This is the stage that can be the most strenuous on your body as it struggles to cope with the changes it is experiencing. Although it is a great milestone to complete the transplant there is often a period of several months of recovery which can be extremely taxing and painful for the recipient. Everybody will react differently to the changes so there is no set time scale for a full recovery and it is unwise to compare your own recovery with that of somebody else.

Your immune system will not function properly after the treatment so at this point you will be at risk of developing serious infections which can harm your recovery and are very difficult to treat. Having a very clean home is a necessity to help minimise these risks. Take extra precautions to help avoid infection as this is the most dangerous period for your body.

After the transplant you will also feel more fatigued than normal and this should be expected. Your traditional activities may have to be amended or curtailed somewhat to help cope with this fatigue and to prevent exacerbating any discomfort you are feeling.

It is also important to seek support from those around you as the rehabilitation period is not a time to suffer in silence. Many recipients of transplants will suffer mentally and emotionally as well as physically. Often recipients suffer from temporary memory loss which can make them feel uncertain to their surroundings. Relying on family and friends can help boost the physical healing by ensuring the emotional and mental side of things are more balanced.