How can I stay healthy while waiting for a liver transplant?

The Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital encourages patients to stay as healthy as possible by managing stress, eating well, and staying active. It is important for patients to remain as well as possible during this time, so they are ready for transplant surgery as soon as a donor organ becomes available. For patients who have a living organ donor, scheduling transplant surgery can take into account the health status of the recipient as well as other factors. Patients will come to the Center for regular checkups during this waiting period. Education and support groups at the Center provide patients with tools and support to manage their stress and cope with the challenges associated with their condition. A nutritionist will provide dietary recommendations to help address the fatigue, nausea, food intolerance, fluid buildup (ascites), diarrhea, and edema that are associated with liver disease. Regular exercise at home is encouraged in order to preserve patients' endurance, strength, mobility, flexibility, and easier breathing. In living donor transplants, both donor and recipient will undergo pre-surgical testing one week prior to surgery.