IamA 26 years old man with cystic fibrosis who just got called in to receive a double lung transplant tonight! AMA!

Guys im going into surgery, thanks everyone for the AMA! might do another one once i wake up!

Hi! Good luck with your transplant. I am a nurse who works with kids with CF, what would you like nurses to know to help take better care of you?

all the nurses i've met so far are very professional and know their stuff. if theres one comment i could say is for them to put more trust in cystic fibrosis patients: we're so used to the hospital/treatment life that we know how to do a big part of your job for you, and sometimes that scares nurses (E.G. i can change my IV by myself, etc)

Also, PLEASE, don't let your kids do the same mistakes i've made. i don't know how old they are, but make sure they do their nebs/treatments when they reach their teenage years. (14 to 20 years old). i neglected my treatments and this is where i am right now, if only i could go back i would be doing my neb and flutter every day.

Also, get your kids to become gym rats once they reach about 16 years old. As stupid as it sounds, it will literally save their lives. i've seen friends of mine with CF with 115% FEV1 from going to the gym at a young age.

Are you told anything about the donor?

besides that he is a 27 years old male, no. Apparently they are harvesting a bunch of organs for me which makes me extremely happy that his death will not have been in vain, and many people in my kind of situation will be able to continue to live from it.

ALWAYS SIGN YOUR DONOR CARD!

edit: i meant from him. a bunch of organs from him.

I don't have a question?

Just wanted to say can't wait to talk to you soon after the operation is done!

Here's to breathing easier...

thank you!

What are you looking forward to doing physically? What kind of aftercare goes into a lung transplant?

short answer? everything. run. walk up stairs without being out of breath. not having to take the elevator all the time. go to the gym. at this point i can't even walk further than 50 meters without feeling pretty much how a normal person would feel after running 5 miles.

recovery really varies by patients. from what i was told i could be intubated from 1 day to months, and i could be out of the hospital in 2 weeks or 6 months. the lungs being a vital organ, anti-rejection medication will put my immune system to very low levels therefore i have to be careful, wash my hands all the time....i'm gonna have to become quite the germophobe to be honest hahaha!

How do you feel right now?

stressed. mostly bummed out cause i just realised i won't be able to eat sushi anymore, and i LOVE sushi! (anti-rejection medication basically puts your immune system to 5% capacity, therefore raw fish/meats are forbidden once you get a transplant. and for some reason, grapefruits too!)

edit: to answer your question though, i'm mostly happy. this is a new life starting for me, straight up. ill be able to do everything ive always been wanting to do physically.

Hey, I have it on good authority that vegetarian sushi can be really amazing. Doesn't taste just the same as fish sushi but if done right you can get the same kind of mingle of textures, flavors, aromas, and beautiful presentation that you do with fish sushi. So don't get too bummed about the sushi, now your challenge is to seek out the best veg sushi you can find!

oh trust me i'm gonna go nuts in veggie sushi, yet i'm gonna always miss sashimi :(

I've heard that life expectancy is very low for CF. Now that you've had the transplant, what's your life expectancy now?

Also, I heard CF people take monster shits. Is this true?

it really depends. could be up to 25 more years, or less than 2, but on average its about 9 more years.

we have medication to prevent that, we take it before eating anything, if we didnt then basically the fats in our food isnt digested and its just shits. hahaha

thats amazing! I work with cf patients, what is your FEV1?

currently at 25%, i'm in very good condition coming in the surgery, i feel great which make me very confident!

Are you worried at all? How do you see yourself when you walk into the surgery?

PS: I wish you the best of luck with your surgery!

like this.

I got this shit.

First of all, love your tats!

What was your first reaction when you heard the news you were getting new lungs? What are your loved ones feeling and doing right now?

i was sitting on the couch, just browsing reddit actually (/r/squaredcircle whats up!) i got the phone call, doctor introduces himself, and right away i know this is it. says they have compatible lungs for me and i should come in for 6:00 pm. just started crying tears of joy, and being the big wrestling mark that i am, my first reaction was to yell, like The Rock: FINALLY! THE LUNGS! HAVE COME BACK! FOR AAAAAAAAAALLLLEEEEEEEXXXXXXX!

im still quite not grasping it yet to be honest. but i'm just so ecstatic.

From one mark to another; see you soon. Had a best friend pass from CF in 2008; and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. When you get out let's talk Royal Rumble predictions my man!

i mean it has to be bryan. only other viable option is ziggler though, but mcmahon would never allow such a millenial to main event WM.

What do you plan to do with your life next?

Also, good luck. It's great that you're getting what you need. I always carry my donor card with me!

THANK YOU! as i mentioned i'd love to travel. whether its backpacking or touring with a band, i've been stuck in montreal for way too long, i need to see the world now that i can!

Good luck on your surgery!!

Have you see the documentary 65 Red Roses?

yes! i even spoke with the girl that was in the documentary, she's super nice!

Do any of your close family members also have cystic fibrosis?

I study biomedical sciences and whenever i hear about disorders like cf it really touches me man. Good luck with everything mate, and stay positive!

i'm the only one in my family, i have friends (two sisters, 25 and 22 years old) who both have CF and both had successful transplants :)

What are your long terms goals or dreams once you get this second chance on life ?

i want to go on tour. been very active in the hardcore music scene locally (in montreal) for a long time and i'm good friends with a lot of smaller touring bands. Never been able to leave for weeks on tour because of my condition, and i've always been dying to!

Are you nervous? Also, congrats :)

i try not to be. im running around bare-assed in my hospital gown which i think is funny as hell so that keeps me cool-headed i guess :)

edit: """"running""""

Good luck, man. What are you looking forward to most when you are recovered?

traveling! i have been unable to take a plane due to low oxygen levels since 2012. i want to visit the LOST filming locations in Hawaii most of all, very big fan of the series. recently joined /r/backpacking and /r/solotravel to daydream. now the dream can become reality :)

Dude? You ok?

survived!

Hope everything goes well. How long was the operation. Do you feel different afterwards?

i feel like a whole new person. Not only on a physical level, but also on a mental level. it is incredibly life changing. i'm going to try to do an AMA in a few days once i don't have a dozen of tubes and cables hanging out my body to explain it all!