The Lung Transplant Waiting List

The Lung Transplant Waiting List (I made the List)

You will be placed on the lung transplant waiting list after we complete your evaluation and after your insurance approves your transplant. We will send you a letter stating that you have been added to the list.
Your name, blood type, body size and test results will go into a national database at UNOS (the United Network for Organ Sharing). UNOS directs who can receive deceased (non-living) donor organs throughout the United States.You will receive a “lung allocation score.” This score shows how serious your medical condition is. Scores can range from 0 to 100. Most patients on the waiting list have scores between 30 and 60. Patients with the highest scores move toward the top of the waiting list.You must return to the Transplant Center at least every six months to repeat certain tests. We will use you test results to update your score. If you don’t have the tests, your score may go down to 0.The amount of time you will wait for an organ depends on your score, blood type and body size. You may wait a few days, several months or even years.Your donor Your new organs will be “matched” according to size and blood type. They must fit into the body about the same as the original organs.There are two types of donors – deceased donors and living donors.Deceased donors Deceased donors are people whose organs are donated soon after they die.You will not be given personal details about your deceased donor. If you and your family wish to express your thanks, you may write a letter to the donor’s family. Do not include your name or other personal details. Your nurse coordinator will forward your latter to the donor’s family through LifeSource, our local agency that handles organ donation.There is very small risk of getting a disease form a deceased donor (such as HIV or hepatitis). All donors are tested for disease, but some diseases may not show up at the time of testing.Living donors The waiting time or organs from deceased donors can be long. If you are on the waiting list, have severe lung diease and are not expected to survive the wait time, you may be considered for a living donor lung transplant. You may wish to discuss this with your tansplant coordinator.

Thank you BCBS of Delaware!!

I want to share my experience that I have had with BCBS with everyone. If you have a choice of BCBS of Delaware you should chose them. I have never been covered under anyone else except employer program (ugh) and I LOVE BCBS. (Well beside the fact that they are still a good insurance company). They are great with processing claims. They send you (promptly) a statement that shows who they paid and how much, and also how much that provider is allowed to bill you. If there are mistakes (which I have only had a few, and it was the hospital’s fault), they are super quick to correct them. Not once have I had a conflict with them. In the last five years since I’ve had COPD, BCBS has been there for me. They’ve kept my medical bills as low as possible and referred me to a better hospital in Pennsylvania for my lung transplant so I would not have extensive medical expenses. I have the best case workers at BCBS and I have faith that they will do what is best for me. They have really helped me through the process of this challenge in my life. I thank you both Lynda C. Shrom Transplant Case Manager and Terry Ward at BCBS of Delaware you are all simply the best.

I made it!!!!

I had my 3 month visit at the U of PA. today and I am very encourage that I will be put on the list within the next couple of weeks. Ginny came with me and we must attend a Transplant Workshop in 3 weeks then providing everything goes well he will be placed on the list!!!! Once I have the transplant the sad news is Ginny will have to move in for a few week to help with my recovery.. God help me!!! Not sure if I can survie that one... I have already prepare the spare room for her by giving her a lovely twin bed LOL.

No cure for COPD

There is currently no cure for COPD, although there are various treatments and/or options that can help reduce symptoms and prevent complications. The first step in COPD treatment is to quit smoking and learning to avoid lung irritants which can worsen the condition.In addition to quitting smoking, medications to help breathing such as bronchodilators, anticholinergic drugs, or corticosteroids may be prescribed. In some cases, where COPD is severe, supplementary oxygen may be beneficial. Oxygen is provided from an oxygen cylinder or concentrator and administered through oxygen mask or nasal tubing. Lastly, some patients with COPD can benefit from surgery where some of the damaged tissue is removed, allowing the healthy tissue to work better.

Natural Remedies
One of the common symptoms of COPD is the build up of excessive chest mucus and for this there are a number of homeopathic remedies that can help. Kali mur is one such ingredient and it is well known for its beneficial affects of the respiratory system and its ability to ease wet coughs. Similarly, Kali sulph is excellent at naturally treating phlegm coughs and sinus congestions, as well as reducing inflammation of the mucous membranes. Kali bich also works on soothing irritated mucous membranes, especially in the lungs, and helps loosen thick chest mucus.

Will know the test results on Monday the 10th of January!!

I will be going back to the University of Pennsylvania on January 10th to have a cat scan done on my lungs. This test will show how far my COPD has progress and what stage I am in with the COPD. It will also give the Doctors a better understanding of my COPD and they will make the decision to put me on the waiting list for the for a bi lateral lung transplant.

I should know from the Doctors of University of Pennsylvania hopefully by 3:30pm if I qualify or not. I know if I do qualify and have the operation, the road to recovery is long and I will need the support of my family and friends to get me though it. I am hoping that if I qualify it will be worth it and maybe then I will be able to breathe normal again.

Say a special prayer for me and for the doctors who are making a very life saving decision.

What Causes Cough in COPD?

A chronic cough that produces sputum or phlegm is a common sign of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. COPD is a lung condition that features problems with clogged airways and breathing difficulties. The condition is brought on by a combination of an excess secretion of mucus and an inflammation of the breathing airways. A chronic cough is often the first symptom noticed by people with COPD. How Your Respiratory System Works
Your respiratory system cleans itself and keeps you healthy by filtering out dust and other foreign particles inhaled while you are breathing. A protective layer of mucus covers the walls of the respiratory system. The mucus traps harmful substances, making it easy for the body to get rid of them. Tiny hairs known as cilia lining the walls move back and forth, pushing everything toward the nose and mouth where they can be expelled with a noisy burst of air. This is the cough mechanism in action.
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What Smoking Does
Smoking overwhelms your body's normal ability to clear out toxins. According to the Merck Manual, cigarette smoke is the main cause of COPD. The many hazardous substances in cigarettes irritate the airways and create inflammation. The lungs produce an overabundance of mucus, and the walls of the lungs become thick and swollen. Smoking also injures the cilia in the lungs and impairs their ability to move out the extra mucus and foreign particles. The mucus pools and clogs the lungs. The narrowed passageways make it difficult to breathe.
Treatment for Coughing and COPD
COPD causes permanent and progressive damage to the airways. The disease is treatable, but there is no cure. However, quitting smoking will slow the progression of the disease and reduce the coughing. If the condition progresses unchecked, the repeated coughing may become severely disabling. It will eventually take longer to recover from the attacks, decreasing the quality of life. Treatment of COPD includes drug and oxygen therapy, smoking cessation, exercise, enhancement of nutrition and pulmonary rehabilitation.