Several months ago I noticed the University of Michigan (UofM) Transplant Center added their Lung Transplant Educational DVD to YouTube back in March 2013. I already have it in my Double Lung Transplant Journey album over on Facebook. Since I took part in the DVD, I received a copy back in Dec 2011, when it was finished. I'm on it quite a bit (my surgery, my family, etc.) When I had my transplant I was interviewed by Amy, whom filmed my transplant surgery and post transplant 9-day stay. I gave UofM permission months in advance before transplant. This is the full educational video, so if by chance you or a family member has a single or double lung transplant, you'll be given this DVD.
* I’ve enclosed the clips where footage of myself or surgery is shown (nothing graphic).
* Some of the information doesn’t apply to Cystic Fibrosis patients.
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-- DVD created: December 2011 --
0:10- My surgery
0:18- My donor, Gretchen’s lungs secured to Ann Arbor from Bay City.
0:21- Sadly, #499 has passed away, and to date 598 (as of Sept 12th 2014) lung transplant have been performed.
1:56- UofM Cardio Vascular Center- CVC. My family wheeling me in at 9:20 PM, Sat, Sept 25th. I could no longer walk far distance.
3:59- My post transplant medication sheet
4:29- Left: my lung transplant doctor, Dr. Kevin Chan.
11:47- CVCICU prior to transplant, 10:30 PM, Sept 25th.
19:43- Dr. Andrew Chang, who performed my surgery.
26:11- My family and I basically killing time (10:30 PM, Sept 25th).
26:16- My family and I arriving at the CVC (9:20 PM, Sept 25th).
26:52- Sign-up for study. I was having difficulty breathing, I couldn’t lay down and was up like this for nearly 5 hours. A mask made It harder, because I'd get hot. I did sign up for the study (which was being explained to me), basically they took the fluid(s) from my bronchoscopy post transplant for study purposes.
27:28- More footage of the study being explained.
27:54- Signing papers for the study (11 PM, Sept 25th).
28:05- 31:42- This entire portion is of myself.
* Being checked over after my tubes and lines were placed.
* Pulmonary Artery Catheter.
* 29:07- That’s me knocked out. This was pretty weird to see.
* 30:45- Yes, that’s my surgery being performed. I didn’t need the heart/lung bypass machine, which helps in post recovery.
* 31:30- I’m being taken to the CVCICU.
* 31:40- My surgery took 10 hours and this was about 3 PM ET.
33:16- HA! I look so out of it. This was about an hour after surgery. The nurse (who was one of my favorites at the CVCICU) was cleaning (washing) the inside of my mouth.
33:23- I actually somewhat remember this, I couldn’t even open my eyes yet, but I could hear everything going on around me.
33:30- I finally woke up completely. I couldn’t talk, but I could write, well. . as good as a 1st grader could write. HA!
33:47- I was in the CVCICU for 3 days. I actually think this nurse was getting ready to suck the secretions out of my mouth and preparing for my breathing tube to be removed.
34:21- Those are my chest tubes. I had two large ones, and two small ones.
34:48- 19 hours post double lung transplant, there I was walking. Slowly, but surely. I walked half the hall.
35:07- Those are balloons my pre-transplant coordinator Jenny Berry sent to me.
35:11- I was transferred to the step down unit (6C) at UofM on day 4. This is actually footage from day 8 I believe.
35:15- This was again day 8, as you can see, I could breathe in so much better then prior to transplant in the CVCICU pre-op.
35:58- I never experienced being nauseating. At this point, I only had two small tubes, which I did go home on. I was able to empty the fluid from the small round balls you see on my side. Every 8 hours (or sooner) I emptied them for about 1.5 weeks.
37:06- I used the spirometer quite a bit during and after my stay.
37:33- That’s what fluid from your lungs looks like.
37:48- This was 7 days post transplant, by this time I was walking the halls (20 minutes) 6x a day.
43:27- Luckily, I only take two anti-rejection meds, Prednisone 10mg and Cyclosporine (150mg morning, 150mg night). Each person is different.
45:22- I'm preparing to swallow my anti-fungal medication, which I no longer have to take. To me it tastes like banana.
46:32- This was day 8, as Transplant Pharmacist Linda Stuckey was going over everything. The transplant team will not let you go home unless you know how and when to take all your medication, including the staff on 6C. This includes knowing the side affects and dosage as well.
46:53- Learning my medication and everything in-between was a breeze.
47:30- This was day 8, and I think I was on solid foods on day 3.
47:35- This was Day 9 in the morning, discharge day. I was going over my meds for the morning.
47:42- This was me on the phone.
50:37- There’s our previous car. Discharge!!
