Transplantation

The mere sight of the word sends shivers down your spine, however, the world of transplantation today is a far cry from what it used to be. If you were to say to someone 30 years ago that you were going to have your heart and lungs transplanted, they'd have thought you were about to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act. However, since the 1980's and mainly the '90's, a heart & lungs transplant is becoming common practice, although that's still not to say it doesn't have risks.

Transplantation in people with Cystic Fibrosis is not limited to heart & lungs. PWCF have kidney, liver and pancreas transplants, and probably other types too, depending on the individual. However, the most common transplants in PWCF are for liver and heart & lungs, so we shall look at these in more depth on this website.

Most transplants and their life-cycle can be broken down into five main sections:

A) Transplant Assessment - What will happen? Tests and investigations. Information gathering. B) Before the Operation - The waiting list. Admission for transplant. C) The Operation - The operation itself and intensive care unit. D) Recovery - Building up strength. Lifetime commitment to new drug regime. Avoiding complications. E) Discharge - Getting ready to go home. Long-term follow up. Dealing with new lifestyle. Knowing limits.

Due to the sensitivity of this subject, we have decided not to provide detailed info for these sections, but instead provide our own accounts of life on the list, coping with the whole decision and for our
post-transplant friends, their experiences.

(NB: The following are personal thoughts and experiences and should not be taken as medically correct):

A) Emily - Approach For Transplant B) Gaz - Pre-transplant C) Robert - Post-transplant D) Andrew - Post-transplant Email us if you wish to add your account of transplantation, be it your choice of going on the list, your time on the waiting list, or for our post-transplant friends, an account of the recovery period and of life post-transplant.