ALERT CONTENT PLACEHOLDER

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If you have sudden shortness of breath or chest pain, dial 911 and go to your nearest emergency room.

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​​​​​​​​​How can I take care of myself when I go home?​
  • You cannot eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juices after transplant. It interferes with your immunosuppressive medications.
  • Eating a healthy diet, by following Canada’s Food Guide, will help give you a balance of protein, fats, and carbohydrates and help you to maintain a healthy body weight. For more diet information see – Healthy eating after your lung transplant​​​​.
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  • You might get tired easily. Listen to your body and don't do more than you can handle.
  • If you are looking for counseling or a support group – before or after your transplant - please talk to a lung transplant social worker or your lung transplant coordinator.
  • ​Our transplant psychiatry team is here if you need help with the following:
    1. Anxiety and depression
    2. ​Stress management
    3. ​Support and coping
  • The Transplant Psychiatry Program offers a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. For more information, please call: 416 340 4452 or fill out the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program application form​​.
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  • Strength training is important after your operation. Your physiotherapist will give your guidelines on the intensity of this type of exercise.
  • Walking is the best exercise. Try to increase the distance and speed you walk.
  • In winter, many people walk in malls to avoid icy surfaces and cold conditions, or they use a treadmill, if they have one.
  • Your incision needs time to heal. Bench pressing is especially straining on the chest. It should be avoided for the first 3 months.
  • Don't lift heavy things for 3 months after your operation.
  • Anything over 5 kilograms or 10 lbs. is too heavy. You can use small weights of 1 kg to increase arm strength but be careful not to strain your shoulder joints.
  • Lifting larger amounts may result in stress or separation of your incision, which can affect your healing.

 

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  • Do not take pain relief medications known as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). This includes ibuprofen (the active ingredient in Advil® and Motrin® products); naproxen, which is found in Aleve® and Naprosyn®; and also ASA or Aspirin®.
  • If you are taking an 81mg ‘baby’ Aspirin® once daily to prevent heart attack and stroke, this is okay if it is on the advice of our team. If you need to take medication for pain or a headache, acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is usually a safe choice. Talk to your transplant team before taking any other pain medication.
  • ​Please consult your transplant team for direction in managing any cold symptoms.
  • You cannot have any type of live vaccine as it could be harmful to you. This includes measles, mumps, rubella, shingles vaccine and yellow fever vaccine.
  • Many drugs can interact with your transplant medications. Before you take any new medications, including any over-the-counter products or medications prescribed by a non-transplant doctor, you are encouraged talk to your transplant team.
  • ​If you would like to take a multi-vitamin or any herbal remedy (including herbal teas), please talk to your transplant team first. Herbal remedies are like drugs and may interfere with your medications so proper precautions need to be taken.
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  • Do not drive for 3 months after your transplant.
  • Do not drive yourself to the hospital on days you are scheduled for a Bronchoscopy, otherwise the procedure will be cancelled.
  • Do not drive if you feel tired, are having dizzy spells, headaches or visual disturbances.
  • You cannot drive while you are taking narcotics for pain control.
  • Always wear your seatbelt when you are driving or riding in a vehicle.
  • ​If your incision is tender, put a towel under your seatbelt to protect your incision.
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What is the Easy Call system?

Easy Call lets our transplant recipients and their transplant coordinators communicate with each other. Before being discharged from the unit, you will receive the Easy Call phone number and your unique personal identification number (PIN). We will make sure you know how to use the system, and set up a password, before you leave.​​

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Who do I call if I experience complications? 

If you are experiencing health issues or concerns please use Easy Call to leave a message for your transplant coordinator. Use Easy Call if you have any of these symptoms:

  • ​Your temperature goes higher than 37.5 - 38ºC (100ºF), and/or you feel chills.
  • There is significant redness, swelling or increased pain at your incision.
  • Worsening of shortness of breath.
  • Persistent cough.
  • Change in colour of sputum (mucus).
  • More sputum than usual.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Who do I call with general post-operative questions?

 

Use Easy Call to speak with your transplant coordinator about post-operative questions.

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Who Do I Call In An Emergency?

If you have an emergency, please go to the closest emergency room or call 911.

Can I Email My Coordinator?

Talk to your transplant coordinator about email options. A consent form is required.​
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