I recently went for a transplant and the post op paperwork I was given by my doctor seems incredibly stringent. Things like, laying straight up/at a 45 degree angle for a week, no aerobic exercise for 3 months, no weight lifting for 6, can’t be in contact with smoke/dust/pets for 4 weeks, etc.
I’ve read a lot of stuff on your site that actually coincides with things he’s said, but the post op instructions are quite different from what I could gather. Is he just being overly cautious to try preserving grafts?
I generally recommend no sex for 15 years, no walking more than 1/4 mile for 4 years… no, no… I’m just kidding.
I tell most of my patients the following:
- They can lie flat
- Can have full aerobic exercise in 1 week (even run a marathon if they want)
- Limit weightlifting greater than 25 lbs for 4 weeks and keep the back straight
- No sit-ups or pull-ups for 4 weeks
- May play with pets in 1 day (but no licking the transplants by your dog until the crusts are off — it had to be said)
- Smoke and dust in the environment are not a problem unless you are not clean
- Passive sex is ok for the first 2 nights, then everything after is a go
Does that help?