Benefits and risks of a Heart / Lung Transplant
An organ transplant is an opportunity to extend your life. There is potential for you to feel renewed wellness. However, your well being and lifestyle will not necessarily return to how it was before your heart and or lung related illness.
You will need to adjust to a new normal.
What are the pros and cons of a heart transplant?
An organ transplant is an opportunity to extend your life. It offers relief from chronic heart/lung conditions and the symptoms and debility associated with end stage heart / lung (respiratory) failure. There is potential for you to feel renewed wellness and to begin work and activities you may not have been able to do for a while with a dodgy ticker or set of pipes. On the flip side your well being and lifestyle will not necessarily return to how it was before your heart / lung related illness. You will need to adjust to a new normal.
Heart / Lung Transplant can be inappropriate for some patients. In this case alternative medications and therapies may improve quality of life and longevity without the risk of transplant.
Quality of life after heart transplant
When you are faced with end stage organ failure and have the opportunity to have a life saving organ transplant you will have many questions and concerns about what to expect. You may have questions about success rates, longevity, quality of life and many more. The fact is each person has a different journey than others and so we all need to weigh up the Pros and Cons of an organ transplant. I have met people post transplant who have never looked back while others have enormous challenges to overcome.
Post Transplant considerations you may need to weigh up include:
You will need to be on anti-rejection medication for life. Can you commit to a strict regime of taking every tablet for life?
Home monitoring is a daily requirement. You are required to collect your daily weight, pulse, blood pressure, and temperature. You will also need to self-monitor for swelling (ankles, abdomen) and signs of infection and or rejection
The anti-rejection medications have many possible side effects. Long term the medications increase your potential risk of cancers, organ failure, eyesight issues (cataracts), risk of infections, diabetes and osteoporosis to name a few.
Post transplant you will need to have regular heart biopsies or lung bronchoscopes, Chest X Ray, CT Scans, and Cardiac or chest MRI.
Are you prepared to commit to a healthy lifestyle with a focus on diet and exercise, free from drugs, smoking and excessive drinking?
Are you prepared to commit to long term health screening including:
Cancers (Breast, Cervical, Skin, Bowel, Prostate)
Ophthalmology
Diabetes
Osteoporosis (Bone Mineral Density Scans
Post Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disease (PTLD)
Dental examination and care
Pets:
Eight days after transplant, I was told that I must rehome my 6 year old, hand raised pineapple conure parrot, Elvy, due to the risk of a variety of infections carried by birds. If you have pets, you will need to be extra vigilant with keeping pets, their beds, litter trays, and toys clean. Reducing pet hair with regular grooming is advised. Hand washing and personal hygiene is important to prevent infections and cross contamination.
Transplant Support:
The above list may seem daunting. To be real, the whole idea of choosing between death and an organ transplant is daunting. I have found that it is better to be informed and prepared. It is important to remember, this is a process that is a long game. It doesn’t all happen at once. There is always excellent support from your transplant team and your loved ones along the way.
Future posts will expand on this list in more detail. If you would like to read more about a particular issue please leave a comment below.
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