Six months later...

It has been six months since my transplant. Overall, I think I am doing great. In my appointment with my transplant nephrologist last week, he said that my lab numbers look great. If these numbers continue, I may just need to go to the labs once a month. My doctor even said that these are ideal for a kidney transplant recipient. My last creatinine was 0.95! My husband and I couldn’t be any happier.

I am elated with these results and am very determined to maintain these numbers. For me to able to maintain these great numbers, I need to remember to do these key items.

Take your medications regularly. Taking your immunosuppresants, anti-infection, and other maintenance medications are very important for any transplant recipient. This ensures that the immunosuppressant levels, which are critical in preventing the body to reject the new kidney, are at optimum levels. I should read my post on taking your meds as a reminder.

Keep moving.  This means exercise, exercise, and more exercise. I find that when I walk, my body (and mind) is able to function more efficiently. I make it a point to exercise at least 20-30 minutes a day whether if it is walking, practicing aikido, or dancing hula. Sometimes I do overdo it, like last Saturday, when I went to a 2-hour hula workshop and walked almost 40 minutes (one way) to go to a baseball game. While it is important to move, do it in moderation and consult your doctor before you start a new exercise routine. I have to keep reminding myself that my surgery was not too long ago. Rest and recovery are still equally important.

Maintain a balanced diet. Must. Eat. Healthy. Since I now have a healthy kidney, I can pretty much eat whatever I want. I do not have any more restrictions on phosphorus (and therefore no need for binders) so I can add whole wheat and other grains in my diet. I loved experimenting on different grains. When I was in dialysis, I was pretty much limited to white rice and white bread. Now, I can have quinoa, barley, corn meal, and oats (my favorite). I still need to be careful though; immunosuppressants may increase potassium in one's system so you may need to watch high-potassium foods like bananas, mangoes. and coconut. More on this later…. I feel a post coming.

Maintain food safety. Just as important as keeping a healthy diet is maintaining excellent food safety.  Bad bacteria in foods can make you sick, and since my immune system is lowered, I am more susceptible to illness. Also, my nutritionist said that certain salmonella can considerably damage my kidney. Maintaining good food preparation habits and selecting reputable restaurants with a clean kitchen are very important. Check the National Kidney Foundation's article on Food Safety or my previous post on this.

Keep hydrated. My new kidney needs to be constantly hydrated, so I need to drink plenty of water. In fact, my excellent creatinine results were partly due to the summer heat. I was drinking so much water since I was always thirsty with this summer heat. To my surprise, my creatinine considerably improved. I do need to go to the bathroom more… deal with it!

Manage your stress levels. Stress has been known to adversely affect one's health: whether it is stress from your medical condition, work, or relationships. I try to keep my stress-levels low by having a positive attitude and surrounding myself with positive people. I also try to have some quiet time either through meditation, walking, or even blogging. These allow me to center myself and hear my thoughts better.

Have a good support system. Having an understanding husband and good close friendships were very key during my recovery. My husband provided most, if not all, of the physical help needed in that period: cooking meals, cleaning, driving me to doctor’s appointments. He was a rock, and I am very grateful he is here to support me. My friends also provided encouragement and support even though some of them are hundreds, if not, thousands of miles away. They kept my spirits up and kept me going. I need to remind myself to maintain my relationships and never take them for granted.

I still have a long way to go, and getting through these last six months is just a step in the process. I want to have a healthy kidney for a long time, maybe for the rest of my life. To accomplish that I need to continue to always keep these tips in mind.

I’d love to hear from you if you have any more advice for me. Wish me luck!!!