I had a double lung transplant a little over a year ago. As far as life expectancy, my first doctor was not a fan of transplants. He claimed it was too hard to get on the list and if you did, it may extend your life by 5 years if lucky. I changed doctors and after a few tests in his office, he referred me to a transplant team at our local hospital. We are blessed with two world class hospitals close by. I asked him about the life expectancy thing and he said that was old school thinking. With changes in medications, procedures and post operative care, the sky is the limit. The biggest obstacle is passing the myriad of tests you have to go through in order to get onto the transplant list. I took about 3 months to get through them and surprised myself by passing. I was then told that it would be a year to a year and a half before I could expect the call. Much to my surprise, they called 10 days later and said, "John, we have your lungs, get to the hospital as soon as possible". They want you there within the hour, we showed up about 45 min later. Before I knew it, I was admitted and in my private room in ICU. This was all around 6 PM. My lungs were not there yet, they sent a nurse to retrieve them. I still don't know where they came from, only that a flight was involved. I ended up going into surgery around 11PM. About 11 hours later I was back in ICU with a new set of air bags. The next day my transplant doctor came in and took me off oxygen saying "you don't need this anymore". What a rush, I was on oxygen for years and to be suddenly off of it was amazing. No more tanks or hoses. WOW.... Anyway, I was in the hospital for 16 days, 8 days in ICU and 8 days in a step down unit. A step down unit is pretty well isolated from the general hospital population due to a compromised immune system. As I said, that was a year ago and today I feel like a new person. I can breath again. My wife and I attend transplant support group meetings and there are several people that are 8 and 10 year post op. I realize that not all come out of it as well as others but it amounts to your quality of life. I had none. I was pretty much sedentary at home for the last several years before my transplant. Actually, when I make the transplant list and was told it would be a year or more before I could expect the call, I doubted that I would last another year. When I received the call, it was a combination of joy and terror. Would I do it again, absolutely. I would not be here today otherwise. Well, good luck whatever you decide. If I can be of any help, just yell. Thought you might like a positive reply. Miracles do happen. If it matters, I smoked for 40 years. You just cant be a smoker to get accepted. Bless you, John

No think that is wrong to say that ... many on here have lived a good lot longer than that, and have such a positive attitude. Why I have know people in stage 4 who have gone on and lived a lot longer than that. My Doctors always tell me, that they cannot predict such a thing as many people go on for quite sometime, enjoying life, and living it as fully as they can. ....So please don't dwell on this 5 yrs thing, get a second opinion. I sure would. Sometimes we take the word of a Doctor as gospel, not running Doctors down, but think a lot has to do with our attitude as well, and what we do to help ourselves. any way that's just my opinion. ......Blessings to you.

Any added time is a bonus!! I would be happy to add years to my life and am so happy I have experienced all that I have and am anxious to be able to experience even more!! With a lung transplant, you will be out and about again and not in isolation any more!! I pray it happens soon for you!!

praying all goes well, blessings.

Please don't give up!! Do whatever you can to build yourself up. I can't believe all doctors believe five years is max! If so, find another doctor!! I drive 3 hours, 20 minutes to my Pulmonologist and Cardiologist and have great doctors who never give me any doom nor gloom. I'll live my life as great as I can and am thankful to be doing as well as I am with the great doctors I have! Inasmuch as for me, I have no one to blame except myself, but I am overwhelmingly grateful!!