Check-up

Every 3 months I have to go for a check-up to make sure everything is still fine and no adjustments need to be made to my anti-rejection medication. The check up includes blood tests, xrays, lung function and a consult with my pulmonologist.

1. 
   
2. A pulmonologist, or pulmonary disease specialist, is a physician who possesses specialized knowledge and skill in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary (lung) conditions and diseases.

Photoshoot for lungs! 

I hate bloods! 

I always make sure I just wear a sports bra and nothing with any kind of metal on it so that I don't have to get dressed into a gown for xrays. #ProTip

Blow!!! 

With my old lungs, doing a lung function was extremely exhausting and the last few I did before transplant nearly brought me to tears. It's physically and mentally draining to use ALL your strength to blow into the machine and hope for a decent result. When you see 20% or less as the result it really is devastating. 

The whole process would leave me completely breathless. Luckily there is oxygen in my pulmonologist's waiting room, so after the lung function I could just sit down and turn the oxygen up as high as possibe to recover.

Now, lung functions aren't a stress at all. I simply blow as hard as I can into the machine and I am given a pleasing result. As I'm an over-achiever I always ask to try at least 3 times so that I can get the best possible result.

This last check-up, my lung function was the same as last time, 89/90%. Which means it's the first time since transplant that it hasnt't increased. I'm more than happy to have reached 90% and now I just need to make sure it stays there! 

My fellow transplant friend, Alice and I scheduled our check-up for the same day so that we could have a little catch up session. We always end up waiting hours to see our very busy doctor, so it's nice to fill the time with a little bit of chatting - and giggling!  

Before my transplant I had to go for monthly check-ups so although 3 monthly check-ups may sound like a pain, they really are such a blessing for me. This reiterates the fact that TRANSPLANT IS NOT A CURE. I still have to watch my health and take a lot of medication.