Claire: After over one year on a list for heart-lung transplant, Claire still waited. For the first few months, she had been optimistic about transplant. She worked hard at her exercise program, trying to build strength for the surgery. But now, she spent most of her time in front of the television. She thought of other candidates who had waited less time than she did. "They have their lives back, she thought. Maybe I was never meant to have the surgery."
When friends called, Claire found little to say to them. On her mind were troubled thoughts. "They just call because they pity me. I am sure they know others who they would rather talk with." Claire's attitude worried her mother. Claire was not eating or sleeping well. She had lost weight and looked run down. Some days she would not even get dressed. "This is not like Claire," her mother said to the transplant coordinator. "There is something wrong."
During a clinic visit, Claire said to her doctor that she had wondered if there was any point staying on the transplant list. Surprised, he asked why she thought this. Claire replied, "I am not sure that it's worth the trouble. I do not think it is going to work out. Somebody else might as well have the organs."
Claire's doctor reassured her that her physical health was stable. He believed that she could do well with transplantation. "But it worries me that you have lost weight and are not exercising regularly," he said. "I think that the long wait has taken a toll on your confidence. You might need help for depression." He asked her to talk with a psychiatrist who worked with the transplant program. "She has helped others who became demoralized while waiting for surgery," he said.
This is a typical way for depression to show itself, as a change in personal habits, loss of interest in friends and activities, and loss of hope. An extended wait is a common cause of depression in transplant candidates. Recipients can also become depressed when medical complications arise.