Get out and do things you enjoy based on your abilities.Some examples include: United Network for Organ Sharing - UNOS, LiveOnNY and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Be cautious about your internet research – stick to reputable sites.Allow yourself to have bad days, but they don’t have to all be bad. Meditation/prayer – whatever is comfortable for you and helps to reduce stress and bring peace.Surround yourself as much as possible with your support system – family/friends/coworkers/pets.What are some things I can do to help cope with the uncertainty of this time? A positive attitude/outlook will get you through it. You’re not alone, many people have gone through the process.Talk with your doctor about the potential for medication to help with these feelings. It’s normal to feel depressed, overwhelmed, and stressed.What is the emotional experience of someone going through the transplant process? Be sensitive to the other patients around you.There may be a wait based on the needs of the patients scheduled ahead of you. Your appointment guarantees you to see your doctor that day but may not necessarily be at the exact scheduled time.There are a lot of patients in addition to you that need many appointments and tests scheduled, and some of these tests are only scheduled on certain days/times. Prepare to be flexible with appointment/testing dates.Take notes during the appointment, and never be afraid to ask any questions that come up.Consider having a notebook/binder specifically for your Columbia lung transplant visits. Come with questions written down to ask your doctor/coordinator.Also, it is always helpful to have 2 or more people listen to what the doctor/coordinator has to say so that the chance of missing any information is reduced.Your caregiver may notice things about your health that you may not. Always be sure to have a caregiver accompany you to pretransplant visits.How can I prepare for my visits to the Transplant Program? For CF patients, only support people are allowed to attend in-person seminars due to CF Foundation guidelines. Your lung transplant program offers these seminars and they can be either virtual or in-person. Attend as many educational seminars as possible.Try to avoid being around people who are ill.Keep and attend all doctor’s appointments.Keep up with your current medical treatments.*On days you don’t feel like exercising, are the days you need it the most* Exercising – especially in a pulmonary rehab program, doing whatever you can physically – leg lifts in bed, etc.Work with your referral center to make sure all records are being sent to Columbia.Make sure to report any physical/emotional changes by keeping in close contact with your pre-transplant coordinator.Once you've read this important guide on lung transplant success, please remember to fill out your assessment so that we can evaluate your understanding of these materials.įill Out Your Assessment What do I do now that I have been referred for lung transplant?
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