You will need to stay in the Nashville area for two weeks or longer after you leave the hospital. The amount of time you have to spend in town will depend upon your recovery status. If necessary, our social worker can help you find a place to stay. During this time, you will have appointments in the clinic and blood work done one to three times a week. Use these clinic visits to get the answers to any questions you have. You may find it helpful to keep a written list of questions as they occur to you. Bring your list of questions to your clinic visits.

Your Physicians

When you return home, you will see both your local doctor and your transplant doctors. It is essential that you have a local gastroenterologist and primary care physician. These physicians will work with us in your long-term care. Routine lab tests, such as immunosuppression levels, will be done locally. It is important that you tell the transplant team about any changes in your health such as any serious illness or changes in medications. These can affect your transplanted liver.

Your transplant team will want to see you every few months for the first year, with labwork done every eight weeks. Keep in mind that this labwork can be done in your local community.

You should contact your local doctor for routine health issues that are unrelated to your liver transplant-- such as colds, the flu, upper respiratory infection, urinary tract infection, and general complaints. It is important that you have see your local doctor regularly.