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Your Recovery After Surgery

PHASE

In-Hospital Recovery: Right After Surgery

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You will spend approximately one hour in recovery.

You will then be transferred to the surgical care floor.

Pain management options will be discussed with you by the doctor.

You may experience nausea, bloating or constipation: medication can be provided to help alleviate these symptoms.

In-Hospital Recovery: Day of Surgery

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  • You will have a tube in your urethra to help you pee.

  • You may have oxygen prongs (short half-inch tubes) in your nose.

  • You will have an IV in your hand or lower arm.

  • You will have compression stockings on your legs to help circulate blood flow.

  • You will have a bandage or “dressing” over your incision site.

In-Hospital Recovery: Days After Surgery

  • The day after the surgery you will be sitting up in a chair.

  • The day after the surgery you will be walking in the hallway.

  • The days following your surgery you will have the following removed:

    • The urinary tube that helps you pee

    • The oxygen tube in your nose

    • IV in your hand or lower arm

    • Compression stockings on your legs

Recovery: Discharge From The Hospital

Donors usually get to go home two to four days after the surgery.__You may still be experi

  • Donors usually get to go home two to four days after the surgery.

  • You may still be experiencing some of the following at home.

    • Discomfort at the surgery site - you may take pain medication as directed by the doctor.

    • Nausea or bloating - this improves within the first few weeks after surgery.

Recovery at Home: 2 - 4 Weeks After Surgery

  • Minimal pain at the surgery site.

  • You may require over-the-counter pain medication.

  • Tylenol (acetaminophen) based products only.

  • Resume regular activities:

    • Walking

    • Bathing

    • Regular diet

NO HEAVY LIFTING OVER 10 POUNDS

Recovery: 4 - 6 Weeks After Surgery

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  • After six weeks you will have resumed most of your normal physical activities.

  • No heavy lifting over 10 pounds for six weeks.

  • You may still feel fatigued.

  • Energy levels are usually the last to return to normal.

  • Return to work:

    • Depends on the type of work and required activity level while at your job.

    • Most donors take a minimum of three to four weeks off work.

    • Letters can be provided to your employer if needed.

Emotional Recovery

  • Donors may feel depressed after donation.

  • Grieving the loss of their kidney.

  • Evaluation process and surgery can be intense and stressful.

  • Social isolation from your regular routine and social networks.

  • Focus is now on the recipient.

  • If you would like to have social work support during this time, please contact your nurse.

Follow Up Care After Kidney Donation

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Surgeon

  • You will have an appointment with the surgeon four to six weeks after your surgery.

  • You will have blood work to complete for this appointment.

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Kidney Doctor

  • You will have an appointment with the kidney doctor at six months and one year after your surgery.

  • You will have blood work to complete for these appointments.

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Yearly Follow Up

  • You will have an appointment with the kidney doctor once a year.

  • You will need to have blood work done for your yearly follow-up appointments.

  • After one year you may transfer your care to your family doctor.

Life After Kidney Donation

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Drink 1.5 to 2 litres of water a day

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Consume a healthy diet

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Maintain regular exercise

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No contact sports

  • Restrict the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as Aleve, Celebrex, Arthrotec, Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen.

  • Please contact the living kidney donor program if you are prescribed an NSAID by another health care practitioner.

  • Female donors should wait six months before becoming pregnant.

Maintaining A Primary Care Provider

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  • Our Living Kidney Donor Team strongly encourages you to maintain a relationship with your primary care provider, nurse practitioner or physician assistant before and after living kidney donation.

  • You will require their services for medical concerns unrelated to your kidney donation, like prescription renewals, vaccinations, cancer screening, referrals to specialists (i.e. physiotherapists, dermatologists, cardiologists, etc.) and treatment of acute illnesses.

  • Our program uniquely provides annual post-donation care, including blood pressure checks, review of kidney function and urine testing for protein, but we cannot provide additional services.

We strongly encourage you to maintain your yearly follow-up appointments with the Living Kidney Donor Team!

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