Transplant Unit

General advice

• Gradually increase the amount of exercise you take without allowing yourself to become too tired.
• Do not lift heavy weights for the first few weeks following your last surgical operation, and only gradually increase the weight you carry.
• Follow the physiotherapist's advice below :

Exercise after discharge following major abdominal surgery

You may experience some soreness in the area of your surgery for a time after the operation. However, it is important to take note of the following factors in order to speed your recovery:

• that you do not allow yourself to become stooped over your wound, worsening your posture and increasing the risk of back pain.
• that you gradually improve your exercise tolerance in order to avoid the complications and tasks associated with reduced fitness.

The following exercises can be done when stated in order to help to overcome these potential problems. You should try to practice 5 to 10 repetitions of each twice daily.

Immediately after discharge

• Monitor your posture at all times. Try to stand/walk with your shoulders back, not stooping forwards. when sitting you may find it useful to support the low back with a small roll cushion in order to maintain the normal inward curve of the spine.

• Lie on a bed or the floor with your knees bent up and your arms by your sides. Try rolling your knees from side to side. Roll until you feel a gentle stretch, not pain.
• Lie on a bed or the floor with your knees bent up and your arms by your sides. Place one hand in the small of your back. Try to flatten the low part of your back into your hand and hold for a count of five. Release. The pelvis should only tilt; do not lift your bottom right up.

Two weeks after discharge

Continue with the above and

• Progress the last mentioned exercise above so that you lift your bottom off the bed about 3 to 4 inches each time. Hold for a count of five at the top and slowly release.
• Stand with your feet a shoulder width apart. Slide one hand slowly down the outside of the same leg e.g. right hand down right leg, aiming your fingers towards the outside of the knee. Your trunk should tilt sideways, not forwards. Return to the centre and repeat to the other side,

Six to eight weeks after discharge, continue with all the above plus:

• Lie flat on a bed or the floor with your knees bent up. Lift your head and shoulders off the bed, sliding your hands towards your knees. Hold for a count of three and slowly lower. This should be a slow, controlled exercise, not a rapid 'sit-up'.

General advice

• Walking and cycling are both excellent exercises for your general fitness.
• Extreme athletic exercise should be avoided for twelve weeks.
• The only sports to avoid are those where you might get a direct blow to the kidney, e.g. rugby, some martial arts.
• Remember that this programme aims to gradually increase your fitness, without over-doing things. You will be helping all the major body systems as well as giving yourself a feeling of well-being, but please note:  if any of the above causes you pain, stop.
• If pain persists, seek the advice from your health care team.

Returning to work

As a guide, you should anticipate being off work for 6 weeks, but this will depend on how you are doing and the job you do.