After
undergoing an organ transplant, life won’t be exactly the same it used to be
earlier. Several factors should be kept in mind along with the doctor’s
recommendations to lead a healthy and disease-free life. Most of the advices
surround a healthy lifestyle and avoiding triggers that could affect the organ
that has been transplanted. Some of the common precautions that need to be
followed include:
- Taking medications as and when directed by the physician
- Quitting smoking
- Avoiding alcohol and other types of drugs
- Consuming a balanced and healthy diet
- Exercising to lose weight and stay fit
- Avoiding any form of infection
Sex life
will also suffer an impact after an organ transplant. The initial few months,
the patient would not be allowed to engage in sexual intercourse. Women ideally
are advised to not get pregnant in the first year of transplant.
There can
be certain barriers as well. These changes could affect the quality of life
significantly.
- Physical Changes: Many people who receive transplant gain significant amount of weight, steroid induced “moon face”, and unwanted hair growth. This could change their appearance, leading to low self-esteem.
- Fear of Rejection: Many patients have confessed experiencing the fear of rejection, especially from peers. They feel that they are viewed as something different by the society rather a person with equal competencies.
- Financial Problems: As the transplant and post-operative care can take a toll on the bank balance, there will be significant difficulty faced by the patient and his/her family to regain their financial strength.
- Barriers to Living a Normal Life: Many patients have complained about the lack of motivation, inability to leave the “sick role” and dependency.
It is not
easy to resume life after a major organ transplant. It is natural to feel
uncertain and hopeless in the beginning. Though these challenges will exist,
most individuals learn to adapt themselves to make the most out of life.
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