2006-10-17 13:56:14 · 5 answers · asked by gopher 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Hi. I'm a 39 year old CF patient that had a bi-lateral lung transplant two years ago.
CF'ers are often some of the best candidates for lung transplant, even the younger patients, since we are already very used to a stringent medical routine. I've known several other CF'ers that have had lung transplants, with the youngest I've personally known being 13 when he received his new lungs.
Please note that the second response to you received to this question is vastly incorrect in regard to lungs being a close match. The only thing that has to match for a lung transplant is the blood type and relative size of the lungs. If the donor is larger than the recepient then the lungs can be down sized. Also, remember that type O blood is considered "universal" so those organs can be allocated to any blood type offering those with a more rare blood type a decent opportunity for transplant.
The only issue you may really experience is the type of bacteria in your lungs. If you have Pseudomonas (Burkholderia) cepacia none of the US lung transplant centers will perform transplant (currently) since the bacteria is basically unbeatable and the immunosuppression that follows transplant (for the rest of the recepient's life) will only make it worse. However, that doesn't mean that research to fight it isn't on-going or that centers in other countries wouldn't consider transplant for those with the bacteria.
Best wishes - breathing freely is a wonderful thing!
2006-10-19 16:02:20 · answer #1 · answered by Newlungs2004 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The son of a friend had a double lung transplant several years ago . He has since married and had a family and while he has to take anti-rejection meds, he is living a full life for the first time in years.
2006-10-19 08:22:16 · answer #2 · answered by susan c 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. I have read of one young fellow, an avid surfer, who received a double-lung transplant (one lung from each of his parents). Actually, I think that should be "two lobes from each parent." As of the writing of the Reader's Digest article, he was able to surf again.
2006-10-17 14:51:18 · answer #3 · answered by amy02 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have heard that these are often very successful, but the recipient must get a very close match with a living donor, or there will be problems. Lung donations from living donors often come from family members who have a very close tissue match.
2006-10-17 14:07:20 · answer #4 · answered by correrafan 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
every day
2006-10-17 13:58:18 · answer #5 · answered by itsybitsykity 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋