A kidney or a renal transplant is a surgical process that a patient suffering from kidney damage undergoes. This process involves transplanting a healthy kidney into the patient’s body and using it to replace the diseased one. The transplanted kidney is placed in the lower abdomen. The diseased kidney is usually left in the body unless it’s cancerous or highly damaged due to infections.
You can receive a healthy kidney from a cadaveric organ donor or a living donor. In the case of a living transplant, the donor lives with one kidney and has a high chance of leading a healthy life. Kidney transplants in India have come a long way. A kidney transplant cost in cities such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, and Delhi is affordable due to state-of-the-art facilities. With the help of experts, you will be able to experience successful and cost-effective kidney transplantation.
When is a Kidney Transplant Necessary?
A patient can opt for a kidney transplant if:
- They are on dialysis and suffering from end-stage kidney diseases
- Type 1 Diabetes and chronic kidney diseases
- Chronic kidney disease and in need of another organ transplant
- Advanced chronic kidney disease
After kidney transplantation, the patient should be kept under observation of the consulting doctors. They should take the prescribed medicines as per schedule. The patient should also maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine and avoid alcohol or tobacco.
Do Patients Need to Monitor Their Diet after a Kidney Transplant?
After kidney transplantation, patients should follow a diet containing food that is low in salt and fats. Patients need to follow such a diet to monitor their blood pressure. They will also need to monitor the sugar levels in their bodies in case of diabetes. They can consult their doctor or a dietician recommended by their doctor for a post-surgery diet plan. Patients can also ask them to provide a post-surgery exercise routine. Their overall health is bound to improve with a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Patients must follow a diet high in fiber and low in salt. It would be best if patients followed a balanced diet after kidney transplants. A healthy diet including fresh fruits and vegetables, plenty of water, lean meats, whole grains, and reduced-fat dairy products would be the most beneficial for a kidney transplant patient. Patients should also avoid certain foods. They can ask their doctor what foods to avoid.
Why Should Patients Avoid Certain Foods?
A significant risk after a kidney transplantation surgery could be rejection and infection. The body’s immune system could attack the new kidney, causing a rejection. To avoid and suppress rejection, patients will need to take immunosuppressants or anti-rejection medicines diligently. It will increase the chances of accepting the new kidney. Suppressing this rejection weakens the immune system, causing infections.
Various bacteria and germs can enter the patient’s body during this time. They can enter through the consumption of certain foods. Hence patients must avoid certain foods to lower the risk of infections.
Patients may also need to take steroids, which have many side effects such as increased blood fat and blood sugar levels, fluid and salt retention, bone tissue and muscle breakdown, and an increased appetite, which might cause unwanted weight gain. Hence, they should stick to the required proportions and avoid high-risk foods.
What are Some High-Risk Foods that Patients Should Avoid?
Patients should avoid certain “high-risk” foods – that is, fatty foods and foods high in sugar. It would be best if they avoid food that is spoilt, moldy, or past its expiry date. Some of the food that patients should avoid are listed as follows:
- Dairy Products – Undercooked or raw eggs and any products that include these. They should also avoid consuming unpasteurised cheese, yogurt, or milk.
- Poultry, Fish, and Meat – Patients should avoid raw or undercooked meat, poultry, fish, crabs, crayfish, shrimp, prawns, squid, oysters, clams, mussels, and sushi.
- Vegetables and Fruits – Pomegranate and Grapefruit and pomegranate and grapefruit juices. Patients should also avoid consuming unwashed and damaged raw vegetables and fruits. They should not consume sprouts, unpasteurised fruit juices, or ciders.
These are some foods that could pose much risk to a patient who just underwent a kidney transplantation surgery. Patients can also lower the risk of infection from foods by:
- Being cautious when eating food outside.
- Washing their foods, like eggs, fruits, and vegetables, and handling them in a sanitary manner.
- Altogether avoid all the high-risk foods mentioned above.
Conclusion
To ensure successful kidney transplantation, you can opt for BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital in India. A kidney transplant cost in this institute involves evaluating the patient’s health condition before the transplant, the surgical process, and post-surgery medical aid. You are assured of successful and cost-effective kidney transplantation with the help of expert specialists.