Post operation diet: After the operation, doctors will advise you to resume a regular diet as soon as possible to obtain adequate nutrition. When you first resume diet, you will experience loss of appetite, nausea or even vomiting. This is probably because the residual effects of anesthesia and slow bowel movement after the surgery. You will recover in a few days and your appetite will gradually improve. We recommend you to reduce the regular meal size and eat between regular meals. Do not get too full and avoid taking a lot of liquid before and after meals.
Post operation care and exercise: Apart from obtaining sufficient nutrition and taking medications at specific times, mild exercise is essential for recovery. In the first few days after surgery, you should get out of bed and sit on chair for at least 1-2 hours every day. Please do more deep breathing exercise because it helps your lungs to expand and enables you to cough up sputum easily or use your self-financed breathing exerciser {respirometry}. Besides, that physiotherapist will teach you to exercise your legs by cycling, so that your leg muscles can be strengthened, blood circulation is increased, and the risk of complications such as venous thrombosis of the legs is reduced. The level of exercise, e.g. walking, can be increased progressively.
Personal hygiene:Personal hygiene is essential before and after operation. A daily shower or bath keeps your skin clean and prevents growth of bacteria. If you worry that the wound will get wet in bath or shower, we recommend you to clean your body with a wet towel and change clothes that are in close contact with the body every day during hospitalization with the help of your family or hospital healthcare assistants. When the wound heals and the staples are removed, you will be able to bathe or shower as usual. Remember to dry the gaps in an incision and keep the incision dry and clean. If there is oozing from the wound or you suspect an infection, please contact the doctors immediately. If you find your skin dry, you may use a mild bathing lotion and apply moisturizing lotion after bath or shower. Also, it is important to keep your home clean. Clean your home regularly (e.g. once a week), to eliminate pest and prevent infection.
Quit smoking and drinking: Please do not smoke and drink. Smoking damages your lung and predisposes you to chest infection. Alcohol harms the liver further. Please quit drinking.
After discharge from the hospital, you are responsible for continuing appropriate treatments and cares according to the advice given by the Liver Transplant Team. After discharge, you will go to the Liver Transplant Hospital for routine follow-ups as scheduled. If you notice obvious abnormality in your body, please report to the Liver Transplant Team for further management. If you feel discomfort, such as fever, vomiting and diarrhea, please seek medical help as soon as possible.
Return for follow-ups as scheduled:In general, follow-up visits will be more frequent at the early period after discharge. You are necessary to return for follow-up, so that the doctor is able to give you safe and appropriate medical instructions. Without the doctors’ instruction or a phone call indicating a change of medications, never stop taking or change your medications.
