Mater Lung Transplant

After transplant

If you feel unwell

Don’t delay seeking help. The sooner something is flagged, the better it can be managed.

Monitoring your symptoms

After transplant, you should pay close attention to how your body is feeling. Sometimes it might be hard to tell if you’re unwell. Care partners and family members should keep an eye out for any changes to your condition that you might have trouble spotting yourself.
This includes:

  • lung issues including shortness of breath, cough, decreased oxygen level
  • flu like symptoms including fever, vomiting or diarrhoea
  • difficulty passing urine
  • new pain, pus or swelling from incision site
  • changes to your blood pressure, weight or temperature
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Where to go if you're unwell

When you’re unwell, it's important to know where to go so you can get the right care at the right time. In general, the transplant clinic focuses on lung related issues. For emergencies, go straight to your nearest emergency department (ED). For anything that’s not lung related or an emergency, go to your GP.

If you’re ever unsure what to do or where to go, you can ring the clinic for advice.

Out of hours

If you feel unwell or have concerns outside of normal clinic hours, don’t delay seeking advice. Either go to your nearest ED, or contact your local GP on call.

“Waiting until your next appointment or until normal operating hours is dangerous. Never delay seeking advice or getting treatment if you don’t feel well.”

-Dr Michelle Murray, Lung Transplant Consultant

For emergencies

In an emergency, dial 999. Emergency departments, rather than clinics, are the best place to handle urgent medical issues, as they can investigate and manage symptoms sooner. If you ever go to an ED:

  • Bring all your medications, your journal and your medication card. Make sure the ED team knows which medications you can't have.
  • A family member or care partner should ring the clinic to let us know you’re in hospital, even if it’s out of hours. If you’re a cystic fibrosis patient, they should also notify your local cystic fibrosis centre.
  • Let the hospital know you’ve had a transplant and ask them to contact the Mater for advice.
  • A family member or care partner should keep us informed on any changes to your condition.
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