New Transplant Blog Posts

Posted by Kristin Eggebraaten @keggebraaten, Feb 21, 2017

Hello everyone,
We hope this finds everyone well today! We have started this discussion today to announce a new blog post. Every week, we will reply to this discussion to let you know when something new is published. Watch for new information often!

Have a productive and enjoyable week!
- Kristin

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Transplants Support Group.

JK | @contentandwell | Sep 29, 2019

In reply to @jeanne5009 "Got my Flu shot last week" + (show)

@jeanne5009 It just occurred to me, since you are waiting for a transplant you might want to look into getting any immunizations that you can get now that are not allowed after transplant. Some of them have some live viruses in them and I have been informed that I can’t have them now due to being on immunosuppressants.

I know one of them is the shingles vaccine, both the old one and the new one, but I think that @rosemarya said that Mayo OK’d that. MGH has not yet. There are some others but I forget which ones, possibly the pneumonia one? The flu shot is definitely OK though. I hope that MGH will eventually, with more research, decide that the shingles one is OK.
JK

cmael | @cmael | Sep 29, 2019

In reply to @contentandwell "@jeanne5009 It just occurred to me, since you are waiting for a transplant you might want..." + (show)

It was recommended to get the Shingrex, by my PCP and Mayo, which I did a few months ago. My husband and I both got the high dose flu shot a week ago. As JK said, it can't be a live virus. I'm a year and a half past a kidney transplant. I had pneumonia shots before transplant.:)

marvinjsturing | @marvinjsturing | Sep 29, 2019

@jeanne5009 @contentandwell Mayo made me get Tdap, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Zostavax, flu shot and pneumococcal shots. Because some of these involve multiple shots, it took me 6 months to get them all. I am on the kidney transplant list.

JK | @contentandwell | Sep 29, 2019

In reply to @cmael "It was recommended to get the Shingrex, by my PCP and Mayo, which I did a..." + (show)

@cmael I wish that MGH would determine that shingrix is safe for us. Hopefully soon.
JK

Dana, Volunteer Mentor | @danab | Sep 29, 2019

In reply to @contentandwell "@jeanne5009 It just occurred to me, since you are waiting for a transplant you might want..." + (show)

Phoenix Mayo oked me getting the new Shingles and i also get the flu every year. I was told the new shingles is not a live virus.

JK | @contentandwell | Sep 29, 2019

In reply to @danab "Phoenix Mayo oked me getting the new Shingles and i also get the flu every year...." + (show)

@danab I wonder why MGH is not approving it. I have an appointment with my surgeon in a few weeks so I will ask again.
JK

jeanne5009 | @jeanne5009 | Sep 30, 2019

In reply to @contentandwell "@jeanne5009 It just occurred to me, since you are waiting for a transplant you might want..." + (show)

@contentandwell
Yes, Im 3 years waiting so I know the drill. Got the flu shot, checking with Mayo at my appt at the end of October on the shingles and Prevnar for pneumonia. Have to be in the best shape for transplant...if it ever happens.

Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Oct 1, 2019

In reply to @contentandwell "@cmael I wish that MGH would determine that shingrix is safe for us. Hopefully soon. JK" + (show)

Since Shingrex is not a live virus, I wonder why. Might there be some underlying condition that you have that would make it prohibitive for you?
When the vaccine was new, I remember that there were some questions about it, and so I asked my transplant nurse. She checked with the infectious disease doctor in the transplant department and he gave approval.

JK | @contentandwell | Oct 1, 2019

In reply to @rosemarya "Since Shingrex is not a live virus, I wonder why. Might there be some underlying condition..." + (show)

@rosemarya They simply said that they were still looking into it for post-transplant patients. I have an appointment next week with my transplant surgeon. I will try to remember to ask about it. Sometimes even when I write questions down I end up immersed in a topic and forget to ask something.
JK

Retired Teacher | @retiredteacher | Oct 18, 2019

In reply to @marvinjsturing "@jeanne5009 @contentandwell Mayo made me get Tdap, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Zostavax, flu shot and pneumococcal..." + (show)

@marvinjsturing Hello. I have been thinking about you and several other members that I haven't touched base with lately. Where are you in the transplant process? I hope your sister is doing well and that you are close to getting the kidney, if not from her, then a donor will be found. I had to stop the treadmill as I now have neuropathy in my feet as a result of my diabetes. It was fun while it lasted, but now I have a hard time walking so my exercise is limited to my house chores and what I do inside. I hope you are doing well. I'd love to know where you are in the process.

Carol