There is great mystery and contemplation about where you may sit on the waiting list for transplant in terms of your priority. The reality is your place on the list fluctuates up and down.
What To Expect On The Heart Transplant Waiting List?
While you are on the Active Waiting List for Transplant you will need to continue monthly blood screenings as described in an earlier post. The transplant team will need to be able to contact you 24/7 and they will need to know if you are planning to travel, for how long and where.
The team prefers you to stay in the state while on the list and requires you to ideally not travel interstate for 6 months or internationally for 12 months post transplant. If you have to travel the team will negotiate terms and refer you to the closest Transplant hospital to your travel destination. The Transplant Team prefers you to notify your transplant coordinator if you are admitted to hospital and if your weight changes significantly (5Kg).
A carer (or carers) will need to be on hand to transport you to hospital for transplant when the time arrives. You will rely heavily on your carer/s throughout recovery and multiple hospital visits.
Heart / Lung Transplant: Priority Waiting List
There is great mystery and contemplation about where you may sit on the waiting list for transplant in terms of your priority. The reality is your place on the list fluctuates up and down. When a viable donor organ becomes available blood type, gender, weight and height cross matching happens to determine potential recipients. The most critical in need will be considered the priority from the potential recipients.
After the transplant, a transplant coordinator told me that there are more males requiring heart transplants than females. Height and weight cross matching is important. A donor heart from a large man is not suitable for a woman as it may potentially “blow out the lungs”. A donated heart from a petite woman would not sufficiently circulate enough blood around a large man/recipient. Generally smaller framed women are more likely to receive a heart faster than solid large adult men.
In May 2023, I was gratefully listed for transplant. I received my brave new heart, Wednesday on a Wednesday, only 18 days after achieving the Active List.
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