COVID-19 and Transplant Patients

@jodeej, Take some comfort knowing that you and Tim are already practicing the habits for avoiding infection. Have you been isolating yourselves in your house?
I am more concerned right now for our kids who still have jobs that cannot be done at home - a firefighter and an independent restaurant GM. My husband and I, being retired, are able to stay at home. Tomorrow we will 'attend' church online and our governor has asked all the churches throughout the state to ring their church bells/chimes at 10AM as a sign of our solidarity that our faith communities are standing together.
I am happy that the weather is becoming more springlike, but it keeps raining!

@rosemarya. Thank you. I received a very similar letter from Mass General. I would think most transplant centers are on the same page on this.

@jodeej. That really does get scary when it’s so close to home. Is the person anyone that you or your contacts would have had contact with? Hopefully it will be an isolated case.
Stay well.
JK

@joyces, Do you have access to get news online? or to get texts?

Yes, I can get news online, for the Portland metro area. Without cell reception, there is no texting. I don't even get a sound to notify me that someone has sent a text...until I go at least a half mile from home. There are also lots of dead spots in this small town, the most "interesting" being that there is zero cell phone reception anywhere in City Hall. <g>

When we first moved here full time (after over 50 years of living here 3-4 days every week), I really missed the Portland paper, which is the largest in the state. I replaced that by watching news on TV, although it was always about the Portland metro area two hours NE. We don't even have a real local radio station here as it's part of a network and broadcasts the same news everywhere. Our local weekly paper is a really bad joke, as is its website. Both of us are editors, so reading even a photo caption in the local paper makes us groan. The language is going to hell in a handcart, and quickly.

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with you. First are immune system suppression, is a little more complicated than that. Are Immune suppressants , target specific immune cells. If in fact you say that you shouldn't take higher doses of Vit C, then it would be the same to say, you can't eat oranges, tomatoes, bananas, etc., which are high in Vit. C , now as far as the herbs go, you do have to be carful with those, because there are some that do directly affect absorption of are immune suppressers. Long and short, make sure you do your research, from reliable sources, probably the best thing you can do is not eat junk food, soda, drink plenty of water .

For all us transplantees, I do wear a glove on one hand that I use to open store doors, touch ATM keys, etc that others touch. Also have credit card ready to use instead of using cash and receiving change that has been touched by many people. Remove the glove before you enter your car and use hand sanitizer. Also take your oun bags and pack your own items.

I was told by my transplant nurse team at Mayo that they don’t recommend taking vitamin C. Do you think that may be because vitamin C is a concentrated higher dose than eating an orange or other fruits?

My husband was given a list of things to avoid following transplant, and Vitamin C was high on the list. Why do people take C when they feel a cold starting? Duh...because one tablet has many more times the C than any citrus fruits...plural.

Again, we've learned that simply avoiding the chemicals and excess salt of packaged/prepared foods is able to prevent catching colds and flus, even when exposed, even when the person is taking immunosuppresants to avoid rejecting an organ.

Okay guys ,I don't know who your transplant team, but I've been taking Vit.C for years. My transplant team, knows I take it and have never told me not to, not once have I ever had a problem with rejection, and I've had my transplant for 5 years, but I do most defiantly agree that avoiding additives in processed foods, and eating healthy.

It sounds like we are all in agreement that Vitamin C is essential. As transplant patients, we already know that there is not a one-size-fits all.It can vary from patient to patient.

Here is a information about Vitamin C where you can read more information that relates to this Vitamin C conversation, for example: Our body needs it; Most of us can get enough from our diet; It can cause kidney stones; Long term use at high levels can cause significant side effects; People with certain conditions might need supplements; A list of possible interactions; Reminder to talk with your doctor.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-c/art-20363932

@joyces, You can read about Vitamin C and colds.
@ca426, there is a list of possible complications of high doses of Vitamin C and also reasons why someone might need supplemental Vitamin C.
@cmael, @cmael you can see why your nurse told you that you don't need extra