Patients recover faster and do a lot better after the surgery if they go into transplant surgery in overall, good health.
Many of the symptoms patients experience while on dialysis cannot be treated, but there are basic things patients can do to
improve their health. These include maintaining a well-rounded diet and an exercise regimen. The following are the key areas
of concern while waiting for a kidney transplant:
Heart Health
Bones
Anemia
Be Proactive
Exercise
Heart Health
It’s important to lower the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure) and coronary artery disease by:
- Reducing salt intake; maintaining a healthy salt and water balance
- Maintaining calcium and phosphorus balance
- Taking cholesterol medications, if prescribed
- Losing excess weight
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Bones
Dialysis can cause osteoporosis (bone loss) and post-transplant medications also cause bone loss. To prevent/reduce future
osteoporosis:
- Stop smoking
- Maintain calcium and phosphorus balance
- Continue weight-bearing exercises such as walking; consider carrying weights while walking
- Have a baseline bone density scan
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Anemia
Having anemia for a long period of time can cause heart disease. To help ensure good blood test results:
- Take your medication as prescribed to prevent anemia
- Report any weakness or fatigue to your dialysis team and nephrologist
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Be Proactive
A proactive patient is the best candidate for a transplant. This means the patient takes good care of himself and asks questions
and educates himself on issues affecting his health. Here’s how to be proactive:
- See your nephrologist regularly
- Keep your dialysis appointments
- Do not stop dialysis treatments early; increase dialysis time, if necessary
- Take all medications as prescribed
- Limit fluid gain between dialysis treatments
- Maintain a nutritious diet and follow the restrictions
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Exercise
- Maintain good muscle tone
- Enjoy regular aerobic activity
- Try to exercise for 30 minutes a day, especially on your non-dialysis days
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