Continuing on with this little series, I wanted to write about a familiar and all too well known part of life for transplant recipients: The Clinic Visit:

Currently, I am 24 years old and live in a suburb in the North-West Sydney 20km from the CBD. Being a paediatric patient, meant I received all my treatment since I was a child at the closest children’s hospital to where I stayed. This was in the inner west of Sydney in a suburb called Ryde. As I turned 18 I transitioned to the attached adult hospital.

Currently, I receive all my treatment from the Nephrology/Transplant team at Westmead Hospital. I am very fortunate to be able to be looked after by such an amazing group of people including doctors, nurses, secretaries and help staff.

When managing clinic visits first and foremost choose a clinic that is close-by if possible and easily accessibly. While this clinic is amazing my only criticism is due to having moved houses accessibility by public transport does make it tricky, and I often have to reply on my parents to take me to the doctors or I have to brace public transport.

Hence choose a hospital or dialysis centre for frequent treatment that is easily accessibly by yourself using public transport – research and ask important questions such as:

How does the train trip work to the hospital?

Is there many changeovers and waiting times, will there be places to sit and rest at the station and the train?

Are the stations accessible/do they have lifts/can you call ahead and let them know if you are on dialysis and may need assistance.

Is the station a distance from the main entrance which is manageable to walk? Will you be able to do this with a bag?

Will you be able to brace the train in rain and wet weather?

Recommendations:

If you are a patient on dialysis, dialyse at a local dialysis centre near your home or your local hospital. Check if this is possible and then you will only need to come in to see a ‘specialist’ at the major practicing hospital once every three months.

Choose hospitals which are public and have train stations or public transport facilities close by.

Use UBER! When things get just too much, always keep a transport budget set aside. I cannot stress this enough. In case of emergency, make sure your hospital is also within an ‘affordable’ taxi distance – ie. if you use Uber or taxi – make sure your hospital is within your maximum transport ‘budget’ (so if your budget is $30 – choose a hospital approx 12km within distance)

The night before: (Transplant Patients)

Have your medications on TIME

Allow for a 12 hour gap for medicines so you can get an accurate reading the next morning.

Drink 1-2 Litres of water, so that when creatinine is measured, it is lowered.

Have a low salt, low fat and bland diet. Your body will thank you the next day.

Something like this is perfect!

IMPORTANT: Sleep early if possible Avoid any situations which may cause stress or emotional turmoil, as you do NOT want to wake up feeling stressed, puffy and bloated.

Getting Ready

Before the clinic visit, make sure you are fully prepared. It is similar to a school test – it is a medical test. Pack your bags, keep your outfit ready, and have meals planned out and ready to go. The next day will be crazy and you will not be able to be 100%. Be ready beforehand to avoid as much stress as possible.

Have a go to ‘hospital bag’ ready. This will be your bag that will always hold necessary items. I recommend ALWAYS carrying these items in a hospital due to the unpredictable nature of clinics.

• OTC and prescription pain medicines – many times doctors are not available and when travelling after clinic you may get a migraine
• Extra set of daily medicines* — If you are doing tacrolimus levels make sure to keep extra amounts of tacrolimus in your bag
• Tissues or flushable toilet wipes – when using the hospital bathroom
• Hand sanitiser
• Lip balm
• iPhone Charger and Cord
• Wallet
• Crackers/Muesli Bar
• Water Bottle
• Pads/Tampons
• Emesis Bag – You may be asked to start treatment on the day, and have reactions to drugs. In case a sick bag is not around in the instant you need it this will help you avoid messy situations
• Small plastic notebook – A5 or smaller to quickly keep scrips and other paper bits

Outfit: Wear loose/stretchy clothes without buttons, metal or jeans. You may be asked to undress or remove clothes, do swabs or unpleasant experiences and easy clothing just makes the whole process slightly less painful.

Something like this is perfect – you are dressed up enough to go out in public but can still move around and wait comfortably for a while.

Next remember to keep questions for the doctor ready – either in a notebook, written down or in your phone – or (if your mum is there like mine usually is she usually asks LOL)

This will help clarify all major concerns and helps you to remember if you need any extra scripts

Breakfast: Have a heavy breakfast if possibly as you will be asked to wait – If also possible prepare part of your breakast the night before as you will be rushed in the morning. Breakfast idea options include:

• Soak overnight oats/muesli, and keep 2 boiled eggs ready – You will only have to make a cup of tea or coffee and some toast if need be.
• Avocado Mix mashed up the night before
• Sausages grilled and reheated accompanied with cereal

Something like this – but with overnight oats

Doing this avoids the need to get up early and rush around the kitchen if you have to be in the clinic by 8-9 am and if you have to brace traffic. You may be rushed and it is a horrible feeling be hungry in the morning int he car and then waiting in the hospital.

If you are going on a designated clinic day ask for a later appointment. When visiting clinic ask if it is possible to visit between to 12-1 pm. This is after the main morning rush is over, and during lunchtime. Most doctors have finished their meetings or can quickly pop in to see you. If possible visit the hospital a day or two in advance and do bloods. This helps doctors have bloods ready when they examine you.

Going Home:

If possible buy 1-2 meals from the hospital cafe: I recommend something low carb i.e. chicken and vegetables and something with fish or salad. Going home may take time and you will not know the state of your fridge and your energy level by the time you get back. You will also not know the amount of time you will need to wait at clinic.

Ensure you have a meal ready for when you go back home – this ensures you are not starving and standing for a long time while you are exhausted. Being prepared for the ‘post hospital crash’ is always helpful.

Thats it! 🙂 Hope you survived the clinic day!

Get some much needed rest, cozy on up in beg with some much needed tea or a glass of juice, and a sandwich watch some Netflix and sleep it off!

All the best for all those battling chronic illness and pain out there!

xxxx

Ria