These exams are performed by your family doctor as cancer screening procedures. It is normal to wonder how your life will change when you receive a liver transplant. As you regain strength after the transplant surgery, you will probably find that you feel better than you have felt in some time. Most people are able to return to an active life including full time employment, raising their families and traveling, with only minor alterations in lifestyle. The time required to return to normal varies from patient to patient.
Some patients recover after a month, some after a few months and some after six months or a year.
It is important to discuss your expectations and goals with the transplant team. It is also important for you to collect and review as much information as possible about liver transplant. By understanding what you will experience, you and your family can assist in making the best decision possible for your situation. The medical social worker will work with you and your family to determine what your discharge arrangements will be. Sometimes home nursing is ordered to help you recuperate at home.