Support

[Osgoodblue]

Hi my husband has just had a liver transplant and is due home tomorrow, I’m beginning to get stressed and panicked as to how to look after him properly could anyone please give me some advice or guidance, thank you

[AyrshireK]

Brilliant news that your husband has had his transplant and is shortly due home. No doubt whichever unit he's been seen in will provide him with an advice booklet of some sort about going home after transplant and it will cover what he can and can't do, his medication, check up details etc. etc.

This is the one given to patients leaving the Scottish Liver Transplant Unit and it might provide you with some useful pointers for these first important weeks.

services.nhslothian.scot/Sc...

I guess the biggie from your point of view is going to be keeping in hubby in check i.e. he is (hopefully) going to feel more well than he has for some time now that he has his new liver and there may be a tendency to try and do too much too soon but from my understanding they arn't meant to lift anything heavier than a kettle for some weeks post op so don't let him lift and carry anything. Other post op patients may pop on soon to explain what they felt they needed (care wise) post op.

Another thing of note is that he's gone through a very emotional experience and his mental health may be a little altered .......... survivor guilt teemed up with high dose steroids so mood maybe a little all over the place.

Remember it's early days and it may be a bit of a roller coaster for a few weeks with wee scares along the way as they get his medication just right, there may be more hospital admissions, wee blips with liver numbers and such like. Remember the transplant co-ordinators are always on the end of the phone (or the liver ward) if you need something clarifying and also the transplant team social workers are there for you too - not just hubby.

Hope his recovery is a smooth one and you both get many more happy years going forward.

Katie

[DavyGravy]

Hi OsgoodBlue

That is wonderful that he has had his TP and is coming home. I'm happy for you both.

Dave

[Zukosmile07]

Morning Oz, I think just having someone there by his side will be more than enough to put extra smiles on his face. Like what Katie has written, you do get plenty of information a few days before discharge. The list of medication should be a written one so you can change it every week as and when. You will get a booklet about what you can and can't eat, make sure you follow that. It also covers everything about lifting and exercising. Then all the phone numbers for each department. I suggest getting the ward he was on direct phone number. He will be itching to do everything but please limit him, it is hard after being poorly and layed up for so long not to want to do things straight away but just remind him that he has plenty of time..... All the best and enjoy life....... Danny x

[Huggy7614]

A pillow for the journey home!! We had a 2 hour drive home - which prob took 3 because I was asking her to avoid the bumps, but a pillow across the tummy helped a bit.

As Danny said, your continued support is the most important thing!! He will want to move around but cannot do a thing. Not lift a kettle or move a hoover. (He can’t do the last one for about 5 years!! 😜😜)

Sit with him as he sorts his meds out, do it together. It’s a weekly job, useful to have other eyes on it at the beginning. Becomes the norm later.

Good luck to both of you. He’s over the worst now, it’s all getting easier from here on.

Andy.

[Chasdog]

Patience is the key for you both. As a patient, it is difficult to accept all the help that he will need for the first few weeks. You will need to be patient as he may be frustrated as to what he can and can’t do. He will get there in the end, honestly. Both try and keep a positive mind set and give each other lots of hugs. Take care and love to you both xx

[Kristian]

Hi osgood,

It will be fine, honest. Just do what you normally do. Most of the care he'll need is just someone there to keep an eye on him. He may need a little bit of help occaisionally, but he should be able to do most things by himself.

Anything that involves standing up for a period of time will be difficult initially, but that will improve as he gets fitter. He has to get up and about anyway, so dont let him get away with lying in bed all day, lol.

If he has any dressings to change you should be able to get help with this from the district nurse. Or, he or you could do it yourselves. I did all mine. It wasn't very difficult.

There is of course likely to be the need to ferry him about a bit. He'll have clinic appointments once a week for the first few weeks and also an appointment with his own gp.

Just remember also, the transplant coordinators are just on the end of the phone and are always really happy to take a call and talk anything through with you. They are they to support you and him.

Hope thats helpful. I'm sure you'll do fine.

[PoppyPiper]

Hi

My husband collected me from the hospital after my T/P in the Transit Van - he never thought about having to get me in and out of it it, but I survived the journey home.

I was lucky that I was up and about very soon after my T/P though I had to remember to take it easy and NO heavy lifting.

If he feels tired, then go to bed and rest, I found that I would be wide awake and then 10 mins later exhausted.

To monitor my Meds, I created a daily chart with Meds listed and then the time slots like 8am 10am 12am .... that the were due. Hubby then laminated it and every day I used to tick off each of the meds and the times taken. Next day I would wipe it clean and start again.

Good luck to your husband, it is a slow recovery but he will have lots of support from his transplant team - and no question is a stupid question.

regards PPx