Lung Transplants sound sucky....
Well, I had a meeting with the transplant people today. I have no desire to have one anymore, that's for sure. I had this idea that they would say to me that I'm not even a candidate - I'm not sick enough yet to need it. But they didn't say that. I was really surprised not to hear that. They told me that my lungs function at less than 60% (I knew that) and that of that function, only 25% functioned 'normally', which explains why I have no 'reserve' and lose my breath so quickly. However, of the patients who make it off the operating table, 10% die in the first year, 50% by 5 years and you live, at the most, maybe 15-20 years (if you're really lucky) if it really works for you. I am not ready to say I want to die, for sure, before I even really hit retirement age. I was completely shocked. I guess I, you know, figured you get a new lung, you breathe properly again (you only get one) and you live your normal life - until the ripe old age of 80-something! Not 60! Come on! Who thinks that is good news? Maybe some 80 year old woman would find that good odds, but I don't. And I have two roadblocks to even make it on the list, should I decide to pull that trigger, first off, I have to lose weight (SHOCKING! hahaha) and I am allergic to two of the medications they give you after the transplant. One of them made me violently ill and the second one attacked my liver. So the doctor said that's something they have to consider. Whatever, I'm going back into my little bubble (which needs to shrink - haha) and putting my fingers in my ears and believing it's all going to miraculously sort itself out.
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I\'m so sorry today\'s meeting wasn\'t what you expected and put even more on your plate to think about(like you didn\'t already have enough). The one thing is that you are NOT a statistic and we\'ve all beaten them more than once. Even the drug companies have to tell you every side effect that may happen though many don\'t experience any of them or just a few of the minor ones.They always have to give the worst case scenerio to protect themselves and I understand that. I guess what I\'m trying to say is that it\'s a lot to take in at one time and no matter what you decide, you have not only my prayers, but all of those that are on this site . Take time to think about it and when you decide to come out of your little bubble, let me know how everything is:)
Blessings,
Kim