TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Hi Swarb,

A friend of mine is having a hard time of things, he basically needs a heart & lung transplant.  He's been a pro musician all his life and knows no other trade.  The one thing above all else that really gets to him is his inability to play any more due to the medication he is on.  Any words of wisdom from one who has been there and come out the other side smiling ?

Regards,

Ewen.

PS Thanks for all the wonderful music and for giving us this opportunity.

there is a lot i dont know about yr friend, first before i answer yr question, can you tell me if he is on the "list" swarb   next does he get out of breath, as he surely must ,does he have a portable oxygen set up. swarb

He is on the list for the transplants (though only recently), he does get very out of breath, he can manage about twenty yards on sticks and no more, he does have a static oxygen setup & tanks for his wheelchair.

could you explain please, in alittle more detail, what instument he plays and what in the medication disenables him from playing   swrb

He played guitar, some of his medication causes shaking & stiffening of joints, his Drs say there are no suitable alternatives without similar side effects.  That, and the atrophy he has suffered from hardly moving, are the reasons he can't play.

I would reccomend light exercise, maybe arm strengthening ones with light weights, nothing that strains his heart. I would also get him to go on the web and get info on his medication and to give his gp continious strife till his medication is improved,if necessary change gp, see consultant, stop at nothing to make things better for himself. i wish him all the luck in the world for his transplant. tell him to get up if he can,if only to stand up, and the fitter he can get the easier the operation recovery will be. all advice of course much easier to give than receive, I have been there though and i know how hard it is.  

Thanks Swarb, I'll pass that on and hope he takes note.