Kidney
Tips to help post kidney transplant
September 14, 2024
in Kidney
what things helped you guys deal with mentally post tranplant and having a low immune system. The fear that comes with being afraid to get sick or eat anything contaminated
1 - 7 of 7 Other Answers
Hi Gilbert,
It seems odd, but for me, it was to just go about living my life...with some precautions thrown in. In February, I had my second kidney transplant. The first one was back in 1990 from my sister. It lasted 33 and a half years, and seven months ago my brother donated. I share all this to show that I've been immunocompromised most of my life. I taught school for 35 years and raised my son. Of course, I was careful about cooking/preparing food, washing my hands, staying away from sick people, and I never missed my meds.
However, I was determined to live my life. After all, what good is a transplant if it doesn't improve the quality of your life? I'm not sure that helps or answers your question, but it worked for me. Best of luck!
Transplant Patient
I had a liver transplant, so not 100% the same but I dealt with a lot of the same concerns.
For me what helped was embodiment and somatic practices. I had to learn how to be in my body, as it was in this moment. I learned safety for me had little to do with external circumstances and everything to do with how I felt inside those circumstances. Did I have choice, did I have agency, did I have tools and resources to call on when things went sideways? And then I actively worked at building those tools. I did what I could to affect my environment, like being vigilant in cleaning and staying healthy best I could, and I knew I could drive myself crazy obsessing over everything, that my mental heath mattered just as much as my physical health and that even if I did everything "right" things still happen.
One of the weird things I did that helped was to literally think of worst case scenarios. And then I would run through what I would do. Having a plan helped me. So say I got an infection, I would call my coordinator, I would get labs... Breaking it down step by step, knowing what I would do and who I could turn to for support helped a lot.
Hi Gilbert!
I am similar to @Ro_A . I had my transplant in 2006. I was very cautious the first 3 months. But I was told to live my life. I worked with the public, so I was mindful of washing my hands and not getting too close to people. I've had my transplant for almost 19 years. Over the years I got sick here and there, but went to the ER when I needed to and partnered with my transplant center each time. I think covid has made us more fearful and hypervigilant. Try to find the joy in doing the things you love, but with sprinkled in caution. Hope that helps!
I'm 4 months post kidney transplant. I was not concerned with getting sick. I'm still not concerned. I feel if I worry to much on getting sick then I will get sick. I've been I'll with a deadly disease for a long time. Covid, the flu, any other contagious illness doesn't affect my mental status. But what does concern me mentally if why am I fearless in this area but weak in others. My family is more concerned about me than I am supposed to be. I've dedicated my entire adulthood to raising my children and grandchildren. I'm not going to stop because I might catch the flu. I have to live my life to the fullest for each day is never promised. And what Ro_a said. What good comes is it having a transplant if your not going to live life?
Hello, Gilbert. I got my kidney transplant on April 22, 2024. Like the others have mentioned, live life to your fullest for that's how life is ment to be lived. We are all fortunate to see how fragile this body is and that is just a reminder of what we should be thankful for. We are still here. Yes, having a plan helps greatly with the anxiety and knowing what to do is extremely important. What i did/do is study all the information of dos and do not about diet and basic hygienic precautions. Knowledge is power. I also, Live in the here and now. The future will be and the past has happened. I wish you well in finding joy in your present.
I heard the word fragile and as my name is a derivative of such a thing, I feel compelled to speak.
All joking aside, I've been a type one diabetic my whole life more or less and have always had a low white blood cell count. I had a kidney/pancreas transplant in May of this year but previously was on dialysis for 4 years. The changes to your life are as immediate as your surgery but the mental part of it will take time as most adjustments do.
Taking a personal interest in your regular lab work will help a lot with what you're doing with your body and knowing what may or may not be helpful in maintaining your day to day life going forward. You know what you put your body through more than your doctor does. They can only go off of what you tell them. The hands on process to managing your health goes a long way on your comfort level going forward.
Hi Gilbert,
Yesterday marked my 38 yr anniversary with my kidney transplant. Live life and enjoy. I had one scarey episode a month after the transplant, which put me in the hospital for 3 weeks. My WBC dropped to zero and i got a virsus. Just be careful the first 3 months until your immune system levels out. I have worked in the school system as my children grew up, I worked for the government traveling alot and I was an EMT for 15 yrs. I never got sick. I take my flu shot each year. My husband has gotten the flu but not me. I'm still volunteering as a firefighter and will until I am not able to do my job. Lol. I'm a nut about washing hands and constantly cleaning and sanitizing anywhere the hands can touch in my house, but enjoy live, you'll do great.