I am the provider in my family and don’t usually ask for help. Do I need anyone to help me get through this process?

Liver transplantation requires a major commitment from not only the recipient but also that person’s family and support network. An individual often takes many things for granted before becoming ill with liver disease—for example, going to work, driving a car, pushing a grocery cart in the supermarket, and taking medications. After the need for transplantation has been identified, many of these tasks can be difficult to accomplish alone due to weakness, fatigue, and the side effects of medications. Immediately after transplantation, you will not have enough strength or stamina to carry out routine tasks for several months and will need help. Your friends and family must be available to drive you to and from your doctors’ appointments, to provide food and medications, and to watch for complications of the transplant surgery. You will not likely need 24 hour a day nursing care or observation. In fact, you will be able to move freely around your home and gradually go out for short periods of time. Your reliance on others will not last forever; usually, transplant recipients regain their independence in 3 to 6 months.