Hey Alyssa!
Of course it's scary, any surgery is scary! I was in your boat as well, really not able to do anything. It came to the point that I was on oxygen 24/7, could not get up two steps, and basically was just sleeping all day to conserve energy. It was a very scary time in life and I felt that I was living in this gray area. I wasn't dead, yet I didn't feel alive. The most awful part that I remember was the independence that I lost. I had to leave college and move out of state (from Jersey to New Orleans) for my transplant. The Northeast was just way too congested and I was running out of time quickly!
The testing isn't too bad, although I was not a fan of the heart cath. After the transplant, for me, was amazing. I was very on top of my pain management (the secret is to make sure those pain meds are to you on time, even if you are feeling better...don't ever "chase" your pain). I woke up feeling amazing, had a slight set back with bronchitis and acute rejection, but once those were resolved things just went up hill. I was out of the hospital in 9 days, off of pain meds in 1 month, and i would say 'fully recovered' after about 9 months to a year.
I've actually been reflecting a lot on my transplant experience. I'm 4 years post coming up in the middle of November. My life is simply amazing. I could never do half of the things that I have done if I didn't go through with the surgery. I am humbled everyday by this journey and thankful I was given this time.
Today, I am working full time, living on my own, working out full time, and of course have time left over to socialize. I don't stop to think about climbing up a flight of stairs, or how long I'll have to be standing someplace or if I will be tired. I had my annual appointment the other day and my pfts are the best they have ever been (knock on wood)!
Don't get me wrong, there have been bumps along the way but you work through them and get used to a different set of 'problems'. But they are problems you can work through. You have to become more vigilant than ever about hand washing, and avoiding people with colds, and take extra special care of yourself! But it is so worth it.
Sometimes when things are going well, it's easy to forget how fragile post transplant life is. So I constantly remind myself to take care of myself just in case the other shoe drops. And every now and then, I stop out of no where just to take a deep breath to remind myself just how special it is and what a privilege it is to be able to do that!!
Of course it's scary, any surgery is scary! I was in your boat as well, really not able to do anything. It came to the point that I was on oxygen 24/7, could not get up two steps, and basically was just sleeping all day to conserve energy. It was a very scary time in life and I felt that I was living in this gray area. I wasn't dead, yet I didn't feel alive. The most awful part that I remember was the independence that I lost. I had to leave college and move out of state (from Jersey to New Orleans) for my transplant. The Northeast was just way too congested and I was running out of time quickly!
The testing isn't too bad, although I was not a fan of the heart cath. After the transplant, for me, was amazing. I was very on top of my pain management (the secret is to make sure those pain meds are to you on time, even if you are feeling better...don't ever "chase" your pain). I woke up feeling amazing, had a slight set back with bronchitis and acute rejection, but once those were resolved things just went up hill. I was out of the hospital in 9 days, off of pain meds in 1 month, and i would say 'fully recovered' after about 9 months to a year.
I've actually been reflecting a lot on my transplant experience. I'm 4 years post coming up in the middle of November. My life is simply amazing. I could never do half of the things that I have done if I didn't go through with the surgery. I am humbled everyday by this journey and thankful I was given this time.
Today, I am working full time, living on my own, working out full time, and of course have time left over to socialize. I don't stop to think about climbing up a flight of stairs, or how long I'll have to be standing someplace or if I will be tired. I had my annual appointment the other day and my pfts are the best they have ever been (knock on wood)!
Don't get me wrong, there have been bumps along the way but you work through them and get used to a different set of 'problems'. But they are problems you can work through. You have to become more vigilant than ever about hand washing, and avoiding people with colds, and take extra special care of yourself! But it is so worth it.
Sometimes when things are going well, it's easy to forget how fragile post transplant life is. So I constantly remind myself to take care of myself just in case the other shoe drops. And every now and then, I stop out of no where just to take a deep breath to remind myself just how special it is and what a privilege it is to be able to do that!!