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
The Basics
An Informal Discussion for Patients and Caregivers
The Basics
As you begin to investigate the possibility of lung transplantation, you will first explore what is involved in lung transplant, if you and your family believe a lung transplant is right for you, how the lung transplant will be financed and where the lung transplant will take place. For many people, there is no question or need for a lot of discussion about whether or not a lung transplant is a viable option. For others, extensive research and discussion is needed before a decision to pursue a lung transplant can be made. The only right decision is the one you choose for yourself and your family. A transplant coordinator shared these very wise words: “No one can tell you if a lung transplant is right for you, except you. You cannot decide to go through a lung transplant to satisfy or please anyone except yourself. You are the only one who knows if first, you want it and second, if you believe you have what it takes to go through it. As caregivers, we wear many hats. This includes being advisers and helping make important decisions; however, this is one decision that needs to be left to the individual considering a lung transplant.
It is often said that lung transplant is trading one disease for another. The disease that led to the need for a lung transplant is essentially replaced by "Lung Transplant Disease". Lung transplant is viewed as a “disease” because post transplant your health must be managed with care every day to protect the new lungs from being rejected as one would manage a disease. Additionally, lung transplant patients must be closely monitored for other illnesses that may develop because they are much more vulnerable due to the immunosuppressant medications. Some diseases affect more than just the lungs such as Cystic Fibrosis. These diseases affect the entire body. For people with Cystic Fibrosis and other diseases that affect the whole body, a lung transplant does get rid of the disease from the lungs, but does not get rid of it from the rest of the body. This leaves these people with the ongoing situation of the original disease to deal with in addition to "lung transplant disease".
Timing is crucial when being listed for a lung transplant. No one wants to go through a lung transplant until it is absolutely necessary but you also don't want to wait until you are too sick to survive. Keeping communication lines open with your lung transplant team will insure the best timing for being listed.
Duke's organ procurement team is available 24/7. They will go all over the US to procure organs for their patients. If the transplant centers in a particular region cannot use the available organs, Duke is often contacted becuase of this 24/7 procurement team. Other transplant centers do not have a team such as this available to them which limits their ability to procure organs that become available outside their region. This advanced team translates to shorter time on the waiting list. Duke consistantly does over 50 lung transplant each year.
The Duke Lung Transplant Team has resources in place for patients to utilize in order to work out the details and make the whole process of lung transplant easier for everyone involved. As you and your caregiver(s) move through the lung transplant process, you will become aware of specific needs you may have. The transplant team will be able to direct you to the right people/departments/organizations to get the help you need.
Once you have decided that a lung transplant is for you, the role of your caregiver(s) expands to encompass a broader range of responsibilities. If you have been in a caregiver role for a period of time, this transition will likely be easier for you than if you are just beginning. As a caregiver, you may need to be involved in much of the decision making process from now on. This will depend on the health status of your loved one and their needs.
It is often said that lung transplant is trading one disease for another. The disease that led to the need for a lung transplant is essentially replaced by "Lung Transplant Disease". Lung transplant is viewed as a “disease” because post transplant your health must be managed with care every day to protect the new lungs from being rejected as one would manage a disease. Additionally, lung transplant patients must be closely monitored for other illnesses that may develop because they are much more vulnerable due to the immunosuppressant medications. Some diseases affect more than just the lungs such as Cystic Fibrosis. These diseases affect the entire body. For people with Cystic Fibrosis and other diseases that affect the whole body, a lung transplant does get rid of the disease from the lungs, but does not get rid of it from the rest of the body. This leaves these people with the ongoing situation of the original disease to deal with in addition to "lung transplant disease".
Timing is crucial when being listed for a lung transplant. No one wants to go through a lung transplant until it is absolutely necessary but you also don't want to wait until you are too sick to survive. Keeping communication lines open with your lung transplant team will insure the best timing for being listed.
Duke's organ procurement team is available 24/7. They will go all over the US to procure organs for their patients. If the transplant centers in a particular region cannot use the available organs, Duke is often contacted becuase of this 24/7 procurement team. Other transplant centers do not have a team such as this available to them which limits their ability to procure organs that become available outside their region. This advanced team translates to shorter time on the waiting list. Duke consistantly does over 50 lung transplant each year.
The Duke Lung Transplant Team has resources in place for patients to utilize in order to work out the details and make the whole process of lung transplant easier for everyone involved. As you and your caregiver(s) move through the lung transplant process, you will become aware of specific needs you may have. The transplant team will be able to direct you to the right people/departments/organizations to get the help you need.
Once you have decided that a lung transplant is for you, the role of your caregiver(s) expands to encompass a broader range of responsibilities. If you have been in a caregiver role for a period of time, this transition will likely be easier for you than if you are just beginning. As a caregiver, you may need to be involved in much of the decision making process from now on. This will depend on the health status of your loved one and their needs.