caring for someone with transplant and work life balance

[Mafy]

Hi everybody

Im starting reduced hours 8am to 2pm but is not going to last forever...My question is how you deal with work and caring for someone that had a very recent transplant? Im in UK alone with my husband so no family help is available.

Any tips, advice or sharing please...

[Notso]

Hi Mary.

I'm 55 and had a transplant 9 months ago. I was out of hospital in four days and completely able to look after myself, other than lifting heavy things.

I know everyone is different but unless there are complications, I reckon a month to 6 weeks should see you out.

Good luck.

[chicago17]

I had a transplant 12months ago I felt great after 6months so unless there are any other complications with your husband I would definitely give yourself as the carer 6 month good luck

[Hidden]

I was my husband's donor, almost 3 years ago. I came out of hospital after 3 days and my husband a day later. We had no family nearby to look after us so had to fend for ourselves. This was never a problem. We started walking our dog 6 days after the transplant and were completely back to normal within a few weeks. We did not seek and did not need any help to cope with our daily lives.

[Santaponsa1]

Hi Mafy , my husband and I was the same. In and out hospital in the matter of days and two weeks on I cooked the Christmas dinner,etc for family and friends and we both went out to post our Christmas cards to neighbours days following op as I received my kidney from my husband just three weeks prior to above. Good luck to you both and look after yourselves stay safe.

[Falkenhayn]

I received a kidney transplant from a relative, flew several thousand miles home just two or three days later, and started a new job two weeks after that. So some transplant patients with no complications may well not require much care. I did develop cytomegalovirus about a month into the new job, but I managed to keep my hospital stay down just to a few days and returned to work with an intravenous antibiotic feed.

[Hassmac]

Transplantation is a brilliant therapy if the organ takes and works well. I had a transplant from my father seventeen years ago now and I still look after myself. Initially I needed about two weeks of people doing things for me ( A five day stay in hospital is about the norm I think- although it can be even less now) and then, by doing a little more each day, I was feeling very well within a month and back to work within six weeks. I would say that you will need to give emotional support as much as anything, because both receiving and giving an organ can be a stressful ( wonderful too) experience and the recipent will be going through a range of emotions. About five days in, I couldn't stop crying and kept saying ' my poor dad, why did this have to happen?!' etc, ' woe is me'. However, this was short lived and all has been well for a long time. Anyway, best of luck with everything. I believe there are patient and carer helplines out there if you need someone to talk to.

[gilders]

I had my transplant 11 months ago. I was in hospital for a week and it was while in hospital I definitely needed my wife to help - nurses were very busy and I don't like to ask for help.

Once I left hospital, the main reason I needed my wife was for the thrice weekly visits to clinic (I was never offered Patient transport). Having my wife at home was a BIG help for the first 2 weeks I was home.

If Patient Transport had been available, I could have managed by myself a couple of days after I left hospital as my wife did the household chores when not at work.

I felt very week when walking and it was over a month before I could walk, at a slow pace, from the car park to the hospital clinic without having to stop multiple times (a walk that now takes around 5 minutes.

Everyone is different and recovery can vary greatly. My recovery seemed very slow compared to others while in hospital, but my operation lasted 9hrs and I immediately caught an infection. Once the infection was under control and my catheter had been removed, my health improved massively.

[Kernick]

I would try to count on your husbands own resilience. If they sent him home he should be fine on his own. The more he does the better. Just call him during the day, ask how he is doing and tell him you love him. Best medicine.