If you experience any of the following symptoms of infection, you should notify your transplant coordinator immediately. As always, if there is ever a question, please call and ask.

• Temperature greater than 100° F or 38° C
• Productive cough, change in color of sputum, or shortness of breath
• Sores, blisters, or lumps
• Chills or shaking episodes of fever
• Flu-like symptoms or severe cold symptoms
• Drainage or swelling from a cut or wound
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that is severe and prolonged (lasting more than 24 hours)
• Increase in fatigue and decrease in exercise tolerance
• Burning during urination or very frequent urination
• Decrease in FEV1 and/or FVC by 10 percent in a 24-hour period, or a downward trend in FEV1/FVC results over three days or more.

Health Maintenance

In addition to increasing your risk of infection, the immunosuppressive medications may increase your risk for developing cancer. For this reason, all patients should follow the guidelines recommended for the general population for cancer prevention and screening.

Always remember to wear sunscreen when outside for any prolonged period. Females should do monthly breast self-examinations and have regular Pap smears and mammograms.

It is recommended that you continue to see your other physicians, including your specialists. You should also continue to see your primary care physician, but understand that all new medications need to reviewed by the lung transplant team.

Please contact your transplant coordinator if you are prescribed a new medicine to make sure there are no interactions with your current medications.