Taking control of your recovery and living well

After your transplant, you will need to visit the out-patient department regularly. Doctors will check everything is going well and possibly adjust your medication. You’ll also have regular tests to measure your blood count, liver and kidney function, and check for viruses.

For more information, see our page about hospital visits after transplant.

It can feel hard to remember which medication to take and when. You will also go through changes to your medication which might mean adjusting to a new schedule. Putting reminders in your phone, calendar or diary will help make sure you don’t miss anything.

During your transplant journey, you’re at the centre of a large medical team responsible for giving you the best possible care. However, it can sometimes be difficult to keep track of everybody’s name and what they do. You might find it helpful to write down the name and contact details of everyone in your team.

Some days you will feel physically and mentally drained, but there will also be good days when you feel strong and happy. You might find great benefits to recording your emotional wellbeing and how your feelings are changing. As well as gaining a sense of progress, it also highlights when you need extra support from friends, family or a professional.

If you feel like you need more support for your mental health, see our page on finding support.

It’s so helpful for your medical team if you can accurately recall when you had certain side effects and how strong they were. With this information, they can adjust your medication accordingly. Get into the habit of recording any changes you experience – when did they happen? How bad were they? Can you record the intensity using a 1 to 10 scale?

To check your new immune system is working properly, your medical team will regularly count the different types of cells that make up your blood, as well as other factors. They record the results every time you visit the hospital. They will be able to monitor your progress by looking at your:

• White blood cell count – These cells make up your immune system and fight infections.
• Haemoglobin – This substance carries oxygen around your body. You can find it in red blood cells (the most common type of blood cell).
• Platelets – These help the blood to clot after trauma or an injury, cut or graze.
• Chimerism level – The number of blood cells that come from your donor compared to your own. Ideally, your chimerism would have 100% donor cells.
• Temperature – A high temperature can be an early sign you might have an infection.
• Blood pressure – After a transplant, you’re at increased risk of high blood pressure. Doctors will monitor this at every check-up.

You might find you have a lot more free time during your recovery. You could try something like:

• painting
• reading
• doing crafts
• learning a language
• playing a new game
• cooking.

When you feel stronger, you could also meet new people and socialise through local groups or evening classes. You can find many of these groups via social media, so have a look at what’s available locally in person, as well as clubs and groups online.

Whether it’s restarting an old sport or trying a new one, being active will help your recovery.

It doesn’t have to be anything too competitive, but socialising and exercising by doing something you enjoy will help improve your mental and physical wellbeing. Finding your local parkrun could be a great place to start. You should also be able to find something at your local sports centre or through social media.

For more information, see our page on exercise and keeping active.

Held annually in a different UK city each year, the Games consist of over 20 different events. Anyone who has had a transplant can compete, no matter what age.

If you fancy training for your big day and bringing home a gold medal, visit our page on the British Transplant Games. You can register your interest to join Team Anthony Nolan at the Games by emailing involve@anthonynolan.org

Charities always welcome people who want to help. It can feel rewarding to support charities you feel connected to, perhaps to help other people who need stem cell transplants.

For more information about opportunities, visit our page about volunteering with Anthony Nolan.

Not everyone will be quite ready to run a marathon just yet, but there are plenty of other things you can do to raise money for a good cause.

For more information about what you can do, head over to our page of tips and ideas for fundraising.

Some people find it therapeutic to write about and share their experiences of stem cell transplant, both good and bad. However, others don’t like the idea of putting themselves on public display – only share if you feel comfortable doing it.

You can try using the free versions of platforms like Blogger or WordPress, as well as writing a blog for Anthony Nolan.

For many reasons, you might not be able to return to the same job after your transplant.

Some people take this opportunity to think about what they would really like to do instead. It might involve applying your skills to a new situation, or taking some time to retrain for something totally new.

For more information on finding a new job, see our page on returning to work.