Every Liver Transplant Caregiver should know: “Walk your patient. Know the medications. What they look like, all the doses, names of them. Use a pill box. Use an alarm to remind you to take meds. Always thoroughly wash all fresh fruits and vegetables, even if you do not eat the skins. Never eat raw fruits and vegetables at restaurants. Inform all friends and family about cooking rules for transplant patients. Cleaning and cooking to temperature. Leftovers can only be heated once. After 3 days don't eat it. If eating out, clean anything the patient will touch. Table, chairs, condiments, etc. Use to go cups. Take notes at all classes and appointments, refer to your notes. Make lists of questions for your next appointment, if you have any.”
As a caregiver I wish I would have known: “It will be hard to separate being the caregiver from being the wife. Make time together that is not caregiver time. It is easy to get caught up in the caregiver routine, so remind yourselves to just enjoy each other.”
The most difficult aspect of being a caregiver: “Know that someone else is grieving the loss of a loved one when your loved ones receive their liver transplant. It’ll be difficult to see the person you love in pain. Gratefully it is a short part of recovery! Sometimes you have to be the bad guy. It's your job to keep them from doing things they shouldn't. Like lifting or doing too much.”
The most rewarding aspect of being a caregiver was: “Watching your patient improve on a daily basis will be encouraging. Knowing you were a part of the process and the recovery. Be blessed to still have them with you!”
I was most surprised as a caregiver by “How quickly he felt better! When he came to his room from recovery, he had better color. His stamina increases continually.”
How I would recommend other caregivers to take care of themselves during this process by: “Educate yourself. Understand the process. Have a caregiver for yourself the first couple of weeks. This person can get meals for you or run errands if needed. Someone who you can lean on and bend their ear if necessary. To help you settle in after leaving the hospital. To be your friend. Know when you need a break and take it. Know if you need to step away from your patient. Some medications can alter their personalities. Leave the room, take a few yoga breaths and remind yourself it's not really them and it's temporary.”
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