My kidney transplant was almost 2 years ago. All is doing well. I have loved my home sauna in the past and would love to resume using it this fall/winter. My transplant doctor suggests that would NOT be a good idea - not because of hydration issues, which could be managed but because the heat of the sauna could "cook" the new kidney, as it is located close to the skin and is outside the protective and thick peritoneal sac. He suggests that the kidney begins to "cook" around 106 degrees, which is far less than a sauna produces.
Has anyone had advice or experience with this issue?
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Palmtreeguy
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I tend to defer to my team's recommendations because they've been to med school and I haven't. If you've been advised to avoid the sauna, I would assume the docs know more about the adverse effects it could have on a transplant and I would listen to their informed opinion. You've been given a precious gift. It would be a real shame to render it inoperable by going directly against medical advice. Just my two cents worth of thoughts.
I have read that many young people in the Middle East now end up with kidney failure for working in the very extreme heat and dryness, and that’s a slow building crisis. That should tell you that a sauna is not a good idea.
I love sushi. I love it. I only ate in upscale restaurants and never got sick. I loved the very occasional rare steak. However transplant doctors advise me not to eat that due the risk of parasites, infection etc. It’s a small thing to have to give up for having a second chance at more normal life. I’m sorry you can’t use your sauna any more.
Please listen to your doctors. They have your best interests at heart.
Hi, I’ve been told not to use saunas and steam rooms because the raise blood pressure. Never heard about boiling the kidney though. So I can’t tell you if that’s true, sorry
I am 5 months post kidney transplant. Never used a sauna but get in a hot tub every morning ( with a bottle of water). I know it’s not the same but have had no issues with heat and the doctor has said it’s OK. I’m out for 20-30 min. & drink the entire bottle while I’m out there.
I'm interested in learning more about this as well. Had a new kidney since 2017 and use the infrared sauna from time to time. Guess I should ask my Neph if that's OK!
Checked with my Neph and here is what she said: As long as you don't have any open wounds, it's okay to use a hot tub and sauna. (I also confirmed with a UW transplant nephrologist to make sure).
Check with your own Neph though as everybody is different!
I am almost 24 years post transplant and my doctors have said the same thing. Your native kidneys have a lot of protection, but not so your transplant kidney. And yes, I was told that a sauna or hot tub , mineral hot springs are a BIG NO because it will "cook" your kidney transplant. Don't know about you, but I am not about to test that theory!
Well my team never said anything about this! Would have been good information to know! I wondered about message therapy too but my team said it okay but i have aored on the side of caution and have told massuesse to avoid kidney area completely now im glad i did as didnt really consider that new kidney not in a protective area like old one.
Just knowing this is a possibility is enough for me. If my team told me the same thing, I would follow their instructions. The transplant team knows best. Good luck and try not to dwell on this one small sacrifice. Eating raw sushi is on this list too. We all have to give up something but it is worth it. Dwell on the fact you have a new kidney and have a second chance at a full life! Not everyone gets that gift.
Hello Palmtreeguy, My spouse received his kidney transplant almost 5 years ago and he is not into using saunas or hot tubs, so I cannot give you advice on this. I would talk to your team, they know what is best. I wish you the best.
I’ve never heard anything about saunas. I’ve been thinking of getting one. I’ve had my kidney for almost 4 years. Does anything cook at 106 degrees? Maybe call a transplant center and get a second opinion?
i have a kidney transplant since 2009. Soon afterwards I sold my Finlandia saina stove & converted my sauna shed to a guest cabin. Encouraging sweating is making the kidney work harder. I do soak in an occational hot tub but not in real hot water, & I take breaks & get out often …every 10 - 15 min. It really helps with body aches. All the best.
I too love to go in to a sauna. I was told by my nephrologist that I shouldn’t be spending time in a sauna post transplant. With over 100,000 people waiting for a transplant & given the fact that I was blessed with a kidney, never getting to be in a sauna again seems a small price to pay.
I have never been told that at all. How hot do you have your sauna? I have been in a hot tub with know issues and I see a post wear someone else said they did hot tubs too. I would give it a try but only do it for say 5 to 10 minutes at a time and see how you feel. When I have really bad cramps I put a heating pad on my abdomen and have no issues.
I am almost 7 years post. We bought a wood burning Finnish sauna in August and have sauna bathed almost daily. 30 minutes at 180-200 degrees. It is life changing. Improved so many things including sleep quality. I highly encourage you to follow DrRhonda Patrick for sauna benefits and studies.
I had a zoom meeting with my Mayo transplant nephrologist this afternoon to discuss the Accord tacro issue and we talked about my sauna use. He was 100% for the use of sauna especially for the CV benefits. He got a chuckle when I brought up the “cooked kidney” comments.
I am almost 7 years post living donor transplant. We bought a wood burning sauna last summer and have sauna bathed daily. It has done remarkable things for my body. I wear a Garmin watch and while it is not as accurate as a Oura at sleep tracking, my deep sleep was increased 100%. My hair no longer sheds. My skin does not dry out. If you dig into the sauna studies it can improve cardiovascular by over 50%. Improves prevention of dementia by 66%. Dr Rhonda Patrick just released an outstanding study on sauna bathing.
I mentioned the concerns about “cooking” your graft to my Mayo transplant nephrologist and he literally laughed. He is 100% behind my sauna use, especially for the vascular benefits.
We go 30 minutes daily at an average of 185 degrees. Our sauna is outdoors. We live in Iowa so after we get out of the sauna we get our cold plunge by walking around for 3-5 minutes. When it is warm outside we do a cold shower after leaving the sauna.
My last quarterly bloodwork was in December and it was some of the best it has been for a couple of years.
I hydrate well. I use LMNT electrolytes. I eliminated sugar, grains and seed oils after my transplant. I also move my body daily, lift, run, hike, bike etc.
An interesting thing that we are tracking is that I am now on the lowest dose of tacro since my transplant. My nephrologist is exploring the connection with the sauna.
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