Protecting Your New Transplant
Avoiding infection
Sun protection
Pregnancy

Protecting Your New Transplant
Receiving a transplant means a new lease of life. Most people who receive a transplant can return to normal work, social and leisure activities within a few months. Living with a transplant, however, does mean that you need to take some sensible steps to protect your new organ and to stay healthy.

The body regards a transplanted organ as in invader, in the same way as it sees a germ. It fights the new organ in the same way it would fight infection - this is called organ rejection. Many transplant patients experience some organ rejection in the first few weeks after transplantation. However, rejection can also happen months or even years after transplantation.

This is why everyone who receives a transplant must continue to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of their lives. One of the most common reasons for a transplanted organ to fail is that the person stops taking their anti-rejection medication as directed by their doctor.


To help to protect your transplant from being rejected:

  • Always follow the instructions your doctor gives you for taking your medication
  • Never change your dose or stop your medication yourself
  • Try take your medication at the same time every day
  • If you forget to take your medication, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for your next dose, in which case continue as normal
  • Makesure that you always have enough medication - for example to last over weekends or public holidays
  • If you purchase any medication on your own, check with the pharmacist that it will not affect your anti-rejection drugs
  • Avoid herbal remedies such as St John's Wort, which is known to affect some anti-rejection medications
  • Tell any doctor you may consult that you have a transplant and what medication you are taking
    it is also important to tell your doctor if you experience any new symptoms, or if you develop an infection.
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Avoiding infection
Anyone who has received a transplant is more vulnerable to infection because the anti-rejection medication which protects your transplant also weakens your ability to fight bacterial and viral infections.
Some basic hygiene steps can help reduce the risk of developing an infection:

Pets :
  • Vaccinate pet cats and dogs
  • Avoid touching caged birds
  • If your pet licks your face or hands wash the area immediately with soap and water
  • Keep your pet's bowls and feeding material away from your own food or utensils
  • Use rubber gloves if you are cleaning cages or handling litter trays
Dental treatment :
  • You should be given antibiotic drugs before any invasive dental work eg tooth extraction
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Sun protection
The immunosuppressive drugs that protect your transplant from rejection also make you more vulnerable to the risk of developing skin cancer. One important way to help avoid this is to take sensible precautions against too much exposure to the sun:
  • Use a high-factor sunscreen, especially on your face, neck, ears and hands when you are out in the sun
  • Reapply sunscreen regularly during the day
  • Avoid the sun during the hottest part of the day (10.00 to 15.00 hours)
  • If you are in the sun for an extended period wear long sleeves and trousers, and a hat

If you notice any changes to your skin, such as unusual growths or a discoloration, or if an existing mole starts to look different, ask your doctor to check it for you.

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Pregnancy
There have been many hundreds of successful pregnancies in women who have had a transplant, and many men have fathered children after transplantation. Most women find that their menstrual cycle returns to normal a few months after they have a transplant. It is advisable to wait for one year after the transplant before becoming pregnant, and sensible to talk to your doctor before stopping contraception to ensure that any adjustments can be made to your anti-rejection medication if necessary and to plan regular health checks.
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