kidney transplant

Weight Gain After Kidney Transplant: Why It Happens, Why Some Patients Don’t Gain Much, and Why It Matters for Long-Term Graft Health

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Kidney transplant recipient monitoring body weight as part of long-term graft health and metabolic wellness.

Table of Contents Is Weight Gain Normal After Kidpney Transplant? Why Weight Gain Happens After Transplant How Immunosuppressants Can Influence Weight and Metabolism H3: Corticosteroids – Prednisolone and Prednisone H3: Calcineurin Inhibitors – Tacrolimus and Cyclosporine H3: Antimetabolites – Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) and Azathioprine H3: mTOR Inhibitors – Sirolimus and Everolimus Is Weight Gain Always … Read more

When My Fasting Glucose Started Rising After Kidney Transplant: An Early Warning Sign and My Action Plan

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Kidney transplant recipient checking fasting glucose with a glucometer at home.

Table of Contents A Number I Was Not Expecting to See Understanding My Rising Fasting Glucose Trend Why Fasting Glucose Matters After Kidney Transplant Looking Honestly at What Had Changed The Hidden Role of Stress and Cortisol When Sleep Quietly Goes Off Track The Month I Stopped Walking Small Dietary Changes That Added Up From … Read more

Signs Your Kidneys Are Failing: When a Kidney Transplant May Become Necessary

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Man experiencing early warning signs of kidney failure before dialysis and transplant evaluation

Table of Contents Introduction Looking Back, My Body Was Warning Me for Years Why Kidney Failure Is Often Missed Until It Becomes Severe The Signs I Ignored Before My ESRD Diagnosis Unexplained Weight Loss and Muscle Wasting Fatigue That Sleep Never Fixed Appetite Changes and Food Aversions Frequent Infections and Slower Recovery Pale Skin and … Read more

Kidney Transplant Evaluation: What Patients Really Go Through Before Transplant

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Adult man waiting in a transplant clinic holding medical reports during kidney transplant evaluation before surgery.

Table of Contents The Phase Most Patients Never Fully Expect Some Patients Have Time — Others Enter the Process in Shock Why Kidney Transplant Evaluation Exists Protecting the Recipient Protecting the Donor The Emotional Reality of Starting Pre-Transplant Workup The Medical Testing Process Before Kidney Transplant Blood Group Matching: The First Question Everyone Asks HLA … Read more

AV Fistula Closure Surgery After Kidney Transplant — Closing a Difficult Chapter

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Kidney transplant patient recovering after AV fistula ligation surgery on left arm

Table of Contents The Strange Reality of Keeping an AV Fistula After Transplant How My AV Fistula Was Created During the ESRD Crisis The Emergency Decisions That Changed My Left Arm Why My Wrist AVF Was Never Created What Is an Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF)? Living With the AV Fistula After Kidney Transplant The Physical Symptoms … Read more

Hemodialysis vs Peritoneal Dialysis — What I Learned Too Late as a Kidney Failure Patient

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Kidney disease patient comparing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis treatment options

Table of Contents The Decision That Changes Life Very Quickly Understanding Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis What Is Hemodialysis? What Is Peritoneal Dialysis? Why I Entered Hemodialysis Without Fully Understanding My Options The AV Fistula Decision That Affected Me Long After Transplant What Hemodialysis Really Felt Like The Physical Burden The Psychological Burden The Loss of … Read more

Hospital Follow-Ups After Kidney Transplant: Why They Matter More Than You Realize in the First Months

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Kidney transplant patient reading post transplant lab reports and watching towards window

Introduction When I was discharged after my kidney transplant, I walked out of the hospital with a sense of relief that is difficult to describe unless you have lived through that moment yourself. The surgery was done, the new kidney had started functioning, and for the first time in a long while, there was a … Read more

Infection Risk After Kidney Transplant: What Patients Should Know (From Someone Living It Every Day)

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Kidney transplant patient sitting thoughtfully at home reflecting on infection risk and daily precautions after transplant

Introduction There is a phase after transplant that people don’t talk about enough. Not the surgery. Not the first few weeks. Not even the medication adjustment phase. It’s what comes after things start to feel “normal.” That’s when infection risk becomes part of your daily thinking—not as fear, but as a quiet, constant awareness in … Read more

Vitamin D After Kidney Transplant — Why Monitoring and Supplementation Are Not Optional

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A glass of milk, a bowl of almonds, and a vitamin D capsule on a wooden table, representing natural and supplemental sources of vitamin D for kidney transplant recipients.

Medical Disclaimer I am a kidney transplant recipient and a veterinarian, not a nephrologist. This article is based on my personal experience, my analysis of published research, and my study of renal physiology. It is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your transplant team before starting any … Read more

Living with Immunosuppressants: A New Normal for Kidney Transplant Recipients

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Daily medication ritual and morning light - symbolizing hope in transplant life

Introduction — The Unseen Shield This is the deal we make. Living with immunosuppressants after a kidney transplant is not optional. The pills that protect your new kidney do so by weakening your immune system. They suppress specific white blood cells so your body no longer attacks the transplanted organ as foreign. It’s the price … Read more