Welcome to Duke Lung Transplant Friends
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Diane Detmer
Website designed, published and maintained by Diane Detmer
Contact Webmaster: dinki@charter.net
Diane Detmer
Website designed, published and maintained by Diane Detmer
Contact Webmaster: dinki@charter.net
Duke Lung Transplant Patient Guide Review
An Informal Discussion for Patients and Caregivers
Be Prepared
An Informal Discussion for Patients and Caregivers
Be Prepared
Once the transplant evaluation is completed and you have been accepted into the Duke Lung Transplant Program/Listed, preparations need to be made.
Some patients may need to relocate to Durham temporarily. Plans for housing need to be made. The Duke Lung Transplant Guide has a list of local hotels and apartments in the area. Additionally, Duke patients have made several recommendations about their favorite places to stay. While in Durham for the transplant evaluation is a good time to visit several apartment complexes and hotels to determine what situation works best for you. As explained in the Duke Lung Transplant Guide you will need to stay in Durham for about three months after the transplant so that you can complete the post transplant Rehab program. Many apartment complexes have short term (3 month) leases that can be converted to a month to month contract if you need to stay longer. It is not uncommon to have to stay in Durham six months or longer. Patients and caregivers need to have a flexible mindset in this area because each patients situation is different.
Participation in the post transpant rehab program is essential to your recovery from transplant. During this time patients are required to complete 23 sessions post transplant. Because of clinic appointments and other procedures or testing, some rehab sessions will be missed. It is not uncommon to have to go back into the hospital post transplant for various reasons (rejection/infection, other issues). This extends your stay in Durham which can be frustrating. Sometimes patients may need to have more rehab post transplant than the required 23 sessions which will also extend your stay in Durham. Again, flexibility is key; along with good planning.
There is a questionaire in the Duke Lung Transplant Guide to help you and your family prepare for your time in Durham. This is a very useful tool to begin making your plan. Use Ellen Stone's expertise to help finalize your plan. Don't be afraid or hesitant to ask questions. There are resources you can use to make your time in Durham easier. Planning is important for everyone involved. Ask Ellen about other resources are available to patients.
The Duke Lung Transpant Guide also explains that when you are called to come to the hospital for your transplant that you must be there in two hours and you should have a plan in place as to how you are going to get to the hospital in a timely manner. Note: - When you move to Durham, take time to purchase a couple of booklets of parking passes; either in the hospital gift shop or at the Private Diagnostic Clinic. This will save a great deal of money if you use the parking garage frequently and stay overnight. Additionally, depending on where you stay while in Durham, shuttles are available to take you back and forth to the hospital, clinic and rehab - free.
Some patients may need to relocate to Durham temporarily. Plans for housing need to be made. The Duke Lung Transplant Guide has a list of local hotels and apartments in the area. Additionally, Duke patients have made several recommendations about their favorite places to stay. While in Durham for the transplant evaluation is a good time to visit several apartment complexes and hotels to determine what situation works best for you. As explained in the Duke Lung Transplant Guide you will need to stay in Durham for about three months after the transplant so that you can complete the post transplant Rehab program. Many apartment complexes have short term (3 month) leases that can be converted to a month to month contract if you need to stay longer. It is not uncommon to have to stay in Durham six months or longer. Patients and caregivers need to have a flexible mindset in this area because each patients situation is different.
Participation in the post transpant rehab program is essential to your recovery from transplant. During this time patients are required to complete 23 sessions post transplant. Because of clinic appointments and other procedures or testing, some rehab sessions will be missed. It is not uncommon to have to go back into the hospital post transplant for various reasons (rejection/infection, other issues). This extends your stay in Durham which can be frustrating. Sometimes patients may need to have more rehab post transplant than the required 23 sessions which will also extend your stay in Durham. Again, flexibility is key; along with good planning.
There is a questionaire in the Duke Lung Transplant Guide to help you and your family prepare for your time in Durham. This is a very useful tool to begin making your plan. Use Ellen Stone's expertise to help finalize your plan. Don't be afraid or hesitant to ask questions. There are resources you can use to make your time in Durham easier. Planning is important for everyone involved. Ask Ellen about other resources are available to patients.
The Duke Lung Transpant Guide also explains that when you are called to come to the hospital for your transplant that you must be there in two hours and you should have a plan in place as to how you are going to get to the hospital in a timely manner. Note: - When you move to Durham, take time to purchase a couple of booklets of parking passes; either in the hospital gift shop or at the Private Diagnostic Clinic. This will save a great deal of money if you use the parking garage frequently and stay overnight. Additionally, depending on where you stay while in Durham, shuttles are available to take you back and forth to the hospital, clinic and rehab - free.