The only negative was that the PFT's showed my FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second) has dropped from a high of 2.1 liters post-transplant to 1.6 liters 5 years later. So the transplant team has prescribed azithromycin (Zithromax) 3 days a week in an effort to not only halt, but reverse the declining lung function.
Zithromax is a macrolide antibiotic and this treatment is based on studies done with lung transplant patients who have Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome (BOS). It has not been confirmed that I actually have BOS but I'm happy to go along with the theory that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
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2 comments:
Hi Merv: we must have crossed paths on Wednesday April 18 at the hospital as Ken and I were there doing the same tests as you. We would have liked to have met you so we could tell you in person what a wonderful job you have done with the carepages and with your blog site. We are sorry to hear that your PFT's have decreased but hopefully the new meds will take care of the problem. Ken is also taking the same medication as you for inflammation of his lungs.No one has ever mentioned this BOS before so I am curious about it now. Thanks for all the great work you've done in keeping us all informed. We wish you well.
Kelly Isacsson
Thanks for your comments Biby. I'm pleased to see that you are reading my blog all the way from India. Merv.
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