Thursday, December 15, 2011

Back to Transplant Clinic

So today was the first transplant clinic appointment since the false alarm.

Being at that clinic is quite bizarre. It's like a giant gathering of oxygen bottles, with lots of whooshing and beeping and people looking at each other in a strange manner..... trying to work out why they're there, but far too polite or embarrassed to ask.

Lots of really sick looking people. People who can't breathe adequately enough to even walk anymore. Needing a carer to push them around in a wheelchair.

It makes me feel a bit out of place - like I'm not actually sick enough to be there.

There's an entire array of medical professionals who are part of the transplant team, so at each appointment, you see a different doctor.

Today my appointment was with one of the doctors that I hadn't met previously. She explained that the type of false alarm that I had was quite unusual.  I'm assuming that most false alarms don't make it as far as lying on the operating table prepped and ready to go for surgery....

As we were staring at a CT image of my lungs on the computer screen, she also mentioned that I'm quite an unusual and complicated case, and that they're probably going to need two surgeons instead of the usual one, as it's going to take quite a long time to chisel away at my lungs to remove them. Years and years of scarring plus previous surgery means that it's much more difficult. Oh joy.

Anyway, who knows what will happen next.

I've had this really strange feeling all week that I'm going to get a phonecall... I wonder?

12 comments:

Fiona said...

Fingers crossed, Cam! I hope that you do get that call ... and that this time everything goes ahead.

Anonymous said...

I hope and pray that you do.
I want your next post to be post-op. I really do.
Sonia xx

Bea said...

If you did get a phonecall, well..that would be a pretty super dooper Chrissie prezzie. And I don't even believe in Santa but I hope he reads your blog and sees you on the "nice list" and can organise it.

C'mon Santa, make it happen!

Leonie said...

Fingers crossed over here too that you get the most super special of Christmas presents this year.

Selina said...

There are so many reasons why I just know that when you do get the (real) call you are going to get through it so well, complications aside. Your attitude for one, and the other fact that you are still so active, you will have a major advantage in your recovery time. See it as a good thing.

And I was talking to one of my nurses recently who is with the organ recovery team and she said she had known of someone who had actually been put under before they realised the lungs were no good, so at least you didn't have to go through that! (which is actually what I was imagining at the time!!)

I'm always thinking about you and every morning rush straight to twitter to check any news;) It won't be long now, I just know it. Hang in there gorgeous, xx

Naturally Carol said...

Fingers crossed here, for you too!

Unknown said...

New lungs for Christmas would be nice. I hope you get them before you get as sick as those other people you saw at the clinic. Hopefully they get what they need soon too.

Sally said...

I do so hope so.

Jennifer Rose said...

i really do hope you get the phone call soon, would be wonderful gift to get this xmas!

Cat from Raspberry Rainbow said...

Oh Cam, you have been through so much, and are such an inspiration with your positive attitude.

I hope your phone is ringing soon. Sending you some healing thoughts, Cat xox.

Anonymous said...

Don't you love it how doctors share those lovely details about lungs being needed to be chiseled out and such things... Oh well. Sounds like you have a good team who are very attentive.

Megan said...

Nothing like being told you're an unusual case to keep up the confidence hey! I was told the same because they wouldn't normally give a liver to someone with leukaemia.

Here's to hoping for a wonderful Christmas present in a phone call, preferably not as you're about to sit down to the big Chrissy meal though!