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What are the financial challenges after transplant with medicare?
Transplants | Last Active: Nov 18, 2019 | Replies (26)Comment receiving replies
@benlam11, I did not have experience any breathing issue like you describe. I was sore and it hurt to cough or take a deep breath in the early recovery. I had a device that I had to blow into to build up my breathing and clear my lungs and airways, though.
I had been fairly active as a walker and a hiker in my pretransplant time, until I became very ill at around 9 months before transplant. I never had a breathing problem before, so that could be partly why. Did you have any breathing issues or underlying condition that might be a factor here? Does this happen all the time? Does it happen when you exert yourself? What have your doctors said about it?
Lastly, After I had been on 5mg daily prednisone for 5 years, I was able to taper off of it. Then I developed a type of asthma that is defined as exercise induced asthma and it causes labored breathing for me when I exert - as when I hike uphill, It is also triggered by allergies and humidity. But that was 5 years after my transplant.
I am also a liver/kidney recipient. Did you have both at the same time? Same donor?
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I received both organs at the same time (now 5 months ago) from the same donor. I exercised 5 days a week (aqua aerobics, Yoga, Gym, etc.) and was very active. I never had any breathing issues and now it's only when I exert myself. This started with the transplant. Same as you, when I walk uphill, climb stairs,exercises, etc. it's a trigger. When I bring it up with Doctors (even at the Mayo) they just ignore it. I tapered off Prednisone, however now my white blood cell count is at a critical level (even though I feel great) and they placed me back on 5 mg of Prednisone. I'm still required to do blood work every two weeks - and may have to go back to weekly.
I received a prescription for NEUPOGEN two weeks ago, however my PART D prescription plan is a nightmare attempting to get it approved. I will sign up for a Plan next year (especially since they are doubling the price - I guess hoping that most Seniors will not notice it since they are doing it via the deductible).