How to Prepare for a Liver Transplant
While you wait for a new liver, you will suffer both physical and emotional stress. You can take some steps to decrease your anxiety and be as ready as you can be for your surgery.
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Instructions
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Carry your beeper with you wherever you go. Be sure to always have access to a telephone.
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Pick a designated driver on standby. When your call comes and your donor liver becomes available, you may not feel up to driving yourself to the transplant center.
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Phone your airline for flight schedules regularly if you plan to fly to your transplant center. Prepare an alternative travel plan in case the airport is closed or your flight delayed.
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Take your medications as prescribed and eat right. Avoiding salt will decrease fluid retention. High-fiber foods will keep your bowels moving well.
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Talk to a counselor or a transplant social worker if you're feeling anxious.
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Avoid infection. Wash your hands thoroughly, and avoid people who are ill.
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Look for fellow transplant candidates to talk to. Many transplant centers have a preoperative support network available, offering a "buddy" system that brings together people who are waiting for transplants.
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Remember, do not eat or drink anything after your call comes. Your stomach must be empty for surgery.
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Tips & Warnings
All liver patients on the waiting list are evaluated objectively and treated equally. Money and status are not considered when assigning livers to patients.
For more information on liver disease and transplants, call 1-800-GO-LIVER.
Keep up your normal activities as much as possible. Don't put your whole life on hold.
Even though you may be called to come in for a liver transplant, be aware that you will be sent home without a liver if you show any signs of an infection, or if doctors find that your donor liver is functioning poorly or showing signs of deterioration.
If you have any questions or concerns, contact a physician or other health care professional before engaging in any activity related to health and diet. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.
