Immediately after surgery, the patient will need more care. Slowly, the patient will become more independent and need less care. Your role as caregiver will become smaller. You might still help with some tasks, but you will spend less time and energy as a caregiver.
Transitioning from caregiver back to your role of spouse, sibling, child, or friend
After transplant, it can be hard to transition back to your role of partner, sibling, child, or friend. Remember that it takes time to adjust to life after transplant.
Talk openly and honestly about the transplant experience.
- How did the process affect each you?
- How did it affect your relationship?
- How does it feel to adjust to life after transplant?
- How did you overcome challenges during the process?
- How have you grown closer? Caregiving often brings people closer.
Spend time together, and don’t talk about transplant or caregiving.
- Play board games.
- Watch a movie.
- Cook dinner together.
Acknowledge that life after transplant will not be the same as it was before transplant. You will have a “new normal”. You and the patient will both have grown and changed.
Even after you return to “normal life,” the patient might still need your help sometimes. It’s normal to feel stressed when this happens. Remember to ask others for help.
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