| Author |
Message |
J Devlin
Member
Username: J_devlin
Post Number: 1
Registered: 08-2011
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 - 02:51 pm: | 
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Dear Teen Heart Transplant Survivors:
Question: if you get cut on a nail and start to bleed, do you have to do anything above and beyond what someone who hasn't had a transplant would do to prevent infection?
Thank you for the help!
Jeanne |
Jay Lackritz
Forum Leader
Username: Jay_ny
Post Number: 426
Registered: 01-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 - 03:45 pm: |
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First off, welcome to TxBuddies, and congratulations on your transplant.
In answer to your question, Jeanne, nope, we are normally told to do the same thing that a healthy person does, in this case, clean the wound, put some neosporin on it, and cover with a band-aid, and get a tetanus shot.
This is from UPMC:
When a transplant recipient gets an animal bite or scratch, a dirty cut, or an injury, such as a puncture from stepping on a nail, he/she should receive a tetanus shot. Tetanus boosters are recommended for everyone every 10 years.
I have always heard that transplant recipients of any solid organ (who are immunosuppressed), should still receive all vaccinations that healthy people receive. To be honest, I have always wondered it perhaps immunosuppressed people should get higher doses/stronger vaccines, since most of these are meant to trigger an immune response, and our immune systems are suppressed, but they have always told me to just get the normal vaccines.
http://www.chp.edu/CHP/vac+after+trans+liver
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J Devlin
Member
Username: J_devlin
Post Number: 2
Registered: 08-2011
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 - 05:53 pm: |
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Jay
Thank you so much for the information.
Does it hold true that if a teen heart transplant survivor is in a tussle that any bumps, bruises or jabs will heal or effect them just as they would a teen without a heart transplant?
Would it leave them a bit more breathless?
Jeanne |
J Devlin
Member
Username: J_devlin
Post Number: 3
Registered: 08-2011
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 - 05:54 pm: |
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Jay
Thank you so much for the information.
Does it hold true that if a teen heart transplant survivor is in a tussle that any bumps, bruises or jabs will heal or effect them just as they would a teen without a heart transplant?
Would it leave them a bit more breathless? |
Jay Lackritz
Forum Leader
Username: Jay_ny
Post Number: 427
Registered: 01-2007
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 - 06:09 pm: |
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Jeanne,
A teen heart transplant recipient should heal just fine with any of the run of the mill cuts, scrapes, bumps, etc., and they should not take your breath away if you are in reasonable shape. Regular exercise helps to prevent these problems, and also aids in healing.
However, depending on which meds you are on, your blood could clot slower than someone not on the meds. And if your meds include steroids, these inhibit healing. The main issue to me is that due to the immunosuppressants we take, it could be easier to catch an infection, and infections can be more dangerous when you have a weakened immune system. This is why many of us walk around with a bottle of purell.
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Jack
Forum Leader
Username: Johnhollenbach56
Post Number: 502
Registered: 12-2009
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 - 06:16 pm: |
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Hello Jeannie, thing to remember is that being immunosuppressed, transplant recipients tend to heal slower than non transplantees. Being a transplant r recipients should not have an effect upon breathlessness I wouldn't think.
Stay well
Jack Hollenbach
Received double lung transplant August 2 & 3, 2007 for COPD at UCSD Thornton Hospital, San Diego, CA
Live each day to your fullest, for it is a gift to be treasured |
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Laura B
Member
Username: Hawkwood
Post Number: 35
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 09:16 am: |
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Jeannie,
Possibly re. your breathlessness, there is one possibility for a heart transplant recipient. When the original heart is removed, the nerve connection between the brain and heart are cut. It's not reestablished for the new heart.
The result is when you exercise, are startled, or given any other situation where your brain would signal your heart to speed up, the message does not get through via the nervous system. Your heart will respond to adrenaline and other chemical stimulus, but this can take a few minutes.
So heart transplant recipients take a few more minutes to "warm up" for exercise. (Usually about seven.) And if you're in a situation, such as a fall, where one's heart would "normally" speed up, this might not happen right away.
No big deal, no worry. Just something to be aware about.
| Dx~Eisenmengers Syndrome and Pulmonary Hypertension. 24 years post heart/double lung transplant. |
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Holly
Member
Username: Holly
Post Number: 501
Registered: 09-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, August 27, 2011 - 07:51 am: |
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Jeannie,
Welcome to TX Buddies, consider yourself a new friend!!!! I am a heart recepient and I have problems with shortness of breath everytime i do any fast excertion.....like Laura said it problem due to the nerve issue. I seem to be over sensitive to this, so I really need to start my excercise off slow and build up. The great news is I can now do it ;-D. You learn to deal with it.
Holly Mulkerin
Medina Ohio
Heart transplant 1/28/09 I have a Happy Heart
Be kind. Remember that everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. Harry Thompson
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Jack R
Forum Leader
Username: Jack_r
Post Number: 536
Registered: 08-2010
| | Posted on Saturday, August 27, 2011 - 09:13 am: |
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Jeanne,
Echoing what others have said to be prudent utilizing routine precautions. With puncture wounds or a pet scratch be aware they carry a lot of germs so watch your wound site and if any questions arise call your team. Also remember not to take NSAID's (non-steroid anit-inflamatory drugs) unless your support team directs you to as they have a negative effect on your prograf.
With the nerves severed around the heart the first year, year and one half (perhaps longer in individual cases), you will notice certain effects such as being light headed. This is why, for several months, you are directed to do pre and post exercises when rising,. I was also cautioned not to bend at the waist.
For a long time I had no startle reflex but have noticed over the years it has somewhat come back. No issues with exercising and even went up to a 7,500 foot elevation without any side affects.
If you have continued shortness of breath then please tell your support team.
Jeanne, you have a great life ahead of you the heart-transplant quarter century club is getting crowded.
Cardiac history going back to 1993. Heart Transplant received in Oct. 2004. Interesting first year and have been very physically active ever since. I currently am pro-active with the SE PA. Gift of Life and a member of Johns Hopkins patient administered Heart Transplant Foundation.
Exercise - look around you and don't tell me you can't -Blog |
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DAP1122
Forum Leader
Username: Dap1122
Post Number: 2793
Registered: 05-2008
| | Posted on Saturday, August 27, 2011 - 07:32 pm: |
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Jeanne,
Hello and welcome to TransplantBuddies. We are glad you are here. Now, I'm not claiming to be a teenager, unless you convert my age to Celcius, then I'm about 16.
Cuts, scrapes, etc all seem to heal pretty much in a normal fashion if you wash, use an antibiotic ointment and cover them. Common sense stuff.
And I agree with the others on the warm ups ....... take it slow and easy and build up speed in a gradual manner ....... kind of like an old guy would, LOL.
Hope you visit us often.
DAP
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