Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

The most popular question is:-

 

“Did it hurt?”

Of course it hurt have you ever had a tiny cut in your finger? Did that hurt? So if you are cut in half it is going to hurt!

 

Were you frightened?

Yes I was the prospect of major surgery is very frightening, you wonder if you will survive, but I did!

 

Was it worth it?

Yes for me it was worth it pre –transplant I had very little quality to life with very little prospect of surviving a year I felt I had no option left to me other than transplant.

 

What does it feel like to have someone else’s lungs inside you?

It is a strange feeling just knowing that you have someone else’s lungs inside you but after a while you take it for granted.

 

Do you know who the donor was?

I new it was an eighteen year old male from Cork in Southern Ireland but know no further details

 

Have you contacted the donors’ relatives?

No I have not contacted the donors’ relatives as I feel pangs of guilt at having such a young donors lungs.

 

Do you still need oxygen?

No the need for oxygen ended shortly after transplant.

 

Do you have to take pills for the rest of your life?

Yes I will always have to take pills to stave off rejection, but these are minimal now, and it is a small price to have to pay.

 

Are survival rates good?

Survival rates are pretty good and improving all the time.

 

When do you know that you need a transplant?

Usually when your lung function has dropped to below around 15% of predicted and you will probably be on oxygen 24/7 by this time you will realise that a lung transplant is the only option left open to you.