Learning curve

With each day comes a new understanding of the new life Greg has before him. We were well aware of the number of medications that he would be on and the new regiment. As Greg puts it, having a lung transplant is like trading one disease for another. This is solely based on the new regiment of medications and that is not to say that the lung transplant is not worth having - it is worth having as it allows the once terminal person to live and live well.As I said before, the learning curve is great because now you have to learn not only when to take your medications and perform your treatments but you have to learn all the possible side effects and what not to take with the medications. We knew that his Prednisone would cause diabetes for a while, at least until the dosage came down to under 20mg but today we found out that another medication, called Tacrolimus (Prograf) can also cause a form of diabetes. So, armed with new information, Greg and I plan on speaking with the transplant team tomorrow, during clinic, to ask them about this new information.Some has said to me that I should go into the medical field now because of all the new knowledge I have obtained over the last 9 years of this relationship. I have to admit that I have thought about it but right now I only have one patient, who needs me, and I need him. Until that patient is able to run a marathon, my medical skills will stay limited to him. Just call me a "Greg Specialist". (wink)