Signs of rejection

Rejection can happen to anyone and doesn’t mean that there was a mistake or that you did something wrong. Rejection can be reversed if it is found early and recognizing the signs of early rejection could help keep your kidney. You should always worry about fevers because they are signs of infection, but these become even more important right after surgery.

You should also look for:

• Extreme soreness where your new kidney is
• Decreases in the amount of urine you produce
• Swollen feet or ankles
• Weakness
• Nausea

All of these things can point to your body fighting an infection and/or your kidney. Each clinic will treat rejection differently, but you might need to increase or add another immunosuppressant drug or spend some time back in the hospital.

Rejection is identified by using routine tests of kidney function much the way they were done before you had a transplant. Your medical staff will normally draw some routine blood samples and they are looking for signs of infection. Other potential tests include:[1]

• Renal flow scan that looks for blood flow through the kidneyEven if your body fully rejects your kidney, there are still options available. Most patients can join the transplant list again and have the option to get another kidney. 
• Ultrasound that enables your doctors to look for physical issues
• Biopsy is a surgical procedure where a small piece of tissue is collected and tested

Even if your body fully rejects your kidney, there are still options available. Most patients can join the transplant list again and have the option to get another kidney.