Good Afternoon All....
Here I am...back at last. We had a lovely Christmas, the Girlz got spoilt rotten (as usual) and I managed to put on 3lbs!!
Just before New Year I woke up with a nasty sore throat...then the dreaded bug struck :( I was coughing, sneezing, terrible chesty but couldn't get to clinic because of the weather. So I did the sensible thing and stayed in the warm with plenty of fluids, paracetamol and sleep. I'm over it now thank goodness but the strange thing was all the pain and chestyness were all on the right hand side...
It is a year to the day since I had my LVRS at Harefield. When I was researching Alpha1 and transplants I came across Native Lung Hyperinflation, so when Dr Carby told me this was the the cause of my breathlessness after my transplant I wasn't too worried. I spoke to my surgeon and she went through everything with me and we decided to schedule the surgery in the New Year. We started off with a VATS but unfortunately there were so many adhesions, and scarring from the constant infections, it had to be converted to a full inscision. I went into recovery where my blood pressure dropped and I had to go back into theatre to fix a small bleed. It developed where the bottom of the right lung had to be detatched from the diaphragm...but I came out of it alright.
I actually had two thirds of my right lung removed but WOW...I noticed the difference straight away. I had terrible trouble getting the pain under control...I mean I'd been through two major abdominal surgeries and a lung transplant but this was a whole different ball game. In the end I was on so much pain relief, I was seeing and hearing things...I've never been so frightened so in the end I had to get home as soon as possible...so I discharged myself.
So here I am now...heading towards my third TX anniversary and doing really well...I can't believe it has all gone so fast...Four years ago I was in our local hospital and my DBH was told I wouldn't make it through the night...Now here I am, running around after the Girlz and being a part time carer. Every single day, with every single breath I take, I give thanks for my donor and their family.
On a sadder note..
A very courageous young lady lost her fight for life...Sleep softly Jess, Breathe well my friend.
Love and hugz to all
Stevieanne
