After the first 3 months

If you have questions about anything listed below, or if you don’t see what you’re looking for, ask the transplant team before taking any action.

Public transportation

You can begin taking public transportation again after 6 months.

Driving

• You can drive again usually after 3 months, as long as you haven't had problems with your chest bone.
• The transplant team will evaluate whether it's safe for you to drive again. You must not be on any opiod medications, be medically stable and have normal reaction times. Pain, fatigue, breathlessness, infections and medication side effects can interfere. You should never drive if you feel any of these symptoms.
• You must get medical clearance from the transplant team before driving again. Driving without medical clearance will invalidate your insurance.
• Organ transplant history may need to be included in your licence. Ask the National Drivers License Service (NDLS) for advice.
• If you experience fits or convulsions, you must report it to the NDLS. You may need to wait up to 1 year to drive again.

Returning to work or school

Many patients can return to work or school after 6 months, but it depends on your recovery. Talk with the team before making any decisions.

Farming poses a high risk of life threatening infection after lung transplant. Patients should avoid all farm work unless specifically approved by your transplant team.

• Do not handle any livestock or poultry.
• Do not enter barns, sheds or coops.
• Avoid all contact with animal waste, manure, dust, soil, bird droppings, silage, hay, compost and grain dust.

Although pets provide companionship and psychological support, they can also be a source of bacteria, putting you at risk of infection. In general, you shouldn’t get any new pets after transplant. If you already have a pet, let the transplant team know. To reduce risk of infection:

• Keep your pets healthy. Get them wormed and vaccinated regularly. Let the veterinarian know your situation, as some pet vaccinations can pose a risk to transplant recipients.
• Keep your spaces clean and hygienic. Don’t let pets sleep on your bed. If possible, keep your pets outside. Do not clean pet cages or litter trays.
• Avoid any cross contamination. Never let pets in the kitchen, near food, or countertops where food will be eaten. Prepare your pet’s food on a separate surface with its own special utensils, keep them especially for that purpose.
• Avoid exposure to pet bacteria. Don’t let pets lick your face or wounds. Try not to touch your face after contact with your pet, and wash your hands regularly after touching pets. Don't handle litter trays, cages, or bird droppings. Don't clean out fish tanks or aquariums. If you ever make contact accidentally, wash your hands thoroughly.
• Never keep birds, reptiles, amphibians or rodents as pets. They pose too many risks.
• Avoid petting animals in a petting zoo.

You should wait 1 year after your surgery before travelling abroad. Once you’re well enough to travel:

Sexual activity

When your wounds have healed and you feel ready, you can resume sexual activity. If you experience issues with erectile dysfunction, talk to your GP for advice.

Contraceptives

Effective contraception is important after a lung transplant as an unplanned pregnancy can pose serious harm to both the baby and the patient. We usually recommend using two forms of contraception. Discuss appropriate contraception with your GP.

Planning on having children

For men

• If you’re thinking of having children, talk to your lung transplant consultant first before you make any decisions. Your medications will need to be adjusted, as they may cause birth defects.

For women

• Pregnancy puts a lot of strain on your body. You should wait at least 1 year, and until your condition is stable, before considering pregnancy.
• If you’re thinking of having children, talk to the transplant team first so you are informed about all the risks involved before making a decision. This includes risk of infection, rejection and increased risk of other pregnancy problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney problems, pre-eclampsia, or premature birth.
• If you and the transplant team decide you wish to take the risk of a pregnancy after lung transplant, they will need to make adjustments to your medications, as they may cause birth defects. For example, Mycophenolate mofetil (Mycolat, Cellcept) is highly toxic to a developing baby and must be stopped at least 6 weeks before becoming pregnant.