The months spent waiting for your new lung can be frightening. Take steps to get in shape before your lung transplant surgery to help your cardiovascular health, relax your mind and purposefully pass the time. Lung transplant recipients must suffer a chronic, debilitating lung disease such as advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, or cystic fibrosis. Your overall treatment, exercise and preparation for the lung transplant will be guided by your transplant team -- a group of physicians, nurses and surgeons who are ready and willing to help you through this exciting journey.
Step 1
Talk to your healthcare team. Take an active part in your lung transplant preparation by asking questions and staying involved in the program. To some degree, all hospital programs require your participation to keep you on the active transplant list.
Step 2
Manage and maintain your weight. Weigh yourself daily and report deviations of more than one or two pounds to your transplant team or physician. Eat your prescribed diet -- avoid junk or salty foods, fried foods and unnecessary fats.
Step 3
Take an active part in your cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program. This is a required part of preparing for your lung transplant. The nurses and doctors who run this exercise program will teach you how to safely exercise while monitoring your oxygen saturation, or how well you are breathing, while completing cardiopulmonary exercises such as walking or bicycling.
Step 4
Complete your daily breathing exercises as ordered by your physician. People suffering end stage lung diseases must follow their physician's prescribed exercises, such as using incentive spirometry or abdominal breathing techniques.
Step 5
Use your medications and breathing treatments as prescribed. Notify your doctor or transplant team if you are placed on antibiotics, steroids or hospitalized for any reason as this may alter your lung eligibility status temporarily.
