Heart Transplant Process: What do we need to know?

@sjordan615, Your story demonstrates the fact that the word "Journey" is what organ transplant is all about. The before/during/after are a part of our experience.
It is great to hear that you are making progress while learning about your body and how to achieve your goals!

@rosemarya It is indeed a journey...but oh so worth it!

@my44, I have a feeling that you have been on a powerful transplant journey. I want to invite you to share your story - your journey. I started this group several years ago as a place to collect our stories.
Here isthe link:
- Organ Donation and Transplant: What is Your story?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/organ-donation-and-transplant-what-is-your-story/

My44, please let me know if you have any questions.

@rosemarya
Thanks for the invite. Will do.

@christyhamm, how are you and your husband doing? How are things going with evaluation and getting on the list? Got more questions as you walk this path?

My daughter had a heart transplant when she was 22. That heart lasted for 17 years before she died. It was a good and sometimes hard journey. You should be seeing a transplant team to be evaluated and they will follow you very closely doing labs and check-ups. You and your family will also be evaluated by a hospital social worker and the doctors you are dealing with although you may not be aware of it. A transplant is NOT an easy thing for anyone, patient or family, to go through emotionly. I remember when I was walking across the street to the hospital after my daughter's transplant, I was having such bad chest pain that I had to stop walking, I barely made it to the sidewalk! I had to have a cath done. My arteries were in perfect shape, but my stress level was over the top and I worked in the cardiology field!. It is always better to be a functioning patient when you get the call for the transplant rather than being bedridden. Understand that a transplant is not a cure for heart disease, with luck and good medical care it can certainly prolong life. The life after a transplant is definately a strict one; be prepared for that. You are not getting away from the doctors, hospital and lab visits all of the biopies, especially in the beginning. Medicines have to be given on their schedules, not when you get around to it because you feel good and want to go fishing for the day. At the time of my daughter's transplant, if you missed ONE dose of a certain medicine, you had to go to the ER and get it through the IV. It's a strict life. Transplant hearts do not last forever because the transplanted heart starts to develop what is called a vasculopathy as soon as the heart is transplanted. The transplant team will take care of all of that and treat your husband for all of that. If I can help you any further, don't hesitate to contact me. Take care. 🙂