My Transplant Doctor’s Post-Op Paperwork is Incredibly Stringent

I recently went for a transplant and the post op paperwork I was given by my doctor seems incredibly stringent. Things like, laying straight up/at a 45 degree angle for a week, no aerobic exercise for 3 months, no weight lifting for 6, can’t be in contact with smoke/dust/pets for 4 weeks, etc.

I’ve read a lot of stuff on your site that actually coincides with things he’s said, but the post op instructions are quite different from what I could gather. Is he just being overly cautious to try preserving grafts?

I generally recommend no sex for 15 years, no walking more than 1/4 mile for 4 years… no, no… I’m just kidding.

I tell most of my patients the following:

• They can lie flat
• Can have full aerobic exercise in 1 week (even run a marathon if they want)
• Limit weightlifting greater than 25 lbs for 4 weeks and keep the back straight
• No sit-ups or pull-ups for 4 weeks
• May play with pets in 1 day (but no licking the transplants by your dog until the crusts are off — it had to be said)
• Smoke and dust in the environment are not a problem unless you are not clean
• Passive sex is ok for the first 2 nights, then everything after is a go

Does that help?