DAILY MONITORING AND MEDICATIONS

I thought I would share the medications involved and the daily monitoring process after lung transplants. Before my transplants, I had no idea about the drugs so I thought I'd share that information. 

We were given a binder filled with tons of information and pages to record data we needed to take three times a day. Michael has been vigilant. Everything has been properly recorded. 

Every morning, the first thing I have to do is weigh myself. Everyone is on insulin after the transplant. My morning blood sugar readings make it clear I am not a diabetic. My problem was losing too much weight. It sounds good but if I get an infection or become ill, I am going to need that weight. The doctors want me right where I am - 5'3" and 143 pounds. Working with the nutritionist and the diabetic clinic, I'm eating things I haven't enjoyed in years. They added a fist-sized portion of complex carbohydrates to my meals. At that amount, it should keep my weight stable but not kick up the blood sugar. So far, so good. I am stable but sometimes the blood sugar is over 200, not good. A challenge for sure. Thirty percent of people going through the lung transplant process become diabetic. Hopefully, I am in the other seventy percent. After checking and recording my blood sugar, if it is over 131, I have to give myself a shot of insulin from a pen injector. 

Next up, blood pressure and heart rate. Each is taken and recorded. Followed by a thermometer for a temperature reading, also recorded.

The monitoring of the blood sugar, blood pressure, heart rate and temperature is before lunch and before dinner, too. Each number is recorded.

Also, I was given a spirometry to blow near my cell phone App that records the FEV1 levels. I blow into it three times a day and on Wednesdays, the system contacts me so I can report the highest level for the week. That information is sent to the transplant clinic.

Medications change constantly. We are usually notified by a phone call after my lab tests on a Monday and/or Thursday mornings. The team seem to tweak the medications each week. Before we go home next week, several of the medications will be removed. 

As of today, here is the list of medication:

TO PREVENT REJECTION:

        Prednisone - 20 mg Breakfast

        Cellcept - 1,000 mg Breakfast and Bedtime

        Prograf - .5 mg Breakfast and 1 mg Bedtime

        Azithromycin - 250 mg Breakfast on Monday, Wednesday, Friday

PREVENT/TREAT INFECTION:

        Bactrim - 1 tab Breakfast on Monday, Wednesday, Friday (prevents PCP)

        Valganciclovir - 450 mg Breakfast and Bedtime (prevents CMV viral infection)

        Posaconazole - 100 mg Breakfast (prevents fungal infection)

        Atrovent - 2 puffs Lunch on Monday, Wednesday, Friday (use before nebulizer)

        Ambisome - 25 mg Lunch on Monday, Wednesday, Friday 

                            (nebulizer prevents fungal infection)

ULCER:

        Omeprazole - 20 mg Breakfast

PREVENTS BONE LOSS:

        Calcium - 1 tab Breakfast, Lunch, Bedtime

        Fosamax - 70 mg Before any food on Saturday morning

        Vitamin D - 2,000 units Breakfast

OTHER:

        Multivitamin - 1 tab Breakfast

        Magnesium - 800 mg Breakfast, lunch Bedtime

        Lasix - 20 mgs Breakfast

        Crestor - 5 mgs Bedtime

        Three eye drops for my glaucoma

        Levothyroxine - 150 mcg Breakfast

        Tylenol - 500 mg as needed for pain

These medications are to be seen as an example. My specific example at this moment in time. I am sure the list will change again before we head home.