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SCT Clinic Follow-up
For many transplant patients and their families, discharge from the hospital is a time of both excitement and worry. Most patients are excited about resuming home life. However, they are concerned about leaving the protective room of the hospital and learning to recognize and prevent problems such as infection and bleeding. Patients have many questions including:
· How do I take my drugs? · What kind of daily activities can I do? · Can I have sex? · What foods should I eat or not eat? · What kind of follow-up care will I have? · Who should I call if I have a problem?
Your Health Care Team will not discharge you from the hospital until it is safe to do so. Several factors are considered, including:
·Your ability to eat and drink to meet your diet needs.
·Your ability to take drugs by mouth.
·If you have nausea, vomiting or loose stools, they are controlled with drugs given by mouth.
·You do not have fever.
·You have stable blood counts.
·You have someone to help you at home.
Before you leave the hospital, your Health Care Team will go over information you must know.
·The social worker will help you arrange local housing if needed.
·The dietitian will go over diet guidelines and answer questions you may have about preparing meals.
·The transplant doctor will tell you how often you will need to come to the clinic after you are discharged.
While you may feel well, it may take up to 12 months for your immune system to return to normal. If you have problems, it may take even longer.
Follow-Up Visits
Each time you return to the clinic, you will have blood drawn. Your vital signs and weight will be taken. You may need IV fluids, blood or platelet transfusions or electrolyte infusions (such as potassium or magnesium). You may also need tests and / or procedures done, such as x-rays, bone marrow biopsies, or spinal taps. These tests are often done after transplant to look for infection or return of disease.
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