Why do I need so much fluid?
Drinking enough fluid is very important after any transplant. Some of the medications you take can be hard on your kidneys, so you need to drink enough water to keep them healthy.
Drinking enough fluids:
- prevents you from becoming dehydrated
- controls some of the side effects of your medications
- helps your kidneys remove creatinine (a waste product of the muscles) from the blood.
Fluids include all liquids and some food
Fluids include water, milk, tea, juice and pop. Food that is liquid at room temperature also counts as fluid. This includes ice cream, popsicles, freezies, yogurt and soup.
Water should be your main fluid after the transplant, but you may also be allowed small amounts of other, higher-calorie, fluids. The mix of fluids you can take will depend on whether you need to follow any special diet, for example to gain or lose weight. Your dietitian will tell you what fluids you can take for your particular needs.
Measuring fluids
Measure and write down all the fluid you eat or drink over 24 hours. If you are not sure, read labels to find out the number of millilitres (mL) of fluid in the food or drink.
Tips for drinking more fluids
Here are some things you can do to drink more fluids.
- Drink from a big glass or cup.
- Drink from water bottles that hold at least 500 mL.
- Always carry a water bottle with you.
- Don’t drink only when you feel thirsty; drink fluids throughout the day.
- Make fruits your favourite snack; they contain lots of fluids.
Make sure you know the minimum amount you need to drink every day. Write this amount in the
long or
short version of your health journal.
