Dysfunctional Families Online Support Group

hey everyone, so sorry i havent been by, not to mention i did come here last night couldnt get in ,came today but got to tired ,needed a nap lol.so iam here now cheering all u quitters on.. I smoked 40 yrs, never thought id be a quitter, I have a yr in half ) time fly when ur having fun.

I was stage 4 copd/with end stages emphysema. copd took over my entire life,copd made the choice for me on everyday dailly struggles while smoking sucked the life out of me. I had my lung transplant june 23rd 2012. today is my 2wk lungaversary ) lmao So im not here to preach to you, your all big boys and girls. you no what to do but next time you ana smoke think of me, noo, not all smokers get copd empysema, but why chance it thats playing russian roullet with life . while you still have the chance to live. my chance was running out, it was a matter of time for me, I was listed may 22,12, i got my call 4 wks later. great things are happinning at new york columbia..they tell no lies..I seen it with my eyes...

so to give alittle run down on my 12 days in the hosp. I was taken to surgery june 28th AT 545 PM. I Left my husband & daughter hugged them reli tight wheeled in O/R ,they were pretty kool in there, put good music on, talking, laughing.. on the table i thought ok god, its all in ur hands, dont let me die tonight. next thing i no its the next day. I was in there on that table 6 hrs. i had 15 family members and friend in the waiting room, i was in recovery till2 am b4 anyone can see me, so most of them stayed there till 4-5 am my husband jimmy he never left my side the whole 5 days in icu. i woke up frustrated i felt the vent and freaked out, i wanted it off yesterday lmao they gave me a shot when i woke again still freaked out they yelled at me to calm down or they wont do it. so i reli reli tried. they took the vent out but nothing came out i couldnt breath in or out. finally my surgon yelled blow out hard right now or ur goin back on.. screw that no iam not ,lmao i blew reli hard and sucked in air lmao that was the scary part of it. i was all doped up. i was told in the icu that night that my daughter held my hand talking to me. i rem alittle of that ,they put a rubber pool sorta like u will by ya 2 yr old, with warm water they put it over me to bring up my body heat. I got 2 blood transfusion. my daughter walked in the room at 3 pm i was so out of it i gave her a thumbs up and cracked a joke lmao LAUGH LAUGH LAUGH thats all i can think of lol 4 pm i was in a chair,my daughter says i was on amillion machine tubes, she was scared .. my legs were mush, i slept that day away. that was friday, sat i sat up all day long . but the pain was so bad , good thing for very good drugs lmao & a morphin button..I was sick to my stomach, i never thought in my whole life id handle pain. but the drugs took it away which made it alil easier. sunday, i was in the chair nurse told me i had to go back to bed, i wanted to walk, I was afibbing,while my presure ws dropping. 79/48 I asked if i was in heaven lol long story short now on heart meds till they regulate it. monday same thing but i was moving from icu to step down 8pm. tuesday i got up out of bed. with my p/t walked with my 02 but i walked 150 feet.) once i did that i was on a roll. good thing I DID ALOT OF WORKING OUT B4 I WENT IN .. in 3 days my legs were mush. but i excersied in bed in the chair, i walked everyday. wed 4th of july they took me off 02, i have to addmitt, i was scared shit. i tied it to my bed rail just in case lol hey i wasnt takin no chances lol thursday my daughters 20th birthday,she came to spend the whole day with me, she wanted to walk with me, i said ok, she said ma, ur 02, i said no nice havent had it on in 24 hrs ) we walked 200 feet , my daughter was gona cry, she said this is the best birthda i ever had, to see my mother walk ,not be out of breath, and no 02 thats bigg ,awww she almost made me cry. my sisters were there for me my friends neices nephews, i had a great support team, that works, on friday they were gona discharge me in 8days they said i wouldve made a goal there only one guy left in 7 days the average is 2-3 sometimes 4 wks, i woulda been the only one who did it in 8 days wooot wooot LMAO but i ended up with a bacterial infection in my new lung, so they kept me tll monday and monday night they said ok ur going tomm. but ur goin home wuth i/v .. no problem so iam home since tuesday night 630 pm, it was a crazy night nurse was here till 1130 yeaterday she was here 9 am. then a visiting nurse later on, things are finally calmng dowm now. I was pretty sick in the middle of the night last night, i had stomach pain was gona vomit i thought omggg thats a sign of rejection. my husband rubbed my back i went back to sleep & felt better about 10-11 am now iam just tired lmao I take about close to 40 pills a day, for the 1st yr i have to be very careful. now they called me and will prolong my i/v another wk, i was gona be done this sunday but now itll be next friday.. I go for my drs appt wed the 18th to do my 1st pft. i am excited. i was 22% hope iam not dissipointed, my new lung is a very healthy lookin pink lung almsot perfect that said.. I have to say, this is the best journey i ever went threw in my life, I have n regrets other then smoking and brining me to this point. now im off all my inhalers nebs,02 breathing pills im on nada lmao I was told tody when they called i dont want u in bed constanly ,i said no way im walkin doin thing she said heyy that dont mean u can run around. you had magor magor surgery. go slow. so here iam following orders. my husband took off from day1 hell go back to work monday.as for my kids, well iam so proud of all my kids they all did the right thing was there for me, luv u guys.& thanks for being there hen i needed you all, your the reason with daddy i survived this, you guys are my rock, i have over 100 stitches/staple under my breast line around to my back.itll be there 6 wks. i can not drive 4-6 wks, thats ok. nicle drives me around anyway and when i go out i have to wear a mask. for the 1st yr.. my meds wow, good thing my cuzin did a fundraiser for meds, i couldnt belive my copay how ppl do it with out that is beyound me. 40 pills a day for a month costing me 1000.00 a month. with in 3 months, they will takes someaway by 6-9 months more by a yr ill need my rejection meds for the rest of my life, unfortunitly they are the ones that cost the most. one pill is 2700.00 no shit . so when u need meds to keep u alive for ur life fundraise. only in america) breathing is so much better then smoking,so when u wana smoke, remember this is a thing of the future. do u reli want this for ur future. well, speakin of pills 6pm is here lolol iam always thinkin of u guys. this is where it all began & you guys walked me threw this journey from day one.thank you all .. there is also copd group janet /chris wana thank u also for seeing me threw everyday ) joanne.s and ppl in tx page if it wasnt for u, i wouldnt have known half of what i no. thank u also.. my sister kids sisterinlaw, thanks for everything.and my friends, i have some pretty awsome friend ,doris roy andree lee. couldnt ask for better people in my life.luv u all.!! Smokefree 600 something days lmao got a new lung, brings me a new life. the gift of life is the most unselfish thing a person can do. r/i/p my donor. i will forever be gratful xoxox any questions, just ask me. xoxox

Joanne...It means so much to me that you are safe at home. No parties yet?? I bet your up to dancing soon...lol...we have all missed you very much!!! Thank God , you are here with us on this wonderful evening..you brought joy to my heart with your story of survival...You are a Woman Warrior...LOL...

Much love and hugs!!!!

Patty

Post edited by: Peace77, at: 07/12/2012 06:53 PM

YEA!!! YOU CAN BREATH !!! Thank God...You are a miracle lady in my eyes....Love -n-Hugs...Patty

Joanne, So wonderful to hear you had the surgery, and that you're doing so much better!! I agree with Patty, you're an woman warrior!!! So glad to hear you're home as well!! GBHugs, Donna

Joanne, it's great to know that you're home and doing very well. You really have wonderfful family support and they say that is always an added plus in healing. You're fortunate to be loved by so many.

We've been thinking about you daily and keeping you in our prayers. It would be nice if we all lived closer together and we could visit you and give you a hug.

Since you're open to questions, I was wondering if you're done with this now. Will things work out well for you with just the one new lung or will you have to do this a second time? I know you'd been hoping for twins so I was curious about this.

((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))) and keep healing!

Hi Joanne

I hope you are well!! Must be resting, you need it!!

Come back when you are better...and well healed..

Miss you my friend...Patty

Joanne...we miss you!! Hope all is fine...come by to say hello!!

Miss you much my dear friend

Love and hugs

Patty

Missing you Joanne!!! Come back soon!!! Praying always for you...Love and hugs, Patty

hello everyone wow this is so nice to hear from u all, thanks i havent been feelin that great 2 days today i feel a cold but came on to say hello and say im thinkin of u guys every single day,seen the dr wed so far everything is looking good,im up to 50% lung capasity now woot well i have to lay down seems everyday 2pm im wipped out,plus i eel nausious, but it can be meds, they upd my prograft to 4 pills now 10am 10pm 8 total but its for rejection so this mrning i took 19 pills at 3 ill do 1 6pm ill do 3 more and 10 pm il do 10 hope next month they take some away, ok girls u have a good day and hope ur all doing good miss you all very much luv ya joanne xoxoxo

Your welcome Joanne...we miss you lots!!!! Try to keep up the good work!!! Your doing Great!!!

Lots of love sent your way!!!! You Go Girl!!!