When the recipient is awake, he is moved to the Transplant Unit. The specially trained transplant nurses carefully monitor the urine output of the new kidney, blood pressure, and other observations which are important in taking care of a person with a newly transplanted kidney. During the operation, the recipient will have a catheter placed into the bladder. The urine that drains into the catheter may be bloody at first because of the incision made into the bladder to attach the ureter. The catheter usually remains in place for 4-7 days.
Some people experience bladder spasms after the transplant.
If these happen to occur, medication can be given to relieve the discomfort. There is usually a clear liquid diet at first and is advanced to a regular diet as it can be tolerated. You may eat when you feel ready. You will also be asked to turn frequently in bed, to cough and to breathe deeply every two hours and to exercise your legs in bed. This is to lessen any chance of lung complications from the surgery.