WHAT IS ORGAN TRANSPLANT?
Organ transplantation is the replacing of a damaged organ with a healthy organ from another person. The organs which often get transplanted are;
- Kidney
- Liver
- Heart
- Pancreas
- Lung
- Small Intestine
WHO CAN GET A TRANSPLANT?
It’s not necessary that everyone is a good candidate for an organ transplant. It can only be assured after proper examination of the organs from the transplant centre and the doctors. Mostly if you have an infection, severe heart disease, drug and alcohol problem or any serious health issue then you might not be a good candidate for organ transplant. If your tests show that you are a good candidate, then only you will get added to the waiting list.
SUCCESS RATE OF OF TRANSPLANTS?
Nowadays transplantation are more successful than before and that too with less complications. But most of the time, the status of the transplantation depends upon; which organ is transplanted, if it’s only one organ which is transplanted or more than one (for example, you could have a heart transplant or heart and lung transplant) and the disease which affected your damaged organ.
PREPARATION FOR AN ORGAN TRANSPLANT?
The very first important thing for the transplant is that you should match with the donor. It is to check if your immune system is accepting the foreign organ as its own. If the immune system sees the organ as a foreign organ, then it will reject it. The match between you and the donor can be done through proper blood and tissue tests. The more you match with the donor, the more likely is the chance for the immune system to accept the healthy organ.
The second important thing is taking care of your health and staying in touch with the doctors regularly about your regular blood tests and the medicines. Follow the doctor’s directions towards eating healthy and suitable food and exercising. Visit your psychiatrist or licensed mental health counsellor and talk about your organ transplant, to prepare about the same. It is very important to not only preparing yourself physically but mentally also for organ transplant. Ask your doctor to share contacts who have had an organ transplant so that they can share their experiences with you.
It might happen that you have to wait for a month or a year, even more than that, so be patient.
AFTER TRANSPLANT?
After the transplant what you should do and what you shouldn’t; all depends upon the type of transplant you had, any other health issues and how your body is reacting to the new organ. You should keep on taking the medicines according to the prescription to prevent your immune system to reject the new organ. After the transplant, try to stay away from crowds and infections. Try to be in touch with psychiatrists to avoid depression as it is common after organ transplant. You may need to make some changes to your lifestyle to meet the requirement of new organ to make it more strong and healthy.
WHO CAN BE AN ORGAN DONOR?
Most people can become a donor. All that is required is just a test or even a registration, but before that you need a heart to save someone’s life.
