Follow-up Requirements
Follow-up care is important in maintaining health and kidney function after donation . It helps to catch complications early and treat them appropriately . Blood pressure, kidney function, and urine will be monitored at each visit. Furthermore, after the first 12 months your annual follow-up can be with the living donor program or your family doctor.
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• Surgeon: four to eight weeks after surgery.
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• Nephrologist: six months after surgery.
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• Nephrologist: twelve months after surgery.
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• Family doctor: annually
After Donation
After your surgery, there are some things that you should be mindful of. Below are some things to expect and do following your kidney donation.
Kidney Function
On average, donors see a 25% increase in creatinine in the blood. Serum creatinine is a waste product that comes from the breakdown of creatine by muscles. Creatinine travels in the blood to the kidneys where it is excreted from the body. Creatinine is not toxic and is simply a surrogate marker of kidney function.
After kidney donation, you do not need to make any significant changes to your diet. You should be able to go back to living a healthy lifestyle. Ensure that you drink 1.5-2 L of water / day.
Diet
Medications
You may need to avoid certain medications and supplements after your kidney donation. For example, you should avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. However, you may take Tylenol. Ensure that you ask you doctor about all medications, over-the-counter medications, and supplements.
Cannabis and Cigarette Use
The safety of consuming cannabis after kidney donation is not clear. If you have any concerns or questions regarding cannabis use before or after donation, please speak to your care team. Smoking cessation should be considered prior to kidney donation to improve cardiovascular and kidney health after donation.
Emotions
After kidney donation, it is normal to feel a wide range of emotions. Donors have reported feeling joy, relief, anxiety, sadness, and more. Make sure to talk about emotional expectations and your experiences with your care team.
