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Sun safety and skin cancer risk
Taking immunosuppressants increases your risk of developing skin cancer. Protecting your skin from the sun is essential.
Tips for sun protection
Wear sunscreen every day (SPF 30 or higher), even in winter.
Choose broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB.
Reapply every two hours and after swimming or sweating.
Wear wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, and protective clothing.
Avoid tanning beds.
Check your skin regularly for new or changing moles or spots.
Report anything unusual to your health-care provider. Annual skin checks with your primary care provider or dermatologist are encouraged.
Food and nutrition
It is important to continue with a healthy diet and drinking lots of fluids. Being on immunosuppressants can make it easy for you to get infections. This means that there are certain foods that you would need to avoid.
Some of your medications may make you hungry. It is important to maintain a healthy weight so you can lower risks of other health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
After transplant, you can be on a steroid medication. Steroid medication like prednisone can make you feel hungrier, increase your blood sugar levels and cholesterol. You may also notice swelling in your arms and legs, so it is important to watch how much water and salt you take in. When you are on steroids, your bones and muscle tissue may break down. A healthy balanced diet to help your bones and muscles stay healthy is important.
Post-Transplant Clinic dieticians can help create a plan with you to help you stay healthy.
Foods to avoid
- Raw or undercooked foods: meat, seafood, eggs.
- Unpasteurized dairy products: milk, cheese and yogurt.
- Grapefruit or grapefruit juice – grapefruit can change how your immunosuppressant drugs work in your body.
- Pomegranate or pomegranate juice.
- Unpasteurized juice or ciders.
- Unwashed fruits and vegetables.
- Seville oranges (other type of oranges are safe to eat in moderation).
- Herbal tea (green tea, chamomile, peppermint and dandelion).
- Ginseng.
Food safety
- Always make sure you wash produce before eating.
- Wash your hands after touching eggs and touching raw chicken.
- Avoid eating at buffets and open salad bars.
- Careful of eating food that has been sitting out for a while.
- Avoid eating foods that are past their best before date.
Exercise and activity
After your kidney transplant surgery, your body needs time to heal and repair itself. For the first few months after your transplant, follow the doctor’s instructions on the activities that you can and cannot do after transplant (e.g., do not lift anything over 10 pounds).
Preventing infections
Being on anti-rejection (immunosuppressant) medications prevents your body from attacking the kidney transplant by keeping your immune system low. But this can make it easy for you to get infections. Protect yourself from the flu, pneumonia and COVID-19, among other things. Speak to your transplant nephrologist and transplant nurse for information about vaccinations, boosters and travel vaccinations. They can tell you what vaccinations you need to stay healthy.
What can help prevent infections:
- Washing your hands and using hand sanitizer before eating and touching your face.
- Wear a mask when you are around a crowd or near people who are sick.
- Keep your distance from people who are sick or who have recently had a live vaccine.
- Stay current with your vaccinations.
Sexual health and pregnancy
Sexual activity can safely resume when you feel physically ready. This is different for everyone. If you experience fatigue, discomfort or emotional changes, be patient with yourself and your partner. If you have concerns or questions, we encourage you to bring them up with your transplant team — we are here to help.
We recognize that patients have diverse gender identities and bodies. In this section, we refer to biological differences where needed for medical clarity, and we encourage anyone with questions or concerns about sexual or reproductive health to speak with us privately. We are here to support your whole health.
For men:
- If you and your partner get pregnant, call the post-transplant team right away.
- It is not recommended to father a child while you are taking valganciclovir. It is recommended to wait 3 months after completion of the treatment before trying to get pregnant.
For women:
- It’s important to avoid pregnancy during the first year after transplant, as your body needs time to heal and medication doses may still be changing.
- After the first year, if you’re considering pregnancy, speak with your transplant team at least 6 months in advance. Certain medications, like anti-rejection medication, are not safe during pregnancy. It may need to be changed before you try for a baby.
- Regular use of contraception (e.g., birth control pills, condoms) is essential until your team confirms it’s safe to proceed.
- If you and your partner are planning for a family or pregnant, call your post-transplant team right away.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding while taking anti-rejections medication is possible. Contact your post-transplant team about breastfeeding and safety.
- During pregnancy, you will need to be closely monitored by your post-transplant team. You will have more frequent clinic visits to monitor your blood pressure. During pregnancy, recipients are at higher risk of having high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia. Your anti-rejection medications will change as your pregnancy progresses and your baby grows.
- There are risks for kidney rejection or your kidneys not working well during pregnancy. It is important that you keep close contact with your post-transplant team so they can monitor you closely throughout your pregnancy.
Fertility and menstrual cycle
- Your periods may resume after transplant even if they were absent before due to kidney failure. Speak to your care team about options if you notice changes.
- Some medications can affect fertility. If you are planning for a family, talk to your post-transplant team.
Your health, safety, and quality of life are priorities — please don’t hesitate to raise any questions related to sexual health, contraception or planning a family.