You might have to travel (and stick around) to get a lung transplant.Ĭenters that perform lung transplants are located throughout the country, but it's possible you’ll have to travel to get to your transplant center. You can visit our Support and Community section to find in-person support groups, join online communities and talk with Lung HelpLine counselors. Set up your environment pre-surgery to make it easy for you to access the things you enjoy doing." Listening to certain music, watching your favorite movie, folding laundry. "Adjust the way you do things so that they continue to be safe while you recover. Transplant requires close follow-up and it can take time to return to your normal day-to-day activities," she says. "Be patient with yourself, and the process. Blanton recommends connecting with your support network (e.g., a peer who has gone through transplant, support groups, psychotherapists, faith community) and talking with your doctor about exploring medications if that feels right. "If you believe you are experiencing depression or anxiety, or have a history of either, it is important to begin treating it now to set a foundation for positive coping throughout the transplant journey," says Caryn Blanton, MSW, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker at Rush University Medical Center. It’s not uncommon to experience symptoms of depression or anxiety. Often patients preparing for transplant have either been living with a chronic condition for quite some time or have been diagnosed with a serious illness. While every patient's recovery time is unique, being physically healthy enough to undergo a transplant is a key factor. The stronger you are, the faster you will recover." "I went to rehab and walked on a treadmill up until the day I got the call. "It may seem crazy to say this as you are sick and fighting for your life, but exercise as much as you can, stay as fit as you can," says Cooke, who underwent his transplant in 2011. I believe it was easier on me then it was on them!" You must be in the best shape you can be going into your transplant. I know it took a toll on my wife and kids. This is a battle you cannot do on your own. DeCamp.įor Randy Cooke, an idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patient and double lung transplant recipient, having a great support team is a must. "Keeping a positive attitude may be challenging at times so having a team of devoted family and friends is critical to success," says Dr. Your family and friends can help you get to all your appointments and help you stay focused throughout the process on your shared goal of improving your lung health. After the transplant, routine visits begin weekly to monitor you and your new lungs and are spaced out over time. DeCamp explains that there will be frequent visits to your transplant center during the evaluation phase and while on the waiting list to ensure you are first eligible for the transplant and then to ensure that you remain eligible. Malcom DeCamp, chair of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and professor of surgery at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.ĭr. "Anyone contemplating lung transplantation needs good support from a network of family and friends," says. Now is the time to enlist the help of your family and friends. Below are things to consider when you’re thinking about a lung transplant. It’s a major operation that has major risks, and there are some considerations before and after that might not be top of mind. Once approved, they are placed on a waiting list, followed, hopefully, by transplant surgery and life after surgery ( see the five steps to lung transplant). Before receiving a lung transplant, potential recipients need to go through a process that includes evaluation and scoring. It's a treatment option that can improve quality of life-e.g., your ability to breathe and be active-for people who have severe or advanced chronic lung conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis and pulmonary fibrosis. A lung transplant is a surgery to replace diseased lungs with healthy lungs.
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