You will be asked to monitor your body:
Temperature
- We ask that you take your temperature two times per day before breakfast and
dinner.
- Please record the results on your patient record sheet.
- Also take your temperature anytime you feel chilled, hot or achy. This may
be the first sign of infection/rejection. Please contact the transplant team for
any temperature greater than 100 degrees F.
Blood pressure
High blood pressure is a common problem after
transplant. Some of the medications you take can be a factor in causing an
increase in blood pressure. An increase in weight can also be a factor in
causing an increase in blood pressure. You will be monitoring and recording your
blood pressure at home. These recordings will be reviewed in the transplant
clinic. You may be required to take medication to keep your blood pressure under
control.
- You will receive or be asked to purchase a blood pressure machine before you
are discharged from the hospital. Your nurse will teach you and your family on
use of the blood pressure machine.
- We ask that you take your blood pressure in the morning before breakfast and
again in the evening before dinner. Please record the results on your patient
record sheet.
- You should notify your transplant team if your blood pressure is: systolic
(top number) and gt; 180 or and lt; 100 diastolic (bottom number) and gt; 100 or
and lt; 50
- Your blood pressure machine will also give you your pulse. You should notify
the transplant team when your pulse is and gt; 120 or and lt;
50.
Weight
- Please weigh yourself every morning after you urinate, but before you eat
and record the results on your patient record sheet.
- You should notify your transplant team for any weight gain and gt; 3 lbs. in
a 24 hr. period.
Blood sugar (diabetics only)
- If you were diabetic before transplant or have recently developed diabetes
since transplant, you will be asked to monitor your blood sugar. Please take
your blood sugar before breakfast and before dinner. Record the results on your
patient record sheet.
- You should notify the transplant team or your endocrinologist (diabetic
doctor) for blood sugars and lt;80 or and gt;350.
