Discharge Instructions for Kidney Donors

Incision care

• Shower as needed starting 2 or 3 days after surgery. Gently wash your cut (incision) from surgery with soap and water and pat dry.

• Don’t soak in a bath until your incision is healed (2 weeks).

Activity

• Don’t drive for 4 weeks after surgery or while taking pain medicines containing narcotics.

• Don't do any strenuous activity for 2 weeks after your surgery.

• Always lift objects safely. Bend your knees and lift with your legs, not your back.

• Don’t lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for the first 4 weeks after your surgery.

• No pushing or pulling heavy objects for 4 weeks after surgery. Don’t push a stroller, grocery cart, or vacuum cleaner. Don’t pull a wagon, garden hose, or golf club carrier.

• Don’t play any contact sports for at least 6 to 8 weeks after your surgery. Check with your healthcare provider before you start exercising.

• Resume sexual activity when you feel able.

• Rest when you feel tired, eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, and walk as much as you can handle.

• Ask your healthcare provider when you can expect to return to work.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your healthcare provider, or as advised.

When to call your healthcare provider

Call your healthcare provider right away if any of the following occur:

• Cloudy or smelly urine

• Urge to urinate more often than normal

• Burning when you urinate

• Little or no urine output or blood in your urine

• Pain that gets worse or isn’t relieved by treatment

• Pain in or around your wound

• Warmth, redness, or swelling in the skin around the wound

• Wound that opens up or pulls apart

• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider

• Shaking chills

• Nausea or vomiting

• Symptoms that are new or getting worse