Mr. Owl: How many tune-up's in one year does it take, to get to the center of a Transplant?

1, 2...3...?



There is no set formula...but here are 4 of the basics that I understand thus far:

1. They start talking transplant when fev's are at 35% for women, and it's urgent when they reach 25%


2. When the patient has a quicker-than-normal turn-around time, based on fev's, and has many return visits within a year.


3. Patient isn't responding to the antibiotics


4. Co2 levels causing a compromise in heart function

Let's compare my stats based on the above:

1. My fev's have been in the low 30's for about a year now


2. Based on my fev's, I should need a tune-up about every 6 months, however, I have been needing one every 4-5 months for the past year


3. I'm still responding to the antibiotics that I'm given, however now that I'm there more frequently, the antibiotics are routinely rotated, to prevent resistence. Also, I do not experience allergic reactions to the antibiotics, thus, good news on this level


4. The results of the echo done on my heart in August 2008 revealed

Bottom line - I'm getting closer to "the talk".

But - a transplant is no Panacea. Here are things to keep in mind:

1. The patient still has Cystic Fibrosis; they simply are given a healthy set of lungs to start over with


2. The "bugs" previously infecting the patient's lungs, also live in the sinuses and throat, thus, lung infections are possible, even from the beginning


3. Transplant drugs are hard on the kidneys; I have heard of one patient also needing a kidney transplant a few years later


4. Statistics from UNOS.org (United Network for Organ Sharing)

Patient Survival Rates from UNOS.org (United Network for Organ Sharing)


(This entry is a work in progress....To be continued)....