Once you have been discharged from the hospital after your lung transplant, you will be asked to monitor

• your temperature
• blood pressure
• weight
• lung function
• blood sugar (diabetics only)

 

1. Temperature: 

• You should take your temperature twice a day; once before breakfast and once before dinner. Please record the results in your journal. 
• Also, take your temperature any time you feel chilled, hot, or achy. This may be the first sign of infection/rejection. 
• Please contact the transplant team for any temperature greater than 100 degrees F.

 

2. Blood Pressure:

• You will be asked to purchase a blood pressure machine before you are discharged from the hospital. Your nurse will teach you and your family how to use the blood pressure machine. 
• You should take your blood pressure in the morning before breakfast. Please record the results in your journal.

You should notify your transplant team if your blood pressure is:

- systolic (top number) greater than 180 or less than 100 

- diastolic (bottom number) greater than 100 or less than 50

Your blood pressure machine also will give you your pulse. You should notify the transplant team when your pulse is greater than 140 or less than 60.

 

3. Weight:

• Please weigh yourself every morning before you eat and after you urinate - please record the results in your journal. 
• You should notify your transplant team about any weight gain greater than 3 lb. in a 24 hr. period.

 

4. Lung Function:  

• You will receive a microspirometer during your transplant hospitalization. You will be instructed on how to use the microspirometer by a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Therapist. 
• You should measure your FEV1 and FVC every day, at the same time each day and record the numbers on your patient record sheet.
• You also will be given an incentive spirometer and flutter valve. You will be asked to use these 3x a day during the initial post-transplant period.

 You should notify your transplant team if your microspirometry:

- FEV1 decreases by 10% for 2 days 

- FVC decreases by 10 % for 2 days

 

5. Blood Sugar (diabetics only):

• If you were diabetic before your transplant or recently have developed diabetes since your transplant, you will be asked to monitor your blood sugar. Please take your blood sugar before breakfast and before dinner. Record the results in your journal. 
• You should notify the transplant team or your endocrinologist (diabetic doctor) for blood sugars less than 80 or greater than 350.

 

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