By the time you go home from the hospital, you already will be feeling much better. (Well, at least somewhat better.) But it takes time for your normal strength and energy to return after surgery.

How long will it take you to get back to normal? When can you return to work? What can you do -- and not do -- during the recovery period? Your situation will vary depending on whether you are a kidney or a liver donor.

KIDNEY DONOR

For a kidney donor, recovery tends to be very quick.

If you have had an open nephrectomy, your doctors will advise you to take it easy for the first 3 to 4 weeks after leaving the hospital. This means no heavy lifting, no straining (careful with housework and kids), and you should not drive a car during this period -- though riding in one is okay. Any exercise program should resume slowly.

You probably will tire easily during this first few weeks, so in general, you want to avoid overdoing things. You will have no dietary restrictions, though doctors probably will recommend that drinking plenty of water and avoiding a heavy intake of salt and protein become part of your regular diet. In four to six weeks, depending on the nature of your job, you will probably be ready to return to work.

For a kidney donor who had laparoscopic surgery, this entire recovery period will be significantly accelerated. Depending on your job, you may be ready to return to work in two to three weeks.

At one to two weeks after discharge, you will visit the transplant clinic, where laboratory tests will be conducted. Assuming that there are no unexpected complications, you will then be returned to the care of your personal physician, and your next doctor's visit should be your once-a-year physical exam.

By the time you see your doctor for that first-year physicial exam, your kidney should have expanded to its new enhanced capacity.

In addition to the customary tests associated with your annual physical, you may want to ask your physician each year to take blood tests for serum creatinine and a 24-hour urine collection for creatinine clearance and protein excretion -- just to be sure your remaining kidney is functioning flawlessly.

Otherwise, there should be no medications to take, and no restrictions on a healthy lifestyle.

LIVER DONOR

For a liver donor, recovery may tend to be a little slower than for a living kidney donor.

When you leave the hospital, you will continue to have some pain, and will want to take your pain medication so you can be up and around -- which is important to your recovery. If you live some distance from the transplant center, you probably will be asked to stay for at least a breif period in a hotel or apartment nearby so followup visits to the transplant clinic can be scheduled.

You may leave the hospital with a tube (JP drain) still in your abdomen. It will be removed during one of the followup visits.

In general, your doctors will advise you to take it easy for the first 6 to 8 weeks after leaving the hospital. This means no heavy lifting, no straining (careful with housework and kids), and you should not drive a car during this period -- though riding in one is okay. Any exercise program should resume slowly.

In eight to ten weeks, depending on the nature of your job, you will probably be ready to return to work.

By this time, the remaining portion of your liver will have growth back to full size.

As with all information provided in this site, it is offered for educational purposes only, and it is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your own physician or healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.