After a kidney transplant, when you leave the hospital, you will be given a supply of medication, instructions on how to care for yourself, and phone numbers to call with questions or for emergencies. You also will be seen regularly in our outpatient clinic.

You may have a number of medications to take after your transplant. Gradually this number can be decreased so that you may need to take only your anti-rejection medication for the rest of your life. Tell us about any side effects you may experience; in most cases, side effects from medication can be successfully managed.

Within three to six weeks after surgery, most kidney transplant recipients can resume normal daily activities, including returning to work.

Because anti-rejection medications interfere with a person’s natural immune system, you will need to protect yourself from infection after surgery. Here are some things you can do:

• Wash your hands often, especially after coughing or sneezing, and keep them away from your face and mouth.
• Stay away from people who have a cold. If someone in your household gets sick, have that person use separate towels and kitchen utensils, cover their mouth when coughing or sneezing, and wash their hands often.
• If you have a wound and have to change your own dressing, wash your hands before and after.
• Don’t work in the soil for six months after your transplant, and after that wear gloves.
• Don’t handle animal waste and avoid contact with animals who roam outside. If you have a cat litter box, it should be covered and taken out of the home before it is changed.
• If you have a child who has had a transplant, ask the school nurse to notify you right away if any communicable diseases such as measles or chicken pox are circulating at the school.

You also should learn about signs of infection or rejection. Contact your doctor right away if you experience any of the following:

• A fever that lasts for more than two days
• A cough that lasts more than a week or which produces a yellowish substance
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that won’t go away
• Black stools or reddish urine
• Bleeding or bruising
• A rash or other skin changes
• An inability to take your medication
• Pain, discharge, or significant swelling at the site of your surgery
• A burning sensation when urinating, or vaginal discharge or itching
• Unusual weakness or dizziness
• Exposure to a communicable disease such as measles or chicken pox