GETTING READY FOR THE TRANSPLANT

 Let's Start The Journey ! 

Let this journey towards your recovery be your choice. This could be a life-changing decision not just for you but also for your loved ones. 

• Please obtain all the necessary information from your hospital team but also feel free to make your own research too.
• While carrying out your own research, Please make sure that the information you obtain is from reliable sources such as voluntary organisations, charities, special interest groups, other patient experiences and support groups. 
• It is always useful to inquire beforehand, the support and services that are offered by your hospital.
• Please make sure that you do have access to rehabilitation services in the hospital or outside. 

Making informed Choices!

Your pre-transplant experience will vary depending upon your hospital policy and procedures. However, your medical and rehabilitation team should be involving you in each and every stage when planning your treatment and rehabilitation.  

• Please make sure that you are aware of the positives and negatives of the suggested treatments.  
• If there is a rehabilitation facility in your hospital, please request for a complete full body physical / functional assessment which includes joint range of motion, strength and cardiovascular endurance. This assessment will be useful as a baseline score to compare for after transplant and in some cases where patients develop GVHD. 
• Please be aware that your stay in the hospital is dependent on post-transpalnt recovery and potential side effects of the treatments/disease and that you might need help for first few weeks when discharged from the hospital.  

Working together

As an in-patient, you should expect regualr checkups and routine assessments during the day by the medical and the rehabilitation team to ensure your optimal recovery. 

• Please be aware that feeling tired, lethargic, fatigue and unwell is sometimes part of the recovery process but do communicate and report symptoms as they develop, to the medical team so that informed decisions can be made regarding your treatment.  
• The rehabilitation team may prescribe you an exercise program during your stay in the hospital depending upon your medical condition. The exercises you will perform will be carefully designed as per your individual needs and can be a combination of strength, endurance and functional exercises. 
• It is very important that you actively participate in your rehab program to aid your recovery process. 
• Your exercise program during your hospital stay may vary from day to day depending up on your medical condition, advice from your consultant and the nursing staff.   

Check list for before you go home

Please make sure you have all the necessary medical and rehab information before you go home including: 

• How to monitor your progress? 
• Contact details of the healthcare professional in your hospital in case you have any concerns or emergency. 
• Please make sure you understand your medications, their side effects and when to seek medical attention.  
• Educate yourself about the early signs of Graft Versus Host Disease.  
• Please liaise with the rehabilitation team and make sure you have your home exercise program.  
• With the help of the rehabilitation team, please make sure that you have all the necessary information on when its safe to exercise and when not, i.e. your platelet levels, blood oxygen level, blood pressure etc.  
• Pace your daily activities as per your own capacity.  
• Please make sure you have all the appointment dates and times for follow-up with your consultant, nurse or the rehabilitation team.  

Lets Get Back In Shape!

We wish you all a smooth and speedy recovery. 

Once you are out of the hospital, its now time to plan for a return to normal activities of daily life. 

• It is very important not to stress and take each day as it comes. Try and get the balance right, it's your body and you know what you can and can't do safely.  
• With the help of your medical and rehabilitation team, set short and long-term goals.  
• Before returning to work, if possible, get referred for Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) to your rehabilitation team. 
• FCE evaluation can help determine your physical capability versus work demands and thus, you might be advised by the rehabilitation team to return to work on modified duties or phased return to work.  
• Students attending school or university might also have to phase themselves back to their routine depending upon their medical and physical condition.

Get in Touch

Remember, the rahct.org.uk team is a voluntary organisation with specialists from around the globe. We will be more than happy to answer any queries so please feel free to get in touch.  

Happy to help!

Please follow the Graft Versus Host Disease link for more information on GVHD, one of the complications developed by patients post-transplant.