Update on my lung transplant

You are free to skip this, no offense taken. Reading about an old guy's health issues is very boring, I know.

All my numbers at home look good (weight, temperature, blood pressure, blood sugar, spirometer readings) and I'm faithfully taking my meds and using my inhaler and nebulizer. I'm exercising hard at rehab and doing more at home, walking better and feel better than in years.

I had another bronchoscopy today; I've been having one a week to suck out mucus and "slough" (dead cells), which many but not all transplant patients get. After a bronch, the spiro numbers (I blow into it) go up, slowly decline a little until the next one. I'll have to do this the rest of my life, as a sudden decline of 10% in the numbers can indicate rejection--and back to the hospital. The good news is there was less slough this time, and they say once the slough is gone, it won't return.

The bad news is that my lower lobe in the new lung has not expanded enough. They may have to put a balloon in to expand it and I may have some scaring on the bronchial tubes. This is rarer, but not uncommon. This would be done on an out-patient basis (at least at first). I asked the pulmonologist if it was serious and he said, "It can be." Take that for what it is worth.

Next Thursday is my 6-week bronchoscopy and other tests. They will do a biopsy to test for rejection and I think decide if a balloon is needed. Plus the usual lung function test, chest x-ray and blood work, plus clinical meetings. So I'll know more then. ~Bob