What Changes After Kidney Donation?

If you are considering becoming a living kidney donor, you may be wondering how your life will change after kidney donation. Here’s what you need to know.

Biological Changes

The human body is remarkably adaptable, especially when it comes to kidneys. After you donate a kidney, the remaining kidney will increase in size to compensate for the loss of the donated kidney, taking on the workload of maintaining the body’s balance of fluids and electrolytes, filtering waste products from the blood, and regulating blood pressure.

While you will not need to take any ongoing medications after donating a kidney, it’s important to note that you should avoid any medications that can cause kidney damage. These include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): over-the-counter pain relievers like Motrin, Advil, and Aleve.

Lifestyle Changes

After you donate a kidney and are fully recovered (usually within two to three months), you should be able to resume normal activities.

You will not need to make any major changes to your diet or lifestyle. However, it’s important to take care of your kidney health when living with just one kidney. This includes drinking plenty of water and maintaining a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and a balanced diet.

Many donors feel even stronger and healthier after donation, perhaps due to a renewed sense of gratitude for their health and a desire to take good care of their bodies. In fact, a 2020 study comparing living kidney donors with non-donors from the general population found that health-related quality of life was significantly higher among donors.

Emotional Changes

Many kidney donors experience significant emotional and mental changes after donating a kidney. On the positive side, many people feel a renewed sense of purpose after giving someone else the gift of a longer, healthier life. Donors often experience a deep sense of fulfillment, a higher quality of life, and even a stronger sense of spirituality or faith after donation.

The vast majority of living kidney donors report having mostly positive feelings about the experience. A 2019 study found that 96% of non-directed kidney donors were very satisfied and would donate again if possible, with 46% noting increased self-esteem and one-third saying they were happier after the donation. A 2023 study found that 98% of donors would donate again if they could.

However, negative emotions can also occur. These may include worry about the health of the recipient, disappointment over not being able to connect with a recipient, or despondency if the recipient experiences a negative health outcome.

A 2018 study found that 5.5% of living kidney donors experienced anxiety after donation, while 4.2% had symptoms of depression and 2.1% reported regretting their donation. However, it’s worth noting that this is much lower than the overall incidence of these conditions in the United States, which the National Institute of Mental Health estimates as 31.1% for anxiety and 8.3% for depression.

Donors experiencing negative or mixed emotions should seek professional counseling or connect with other donors to share their experiences and find support.

Fitness and Athletics

Many kidney donors are dedicated athletes and may wonder how donating a kidney will affect their level of fitness and their ability to work out, or even participate in fitness competitions or endurance events.

You should be able to resume normal physical activities starting four to six weeks after kidney donation surgery. You may need more time to achieve peak fitness levels, which sometimes takes up to 12 months.

However, once their recovery is complete, many athletes have surpassed their previous peak performance levels. Many living donors have gone on to participate in various high-level athletic events, such as marathons, Ironmans, Donor Games competitions, the Seven Summits, and the Racing the Planet 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series.

While kidney donors are not limited in terms of fitness and athletic performance, it’s a good idea to avoid sports with a high risk of collision, such as boxing, martial arts, football, ice hockey, lacrosse, rodeo, and wrestling. If a donor chooses to participate in high-impact activities, they should be extra careful and wear protective padding to protect the remaining kidney.