perpetualharmony

Here are my thoughts on this issue as a kidney transplant recipient.

There is no reason for a transplant patient NOT to do yoga or any form of exercise unless that patient is anemic, infectious, or not feeling well. Even dialysis patients exercise with little kidney function.

In terms of immunosuppresives and the patient…. the main problem is exposure to other yoga students who carry the cold virus. However, healthy transplant patients who take immunosuppresives do regularly expose themselves to the public and don’t necessarily have a higher rate of colds. Transplant patients may have colds of longer duration.

Regarding immunosupressives, ie. coritsone, cyclosporin, Cellcept etc.. Most transplants patients must take these drugs. I had a six antigen match and did NOT take these drugs. Most do, but don’t assume that all do.

If any patient is capable of exercise, it is always best that they do so. Transplant patients, if well, won’t fall in to a million little pieces strictly because they have had a serious illness and are attempting to exercise. Generally the patient him/herself has an intuitive feeling for his/her ability to exercise. If they can, they should.

Incidentally, YOU won’t get sick with some dreadful illness by practicing yoga with a patient who has had a transplant. (Unless they come to class with a cold or the flu). They can’t make you lose your liver or your kidneys, so you can stand very close to them as you speak. Unless of course you don’t want to catch their cold.

The answer is as simple as this.