Lung Transplant

I had a double lung transplant in May 2022. You can read my story. What questions do you have?

Just info about the surgery, recovery period and how it improved your quality of life? Where can I read your story?

Thank you!!

I am not sure how to link you to my story, so I will give you a slight recap. I was pretty much bed ridden, on level 5 oxygen (highest level on machine that I could get insurance to pay for) and not able to eat much (down to 95lbsa). I was admitted into the hospital on 30 liters of oxygen and finally able to sit up without my oxygen level plummeting to 30. So I was in really bad condition.

I had over night surgery due to some issue with the getting the lungs even though I was notified at 7am. I woke up after the surgery when they were bringing me to my room. That day I was a bit out of it, not sure who was visiting me or the name of the nurses. They have you on meds right away due to the pain and had oxygen for just to make sure there are no issues, but only for a few hours. Then they wean you off as they give you physical therapy within a day or two of surgery and in my case I needed occupational therapy since I had been bed ridden and lost a lot of my muscles. At first I would ask for meds and then get up to walk around. Soon afterwards I didn' t need the meds anymore and would walk with anyone and then didn't need anyone to be with me. I walked whenever I got bored (which in the hospital was often).

I was in the hospital for 2 weeks after the surgery, but that is based on the person. After going back home I had the visiting nurse for a couple of weeks, occupational therapy once and physical therapy a few times. My husband and I would go for walks first just around the block and built up to 2 hours. My son and husband also bought me a treadmill for when I can't get out and walk.

It was definitely worth it for me. Although my lungs are now great, I have other issues that I need to take meds for due to the meds for the transplant.

Thank you so much for sharing. I’m glad that you’re doing better.