Lung Transplantation Patient Guide  Support Services
Support Services after Lung Transplantation
From the moment you and your primary pulmonary specialist begin discussing the possibility of lung transplantation, you will have many questions and concerns about this treatment option.
There are practical concerns and emotional reactions.
And there are certain lifestyle adaptations that will need to occur following the surgery – changes that will affect not only you but also your loved ones. Members of your transplant team will be there to guide you through each stage of your transplantation.
- Your nurse coordinators/PA will oversee your care — expediting tests and consultations and answering your questions.
- Your social worker will determine what emotional and practical support may be needed by you and your family during this period. She can connect you to those services in the community that can be of possible assistance. The medical center's Social Work Department produces a quarterly newsletter, which will be mailed to you, that covers relevant topics for heart and lung transplant patients and their caregivers.
- Your financial counselor will evaluate your medical insurance during the pre-transplantation and work closely with you to ensure that all possible expenses, including immunosuppressants, will be covered, perhaps through new or additional insurance – or sometimes alternative sources.
- A nutritionist will work closely with you to guide your healthy eating habits as you await your surgery and then assist you in adapting to your new and necessary post-surgical food and preparation requirements.
A delicious recipe is highlighted in every issue of the heart and lung transplantation newsletter.
Support Groups
The lung transplantation program offers a two-hour support group.
Coordinated by the transplant team social worker, it offers invaluable information, guidance and moral support to patients and their families.
All transplant candidates are required to attend these meetings.
Post-surgical patients are encouraged to participate, not only because the sessions continue to be helpful but also because they themselves can offer their own unique perspective about the surgery to candidates waiting for a donor organ.
The meeting is divided into two sessions. The first focuses on education and often has one of the nurse coordinators as a speaker.
It updates the participants on organ rejection and infections, medications and many other matters of importance to them.
Once in a while, the first hour is reserved for the caregivers – those responsible for seeing to it that the recovering transplant patients are taking their medications, moving about and getting the necessary care they require at home.
The second hour is purely a support session during which the patients share their experiences and concerns.
This period is limited to patients only.
Other Transplant Support Resources
The following organizations provide information and support to transplant recipients:
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