Hey TR, I’ve recently reduced my kidney count from 2 to 1 after donating one. I’m about 6 weeks post surgery, and if anyone has any experience with how my hydration and nutrition strategy should change with one kidney vice two, I’d love pointers. I never much paid attention to electrolytes for sub-1.5hr rides, and I tend to eat real food on the bike. I feel like I need to hydrate more, maybe pay more attention to electrolytes… which I can easily accommodate, but I want to do so in a way that will preserve the health of my remaining kidney. Also, I don’t want to blame every sub-par performance on only having one kidney, so some level of HTFU is probably required. Has anyone else had to adjust their fueling and nutrition to accommodate kidney health?
I was about to start a thread about this because I’m one of three potential donors for my stepmom depending on how the testing turns out. Though its not a sure thing at this point, I’m interested in hearing about your experience (or other people’s), and what the post-donation considerations for cycling are.
And thank you for being an organ donor!
One kidney can do the job of both kidneys. Assuming you have normal renal function (which I feel good about given that you just gave one of your beans away), you have enough nephrons to do the job without any alternations to your nutrition or hydration.
I’d be happy to answer any questions you have about my experience. I’m based out of Denver, CO and donated through the National Kidney Registry. Like most donors I could talk all day about this stuff. I’m not sure where you are based, but I’m sure your experience wouldn’t be that different should you go forward with donation! I am just over 6 weeks from my donation, very positive experience with some surprises along the way. Most people worry about pain, which I won’t lie was initially very uncomfortable, but within a week it mostly didn’t slow me down. I was back on the trainer doing very light 30min spins (think Recess and Taku) just to keep things moving within two weeks. I thought the riding position might be problematic with abdominal stress, but it never was for me.
One thing that was surprising for me, and remember I am only 6 weeks post, is my gut took until now to start feeling like it was moving anything. I didn’t have the urge to eat for weeks and had a hard time forcing even basic nutrition down. I lost some weight and definitely some muscle mass. My gut just wouldn’t process anything, and it was extremely slow. This, not the pain, was the hardest thing for me. Mostly normal now, and I know it will be back to 100% given time, but on the bike I think fast carbs would be better for me than bars at least right now. I hardly ever use gels, but I think they would have served me better.
I did, perhaps stupidly, join a group ride of 55 miles just this past weekend. This was the first time on the bike with any intensity since surgery. I was dropped about a third of the way in, but I continued on at my party pace taking time to stretch and smell the roses along the way. The next day I was wiped, though. No pain, just exhausted.
Training-wise, I think it will take the rest of this summer/fall to rebuild to where I was pre-surgery… but I am ok with that. Next season I expect my donation to be invisible to me, except for the cool scars.
Oh and another thing, not sure what medications or supplements you might be taking, but my hospital is pretty moderate in its approach. No NSAIDS, like ibuprofen or Aleve, post-donation for long stretches of time… one here or there is ok. Discontinue Creatine. I had no restrictions on protein intake, but I have read that high-animal protein diets advised against, but high plant-based proteins are ok.
Any other perspectives you want from me, just ask!
Check out the Facebook group Kidney Donor Athletes if you haven’t already. There is good information on that page for all levels of athletes.
Thanks - that’s all helpful information, and I’ll definitely reach out for more if I do end up the lucky one!
I have zero advice to offer, but just wanted to remark on what a wonderful gift that is.
Kidney transplant surgeon here. Agree with the comments above. Expect to be about 90% by 6-8 weeks after surgery. Ramp up your training/effort gradually. Should be 100% by 3 mos. Hydrate well as usual. Thanks for giving the Gift of Life!
As @StephBee has already answered a lot of what I know, I would just add another recommendation to join the Kidney Donor Athletes group on Facebook. My wife donated just over a year ago, and she found this group very helpful to answer her fitness/athletic questions.
Well, I am just over 8 weeks post-donation and wanted to share that I was able to participate fully in a 3-day gravel cycling trip in South Dakota. Over those 3 days, our club cycled 120 miles, climbed 7800 ft, and spent roughly 8 hours in the saddle. Most of the roads there were champagne gravel (well maintained and hard packed) with the exception of a climb up the chunkalicious Cicero Peak. I changed nothing with respect to my hydration, electrolytes and fueling when compared to my strategy prior to donation, and I was able to perform quite well. I was absolutely pain free the entire time, and my fitness is returning rapidly! I didn’t think I would be able to do this so soon after surgery. I am absolutely ecstatic.
Since my recovery is ahead of plan I’ve been able to add additional events to my summer calendar!
Fantastic…congratulations!!
Six years after I donated a kidney and no I’ll effects at all, I was back to full throttle after about six months.
Biffo, that’s fantastic. I hope I am on the same successful trajectory. Thanks for being a donor!