on weight. I hope this helps. How long have you been on the list? Do you know your expected wait time?

D

[HSP1965 in reply to Denise-80]

Hoi, ik ben 57 jaar en tweeenhalf jaar geleden getransplanteerd.Ik woog daarvoor ook niet veel en de nefroloog zei me dat ik met dit gewicht niet operabel was!

Moest dus aankomen en vond dat ook niet fijn, van 55 kilo naar 64 kilo en toen pas wilden ze het transplantatie proces laten beginnen!

Nu weet ik rond de 70 kilo door de bijwerkingen van de afstotings-medicatie en de overgang!

Eerlijk gezegd: ik vind het vreselijk.

Door jarenlange eetstoornis met dit gewicht......daar heb ik moeite mee!

[horsie63 in reply to Denise-80]

I just started the process so not on a list yet but I'm a firm believer in "just in case"

[MIKidney]

I asked my transplant center that question and was told I was fine. I am 4'11" and 100.

[BabyTee]

My transplant team wanted me between 18.5 and 24 BMI. They said there is evidence having BMI under 28 has more positive outcomes, but they also looked at my abdomen and where the weight is actually setting on the body. Still ask them about your weight and see if they have a minimum weight for you, when they actually see you in person.

[littlelinda50]

I wish I could be that weight! I am 4 ft 9 in tall too and I weight 138 lbs. I am also on prednisone (not by choice) and that makes it so hard to keep the weight off! Don't let them put you on prednisone long term it sucks. Your at a good weight for your height so don't worry. If you have any questions feel free to ask me I am 3 years out.

[TaffyTwoshoes27 in reply to littlelinda50]

I am 6 months out. I keep reading and hearing ppl complain about prednisone but so far I have only lost weight (I take 5 mg).I talk to someone who had her transplant over a decade ago and doctors back then used a high dose of Prednisone.

You could probably research on Kidney Transplant-related websites about the lowest BMI that will be accepted by UNOS or OPTN.

Good luck at your evaluation!

[horsie63]

Thank you. Are you on prednisone to keep from rejection? My brother is hypothyroidism and has a hard time losing weight too. I an hyperthyroidism so I burn calories very fast.

[TaffyTwoshoes27 in reply to horsie63]

The NHS of UK states that hormone therapy or treatment is best for someone with hypothyroidism (slow thyroid).

[redpanda67]

I have been on both extremes. I was 21 when I first went on the transplant list and they told me I absolutely could not gain weight and that it was recommended that I lose at least 20 lbs. I am 5'5" and at that time I was about 195. I should also say that I was overweight, but I played sports 3-5 times a week and was very active. I had massive muscular legs from skating and biking. However after a 18 months on dialysis I took a turn and was no longer active, and had a very difficult time eating, everything made me sick. By the time I returned for my follow up appointment about 2 years after my initial assessment I had dropped to 90 lbs. I was never removed from the list, but they did tell me I needed to gain 20 lbs. By the time my transplant came around I was 30 and managed to weight about 115lbs. Still underweight by most calculations but still in decent shape. Now I am back up to 185, without the muscle mass I had in my 20's

Both overweight and underweight people are at risk for both surgical complications like cardiac arrest or strokes while under anesthesia, and postoperative complications like infection, DVT, or pulmonary edema. In the past, like 30 years ago when I was first evaluated for transplant, they had very strict rules about doing surgery on obese/overweight individuals because there was a huge bias in the belief that they were at greater risk of complications. After decades of research it has now been well established that while obese patients have a high risk, slightly underweight and severely underweight patients have just as high a risk from complications from surgery. Only people who are “normal" or "overweight" have the least likelihood of complications.

Questions are great. Just remember to write them all down before you go. Otherwise you may get overwhelmed and forget what they were. It's happened to me a few times. The initial evaulation is a long process and you normal see a lot of different people.

Good Luck.