You got your transplant, now what? Most of us recipients try to get back to a normal life as quickly as possible, we try with the help of our friends and relations for support.
Before transplant our lives have been going along with normal routines, work, hobby, outside interests then suddenly we find this life, that we have learned to take for granted, has ceased to exist. Usually this leaves a big gap, a nothingness, a void that somehow we try to fill.
Change
The normal reaction is to just do things as we did in the past, before we got sick, before we realized our lives had taken permanent change. We are suddenly faced with an unknown. If we have not prepared properly, or been told how our lives would change after transplant we may find it difficult to cope. We find we have to change our daily rituals, we have to adopt a schedule of taking our medications; deal with the side-effects of the meds; deal with the sudden realization we have to make changes if we want peace of mind.
Communicate With Doctors
There are things we cannot do anymore, or at least not as well as we used to. We may find ourselves confused about our medications and try to understand the importance of taking them on a regular basis and in the amounts we have been told. We now find we have to deal with our doctors and transplant team to get an understanding of what is expected of us. If we had prepared before the transplant we would accept these changes more easily.
Physical Therapy
There is another way to make the transition easier, therapy. Physical therapy and someone to talk to about these changes. At least you will gain an understanding of what is coming next. Just making a decision that something can be done makes one feel better about your new life.
Physical therapy not only is good for your body it is good for your mind. Just a little walk in the park or at the mall can make you feel much better. Once you decide to start the physical therapy things begin to change. This therapy is necessary for your body for several reasons.
After a hospital stay for major surgery your body needs to get going again, blood needs to circulate, muscles need exercised. Especially for someone like a transplant recipient taking immunosuppressive medication. These meds cause a few side effects to our body. Exercise can help our body cope with these problems because it gets the blood flowing, and exercises muscles. If you just had your transplant or are 10 years post transplant you should maintain a regimen of walking. It is one of the easiest methods of getting physical exercise and everyone should be able to do it. Keep healthy, keep walking.
Mental Therapy
The second kind of therapy that is complimentary to the physical therapy is some type of counseling. Find a professional that deals with someone coping with chronic disease. See them once a week or month or at least a few times. A counselor can help you get your life on a straight path. You may find a social worker at the hospital you attend or they may recommend someone you can see. Along with the counseling one should strive to join in with some type of community activity, read, walk, rekindle your hobby or find a new one. Go to your community center or a continuing education center, if you have one, and take a class in something you always wanted to do. Learn a language, learn a new craft, take a refresher course, become a volunteer or join a support group.
Should Be Mandatory
Physical therapy and counseling should be part of a recovery package for everyone receiving a transplant. You can find peace of mind by taking control of your life, by making a decision to: Therapy.
