Self-care after transplant is something to start almost immediately. You did it! You made it through transplant and recovered! Now it’s time to get back to your life and all of the things you might have been neglecting a little while you were sick.
Too Sick to Care
I was so sick leading up to my transplant that I hadn’t done anything for myself in a good long time. It didn’t help that, since I didn’t have any insurance until just before my transplant, I did not have the financial means to keep up with wellness visits.
On top of that, I had no desire and no energy to do all of the things I wanted to do before transplant either.
Back to the Business of Self-Care
Well now is the time. Some things maybe weren’t on your list of priorities before transplant that will need to be bumped up that list now. Let’s look at some of them, shall we?
Wellness visits to your primary care doctor, dentist, ophthalmologist, and dermatologist to name a few.
Self-Care by Visiting Your Primary Physician After Transplant
Visiting your primary care physician regularly is something that is even more important after your transplant. There are just things that are more common in people post-transplant that will need the oversight of your PCP and referral to specialists in some cases. These can include high blood pressure, higher lipid levels, bone disease, kidney issues, obesity, cancer, and diabetes.
Yikes! That’s a scary list! It’s a good thing you became a pro at managing your appointments and doing tests and procedures while you were on the transplant list. Whew! Just remember that these things are more common and not a given and you’re keeping up with your visits, so there will be no surprises, right?
Visiting Your Other Doctors
Regular visits to your dentist and ophthalmologist are also important. Your dental and eye health are all part of your overall well-being so make sure you stay on top of those too.
You’ll also want to be sure that you are getting dermatology screenings at least annually. Which leads me to my next point.
Self-Care for That Skin You’re In – Especially After Transplant
Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. As transplant recipients, our risk of developing skin cancer is 20-60 times higher than your average person. It is important to use at least 30 SPF and to reapply as directed (usually about every two hours). I also try to stay out of the sun as often as I can.
The downside to all of this is that you now are not getting a ton of vitamin D from the sun. Yet another reason to visit your PCP or talk with your transplant team to keep an eye on that. I just finished a four-week regimen of a vitamin D supplement since I am such a stellar patient wink wink and have stayed out of the sun.
Physical Self-Care After Transplant
Exercise. Yeah, I know. Everyone is always nagging on us to stay active and exercise. Geez.
This is excellent advice when we are talking about self-care after transplant, though. Remember that list of scary stuff up there? Exercise can help with some of that. Listen, I’m not saying that you should go out and become an ultra-marathoner or triathlete; I’m just saying you might want to move a little.
Because I was so sick before transplant, I now have some underlying health conditions that slow me down and in some cases prevent me from doing the things I used to do for exercise. The name of the game after transplant is adaptability.
So I can’t run six miles a day anymore. That’s ok. I enjoy walking or hiking in the mountains, yoga, or Pilates. They help me stay active and help my mental health too.
Self-Care Emotionally and Mentally
Finally, stress management. Life can be very challenging sometimes and it gets even more challenging when you have had a transplant. You may not feel great sometimes. Fatigue might be hitting you hard. You might feel a sense of worthlessness because you can’t do the things or keep up the way you used to. Work could be more challenging. All of these things are valid and it’s ok to feel that way sometimes. That’s why stress management is part of self-care too.
Find ways to relieve stress. Maybe it’s a walk or some other type of exercise, yoga or meditation, taking up a new hobby, cooking or cleaning (hey, some people find stress relief in cleaning). Find what calms you, puts you in a zone, or helps you regroup. Mental health plays a big role in our physical health so it’s just as important. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a therapist if you’re needing more help coping after your transplant.
Self-care after transplant isn’t just for us, it’s for our donors and all of our loved ones. We’ve been given a second chance at life; let’s make the very best of it!
