Help from your support team
All transplant centers will require you to have at least 1 adult who will be your main support person during your transplant process and after your transplant surgery. For many, this may be a family member, friend, or even a member of their religious group that will be a caregiver and help you after their transplant.
This person (or people) may:
- Bring you to and from your visits
- Come with you to visits
- Help with your medicines
- Help with other medical conditions, if they happen
As you recover from the transplant surgery and can take care of yourself more, such as driving yourself or managing your medicines, your support person is someone who will still be there to support your physical and emotional wellbeing.
Work with your local kidney doctor
The good news is that there are now more people living longer with successful kidney transplants! Right after your transplant, your transplant center will manage your post-transplant care. Then when you start doing well, your local kidney doctor (nephrologist) will take over your post-transplant care, usually 6- 12 months after your transplant.
Together, you, your transplant center, and your nephrologist should agree on a detailed follow-up plan. Your plan should include:
- The parts of your care that will be managed by the transplant center, by your local kidney doctor, and by your primary care provider
- Nutrition and physical activity or exercise recommendations
- What medicines you will take, and how to take them correctly
- Your schedule for follow-up medical visits
- Any wellness services you need, such as meeting with a counselor or support group
Take your medicine as prescribed
You will need to take immunosuppression medicine (or immunosuppressants) for a long time after your transplant. These medicines help prevent your body from rejecting your new kidney. You may also need to take medicines to treat other conditions, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
It is very important to take your medicines as prescribed. People who do not take their immunosuppressants are more likely to have problems with their transplanted kidney. For example, people who do not take their medicines are 7 times more likely to have kidney rejection. Rejection can lead to the loss of the kidney, having to do dialysis again, needing another transplant, or even death.
It may be hard for some people to take their medicines as prescribed because of:
- Their personal schedules and routines, which can distract them from taking their medicine. For example, if a person travels often for work, they may forget to bring or take their medicines.
- Their medication schedule. For example, if someone has to take medicines at different times of the day, it may be difficult to keep track of which medicine to take when.
- The side effects of the medicines. Some of the medicines may make people feel sick or have uncomfortable symptoms like diarrhea.
- Not being able to get their medicines, for example, because of the high cost or because they can’t get to the pharmacy
- They may take their medicines inconsistently, and continue to do so because they don’t notice a difference and think it’s OK
If you think you will have any problems taking your medicines as prescribed, talk with your transplant center, kidney doctor, or other healthcare provider as soon as possible. Your healthcare provider can help you make a plan to stick to your medicine routine. For example, if you have problems remembering to take your medicines, they can help you find a pillbox or smartphone app that may help you.
If you have questions about your immunosuppressants or any other medicines you are taking, ask your transplant center for help.
Do you need a medical alert bracelet?
After your transplant, it is recommended that you wear a medical alert bracelet that includes this Information:
- That you are a transplant recipient
- That you are immunosuppressed
- If you take prednisone
- If you have diabetes
- That you should not have non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Ask to your transplant team if any other information should be on your bracelet.
Plan for post-transplant costs
During the transplant evaluation process, you met with a financial counselor at your transplant center. Having insurance will help make sure you have a smooth post-transplant care process. This includes ongoing care with your transplant center, local kidney doctor, and prescription drug coverage. If you have any changes in your insurance status or are having trouble affording medicines and visits, make sure to let your transplant team know.
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