The key to your future success depends on learning how to take care of your new organ and yourself. Your education starts during your evaluation, picks up again while you’re in the hospital, and continues over your lifetime.
We know there’s a lot to learn and remember. That’s why we provide you with a copy of the educational slides, a set of instructions, and a record book to keep track of your vital signs and medications.
We will follow you for the life of your transplant with both laboratory tests and visits to our clinic. Remember, we are only a phone call away. You should call us if you have any questions or concerns.
Understanding your medications
One of the risks of transplantation is the possibility that your body will reject the new organ. In order to control rejection we must treat you with medications designed to lower your body’s immune system. These medications are very effective, but they also have side effects. It’s critically important that you learn about all your medications and their side effects so that you can become a good partner in your post-transplant health care.
Staying healthy, including your emotional health
It is normal to experience emotional changes following a transplant. These feelings can often come from the medications or from issues of guilt or sadness about the donor. Use the members of your medical, personal, and community support team to help you deal with these changes. The UI Organ Transplant Center has a transplant support group that meets monthly to help patients deal with common issues they may face.
Generally, we’ll be working with you and your local physician to help you address your overall health, including maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding the risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, and cancer.
Follow these steps to success
- Value the gift of your new organ.
- Learn about your medications and take them as directed.
- Manage your health and keep all of your appointments.
- Let us know if there are changes in your health status and insurance status.
- Call us when you are concerned about signs or symptoms, before they become problems
- Never run out of your medications; call us long before this becomes a problem. Never let financial issues get in the way of you and a phone call to us about your medications! There are ways we can help you.