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RECYCLE YOURSELF BE AN ORGAN DONOR
My story updated 3rd March 2008
During July 1998 I had a cough which my GP doctor could not cure after several visits to see him, during which time I was becoming more and more short of breath.
On the Saturday 1st August 1998 I was admitted to Wordsley Hospital in Stourbridge onto the medical admissions ward, where I was diagnosed as having fluid on the chest affecting the heart. Three days later I was put on the medical ward, where the doctors diagnosed a enlarged heart or cardiomyopathy (a disease which can be hard to detect in the early stages of its development) and told to have total bed rest.
On the following Sunday I had two heart attacks and put on the Cardiac Care Ward, where I was sent for more tests including echo and CT scans. The doctors tried to treat the heart condition, but with no success. Then one day Dr. Forsey my doctor came and told me they were sending me to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for assessment, at which time I said to him is it for a transplant and he said yes. I was transferred by emergency ambulance with blue lights and siren on. It was the August bank holiday weekend.
On arrival the ambulance was met by a porter with oxygen and another porter stopping people using the lift, and I was rushed to the cardiac high dependency unit. At the time I was not aware of what was happening, I woke up the next day with tubes and drips attached to me. Over the few days I was sent for various a lot of tests. On the Monday the Consultant Mr Bonser told me and my family my only hope was a heart transplant and I was put on the transplant list. Two days later I nearly had a transplant but the heart was no good. I was then sent back to Wordsley Hospital to wait for a transplant.
Over the next few weeks my condition deteriorated more and more and the need for a donor heart became more desperate, during which time my weight went from 72 kgs (159 lbs) down to 46 kgs (101 lbs). Then on the evening of Sunday October 4th at about 9pm a nurse came and said they needed me at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital as their was a chance of a transplant. I was transferred again by emergency ambulance to Queen Elizabeth Hospital where I was joined by my family and waited for a yes or no decision. At 12-30am Sharon from the transplant team came and said the transplant was on and I would be going to the operating theatre soon. The last thing I remember before the operation is the needle being put in the back of my hand the time was 01-10 hrs (1-10am).
I was kept sedated for two days in intensive care after the operation, after which I was moved to the High Dependency unit. The first thing I remember is talking to a nurse as I was moved to the ward. While on this ward I was given a blood transfusion, and then I caught a urine infection for which I was treated. After a further two weeks I was moved to the normal cardiac ward, where I started to improve. After another week I was allowed home 3 weeks after the transplant after spending a total of 14 weeks in hospital. I was sent carrying a large box of drugs!.
I spent the next 6 weeks in and out of hospital, once with rejection, once with stomach problem and a collapsed lung and with another related problem. I finally came out of hospital the week before Christmas 1998. And returned to work as a gardener at Birmingham botanical gardens 13 weeks after the transplant, I did this only after the doctors said it was ok to do so. I returned to the hospital for regular check ups. To start with 2 times a week, then once a week, once a month, every six weeks, every 2 months, every 3 months and now every 6 months.
Now 9 years on after my transplant I only have a biopsy to check for rejection, and a Angiogram on the heart if the doctors say I need on. I still have a chest X ray, blood test and ECG electro cardio graph twice a year and a echo scan echo cardio graph scan once a year. The drugs I am now are as follows.
Neoral/Cyclosporin helps prevent rejection
Azathioprine helps prevent rejection
Amphotericin lozenger helps prevent mouth infection
Co Trimoxazole helps prevent infection
Asprin keeps blood thin
Diltazem controls blood pressure
Omeprazole helps protect stomach
Pravastatin helps control cholestrol
There are various transplant drugs which you could be put on , These are the drugs I am taking.
After a transplant you will put on drugs and like me will be on them rest of your life but remember you are taking them for a reason. After a while you will get into a routine of taking them and find that it becomes part of daily life.
Now eight years on I am able to follow a normal active life,
I am now a member of The American Transplant Association so I can give support to patients wherever they live, I was the first person from England to join this Association
Special Thanks
If it wasn't for the donor family and the gift of life they made at the difficult time of losing a loved one, and the Heart/Lung Transplantation Team of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, England - I wouldn't be alive today. They provided me with a second chance of life, and I make sure that I remain active and obtain medical advise to stay in good health.
I am a participating member of The Transplant Support Network which provides excellent support from people who have received transplant's and provides information on individual experiences, helping to lighten concerns and fears over the transplant.
I also support the Donor Bus as a volunteer by going out with to encourage people to join the Organ donor register
At the time of my heart transplant I was given two days to live by doctors
If you follow medical advice you will be back to your previous fitness and way of life
If you want help and advice you can contact me at
Please feel free to contact me if you want, I am here to give support and help.