General
Post liver-tx help requirements
February 3, 2026
in General
My coordinator mentioned last week that having somebody available 24/7 post-tx was a condition required to proceed with the tx (my wife is the living donor for me). We will have help, but we are wondering if it is really necessary 24/7?
We plan on getting a home health aide. Our insurance stated it’s a covered benefit, the doctor just has to request it. I’m sure our copayment and deductible will be maxed out after the sugery, at that point the ins. covers 100% for the rest of the year.
Why would the coordinator care? We are the ones paying for it.
what has your experience been?
Also looking for opinions on assistive devices for pulling, sitting, and standing up, like a trapeze.
1 - 6 of 6 Other Answers
Welcome! I’m a New Post Liver myself, bear with me please.
long before I had my procedure they had a few wellness coaches ask me about “Home” if I would have help and what the layout was. I assume mentioning to you 24/7 care was to cover their bases cause I wasn’t offered that except a phone call.
I’m literally paying for it through the nose since my surgery and I’m in financial hell dealing with aid through the State. My surgery was well over a month ago and I’m still “Pending”…yeah
the only devices I was offered by them was a walker & shower chair but they reimburse you after you initially pay for it. Only struggle I personally had at home was getting up from laying down but I rolled onto my side and pushed up.
I don’t know what your personal situation is and I don’t want to pry my friend, there are good people here, I saw your post when I was checking messages.
Someone to assist at home after release from the hospital is 100% needed. The patient is weak, not overly mobile at first, has to eat, needs help with meds, getting to the Doc/hospital for blood tests, etc. That help is needed for a time. 1 month or so at least.
I don't know if the Coordinator would have cared if my care taker was a family, friend, or a paid someone. Not sure what difference it would make.
I didn't use any mobility aid (cane, walker, etc.). After the first week I was roaming the hospital floor, riding the elevator to sit outside briefly, and down to the cafeteria escorted by my wife. After week 2 I was released from hospital, and got on/off a bus (very slowly!!). Just go slow, be careful, use handrails, stand up erect and walk like a person. I did it and I encouraged others to do the same. Maybe I was the exception, but I was 52 years old and in fair shape pre-transplant. An older or weaker person might need something extra.
Hello my Name is Matt, 55 yrs old, 5 years since liver/kidney.
All the hard work is done once you get home. These cautions are for monitoring if there are significant issues post transplant. I had 1 er trip after getting blood work for like potassium.
Get blood work as frequent as possible, at least weekly so you you can catch any trends. I still opt for every 3 months bloodwork and I've been 100% stable since that 1 post transplant ER visit.
Much of what I was told was clearly for legal liability and not so much for my personal health result.
Blood work is our friend
I think having even just someone else to communicate to is helpful. I had my husband first, but I also asked my mother and mother-in-law to help me recover. Recovery is different for everyone, but I slept. A lot. If you and your wife are healing together (beautiful, btw), it may be wise to have someone to assist you both. Home health aides, yes, but maybe someone like a family member or friend.
My husband was amazing, but he needed someone to support him, too.
Transplant Patient
I’m in Canada so we might be different over here but I was never told I needed someone with me 24/7. I was asked multiple times what support I had at home, and I definitely utilized it. My partner and my mom both traded off being there and helping with things since I was essentially useless and just slept all the time for the first while. So having someone else to help with making sure I was fed and got to appointments on time was a huge blessing. I also couldn’t do things like wash my own hair or drive so I needed someone handling that part of it. I do know people who did it without a live in caregiver but I personally wouldn’t try it. Transplant surgery is major and having people to support even just in the day to day basic tasks makes a huge difference.
Hello,
I'm 53, and I just turned 3 YR LT.
Yes, definitely needed to have someone at home to help you.
I had my husband helping me, and the hardest part was getting out of bed or going to the bathroom. I was in the hospital for 2 months after my surgery, so it's hard to say how it would be at home for the first couple of weeks.
But even after 2 months, I had a really hard time getting out of bed without some support.