DESPITE HAVING SOME GREAT MEDICINES TO TREAT IPF – IDIOPATHETIC PLUMINARY FIBROSIS, THESE MEDICINES CAN EXTEND SURVIVAL BY SLOWING THE DISEASE PROGRESSION. BUT, THE QUALITY OF LIFE DETERORIATES AS THE DISEASE MOVES ALONG. THE REASONS WE DO THESE SHOWS IS ALL ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE – QTR – QUALITY TIME REMAINING.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT WE WILL NOT BE GIVING ANY MEDICAL ADVICE HERE AT ALL. WE IMPLORE YOU TO SPEAK TO YOUR DOCTOR AS EVERY CASE IS UNIQUE AND WE ARE NOT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS NOR CLAIM TO BE ONES.

WE HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN TO PEOPLE WITH IPF, INCLUDING ME, YOUR HOST. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO CARETAKERS AS WELL. WE HAVE DISCUSSED HOW WE ARE DEALING WITH THE BURDENS BROUGHT OUT BY IPF.

TONIGHT, WE WILL TALK ABOUT LUNG TRANSPLANTS. OUR VERY SPECIAL GUEST IS ANDY SAURER. ANDY WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE RECEIVED A DOUBLE LUNG TRANSPLANT AND IS NOT WASTING ANY TIME ENJOYING THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

SO, LETS QUICKLY GO BACK. THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL LUNG TRANSPLANT FOR PULMONARY FIBROSIS WAS IN 1983. THE PATIENT SURVIVED WITH A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MORE THAN 5 YEARS. TODAY THAT NUMBER IS MUCH MUCH HIGHER. PATIENTS WITH IPF ARE CHOSEN FOR A TRANSPLANT IF THEY HAVE A HIGH RISK OF DEATH (LESS THAN 50% CHANCE) IN THE FOLLOWING TWO YEARS, HAVE A HIGH PROBABILITY OF SURVIVING AT LEAST 90 DAYS AFTER THE TRANSPLANT AND A HIGH PROBABILITY OF SURVIVING LONG TERM AFTER THE TRANSPLANT FROM ANY OTHER MEDICAL CONDITION THEY HAVE. THIS INFORMATION COMES FROM PUBMED CENTRAL. THERE ARE MANY OTHER CRITERIAS OR HOOPS YOU MUST JUMP THROUGH TO GET A TRANSPLANT.

THEN THERE IS THE COST. IF YOUR INSURANCE DOES NOT COVER THIS YOUR OUT OF POCKET CAN BE AROUND 1.3 MILLION DOLLARS (A 2022 COST NUMBER). IN SOME CASES, BASICALLY AS YOU ARE STRUGGLING FOR LIFE BUT THERE IS A PRICE TAG BEING PUT ON YOUR MORTALITY. I PERSONALLY KNEW SOMEONE WITH A SEVERE CASE OF COPD, WHO WAS ONLY 18 AND THE FAMILY COULD NOT COME UP WITH THE FUNDS. IN FACT, THE FAMILY WAS ON MY SHOW MANY YEARS AGO INCLUDING THE DAUGHTER WHO LOST A VALIENT BATTLE TO STRUGGLE TO STAY ALIVE AND FIND SOME NORMALITY.

SO TONIGHT WE CELEBRATE ANDY SAURER…A NEW LEASE ON LIFE…CANULA FREE!