If you are preparing for a lung transplant or have recently had one, it’s natural to feel both hopeful and uncertain about what comes next. Fortunately, most patients experience a significant improvement in quality of life after their transplant. By following your care and plan and making a few lifestyle changes, you can help your new lungs thrive and get back to doing the things you love.
Recovering at Home
After their hospital stay, most patients continue their recovery at home. Your body needs time to heal, so give yourself grace and accept help when you need it.
Here are some important steps to support your recovery:
- Have 24/7 support. Try to plan for more than one caregiver to help during the first few months.
- Protect your incision. Avoid driving or lifting anything heavier than five pounds until your transplant team says it’s safe to do so.
- Try to prevent infections of any kind. Avoid being around people who are sick. When you leave home, wear a mask and wash your hands often.
- Keep your incision clean and dry. Follow your transplant team’s instructions for bathing.
- Participate in your pulmonary rehabilitation program. UofL Health – Frazier Rehabilitation Institute offers a nationally certified program designed to help patients with chronic lung disease or those who have undergone a procedure for a lung transplant or lung cancer care rebuild strength, improve lung function and regain independence.
- Exercise safely. Follow your transplant team’s specific recommendations. Avoid movements that strain your chest or incision site.
Notify your transplant team immediately if you develop any of the following symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing
- Fever
- Pain around your incision site
- Blood or fluid leaking from your incision
- Redness or swelling of the incision
Avoiding Transplant Complications
It is crucial to avoid organ rejection and infection after your lung transplant, especially in the first few months.
Follow-Up Visits and Testing
You’ll have regular follow-up appointments so your team can check how well your lungs are working. Tests may include:
- Lung tissue biopsy
- Bronchoscopy
- Chest X-ray
- Electrocardiogram
- Pulmonary function tests
- Blood tests
Medications
The main way to avoid your body rejecting your new lung is to take immunosuppressant (anti-rejection) medications. Your transplant team will monitor your medication dosage and adjust it as needed. If you do develop rejection, you can receive additional immunosuppression treatments.
Monitoring at Home
Use a pulse oximeter (a device that can be put on your finger to check your oxygen levels) and a spirometer (a device you can breathe into to test your lung function) as directed. Contact your transplant team immediately if you experience:
- Decrease in oxygen level or spirometry values
- Chest pain
- Persistent cough, fever or fatigue
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling
- Tenderness around your incision site
- Flu-like symptoms
- Unexpected changes in weight
Preventing Infections
Anti-rejection medications weaken your immune system, which may make it more likely for you to develop infections. As a result, you will likely be prescribed antimicrobial medications to prevent infection. Your medical team will also monitor you during follow-up appointments to check for osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.
In addition to staying away from people who are sick and wearing a mask in crowded places, you can take the following precautions to keep yourself healthy:
- Do not drink or eat papaya, pomegranate or grapefruit in juice or fruit form, since these fruits can affect how your medications work.
- Do not use marijuana or other drugs containing tetrahydrocannabinol, since these can affect how your medications work.
- Do not take ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs since they can damage your kidneys when you are on your anti-rejection medications.
- Do not start taking any supplements or over-the-counter medication unless you discuss it with your transplant team, since supplements and medications can interact in different ways with your anti-rejection medications.
- Even if you get side effects from any medication, do not stop taking your medication without talking with your transplant team.
- Do not store any medication in your bathroom. Keep your medications away from moisture and heat.
- Set reminders on your phone to take your medication, so you won’t miss a dose.
Other Tips to Keep Yourself Healthy Post-Transplant
Your transplant gives you a second chance at life. Protect it by forming healthy habits and lifestyle changes.
- Get regular, age-appropriate cancer screenings.
- Use sunscreen and wear protective clothing outdoors.
- See a dermatologist regularly, as skin cancer is the most common type seen after a lung transplant.
- Eat a balanced diet and follow the plan provided by your transplant dietitian.
- Avoid drinking alcohol.
- Do not smoke and stay away from smoke.
- Exercise regularly as directed by your care team.
- Be careful around certain pets, such as birds, reptiles, turtles and exotic pets, as they can carry germs that are risky for transplant patients. If you have cats, have someone else clean the litter box.
- Take care of your mental health. It may be helpful to see a therapist to deal with depression, guilt, frustration or anxiety.
UofL Health is Here for You
UofL Health – Trager Transplant Center has a team of experts ready to support you through every step of your lung transplant journey. As the region’s preferred provider for transplant care, we make it our mission to improve and save lives. Our lung transplant program is the first and oldest in the commonwealth, and we continue to build on this legacy to help you breathe easier.
If you have questions about our program or would like a second opinion, call 502-587-4384.
