Life after a pancreas transplant

You will start by consuming only clear liquids and progress to a normal diet. You will also be expected to walk early on the recovery process and use tools to help expand your lungs to prevent complications from surgery. 

Patients often stay in the hospital for six to 10 days. 

After your pancreas transplant you will have visits with an educator, pharmacist, social worker, and dietician while recovering in the hospital. Your caregiver will join each of those meetings.  

Early after your pancreas transplant, you will come back frequently for clinic visits and blood draws. These will be less often overtime. 

• Weightlifting restrictions for several weeks

• Staying active to recover

• Logging your vital signs and fluids (intake and output)

Rejection is your body’s attempt to fight off the new pancreas. It can happen at any time and without symptoms. That does not mean you are losing the transplant. Your medical team will likely see signs of rejection in your bloodwork before you have symptoms. That is why it is so important to get your lab tests done on schedule after transplantation.  

You can help prevent rejection or help detect it early by always taking your medication as prescribed and getting labs drawn on time.  

The anti-rejection medication you take to prevent rejection lowers your immune system. The medication starts when you are hospitalized and is continued for the life of your transplant. Lowering your immune system can cause infections, certain types of cancer, and other side effects.

You may be prescribed a list of medication to prevent problems related to your transplant. These may include: 

• Immunosuppression medication 

• Antivirals 

• Antibiotics 

• Antifungal 

• Antacids 

Always check with your care team before you start a new medication. It is possible they could affect your immunosuppression medications.