COVID-19 and Transplant Patients

Posted by jolinda @jolinda, Mar 14, 2020

As a kidney transplant recipient I have been extra vigilant/worried about protecting myself as COVID-19 spreads. Like most transplant patients I am used to washing my hands, carrying hand-sanitizer, avoiding sick people, getting flu shots, etc. The COVID-19 outbreak has caused me to take additional steps to try to remain safe but I am worried for my health. I would like to hear what you are doing to stay safe and how you are feeling.

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

@estrada53

Hello to all the transplant patients! Certainly our anxiety increases with the possibility of any type of virus present in our surroundings. Immunosuppression is troublesome for respiratory viruses. We always are cautious and careful. COVID-19 offers new concern because it is an unknown - no vaccine - and we don't know if the trajectory of the illness is going up or down. Thinking all this through, I have self-isolated even though there are only 2 cases in my county (Arizona). So, we are also watching church service online. My heart transplant was 3 years ago and I am still on prednisone and, of course, mycophenalate and sirolimus. I wonder if I am actually more protected than others from the virus because of the steroid. No other respiratory virus has been shown to affect potential rejection so I wouldn't think the COVID-19 would. These are good questions for our doctors! Take care everyone and stay healthy. Our God is good!

Jump to this post

@estrada53 I too, being post-liver transplant, am being very careful. I have gone to the supermarket, it's not difficult to not be close to other people there, and as soon as I get out to my car I use some hand sanitizer and then wash my hands thoroughly when I get home.
Since in church you are in much closer proximity to other congregants I am not attending services.
That's an interesting thought about prednisone. I am on that and sirolimus also.
We do not eat out more than once a week at the most generally but we will not now and I am already missing that. I read something about food prep outside for takeout and that too sounds off-limits. You just cannot rely on how careful the preparers of the food were.
JK

REPLY
@estrada53

What just happened to the post in Spanish? He was asking how to donate his kidney.

Jump to this post

@estrada53 The post asking about kidney donation was removed because upon further investigation, it was discovered that the person was looking to sell a kidney. Such posts are not permitted on Mayo Clinic Connect.

REPLY

Thank you for taking care of that. People are desperate. I did try to reply in Spanisb to him. Be well.

REPLY

Thank you for taking care of that.

REPLY

My husband is a kidney recipient. Right now we are 800 miles apart, as he wraps up escrow on the sale of his condo, and finishes out his job of 40 years before retiring. I find it pretty interesting that I haven't had to nag him about cleanliness, which has happened in the past. He is much more aware of everyday precautions [handles on the gas pumps, doors, shopping carts, etc]. He has access to 99.5% pure alcohol, and I will be creating homemade hand sanitizer when he comes up in 10 days, for him to take back. I am doing what I can to alleviate stress he is under with all the changes he is going through. More than likely, the severe respiratory infection he had in Feb served as a wake-up call to him to not be so cavalier about things!
Ginger

REPLY

I am a post liver transplant and have my yearly visit to Rochester in a few weeks. You all know what the lab waiting room looks like at Charlton, plus all the other waiting areas in the other buildings you have appts. in. I was pretty well in control of my mindset until it was pointed out to me that people from all over the world visit that facility every day. Has anyone heard if Mayo is taking precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of this virus on campus?

REPLY

I found this on the Mayo website. In addition. I received a letter detailing the extraordinary measures taken to ensure cleanliness at Mayo in Phoenix.
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-limiting-number-of-hospital-visitors-during-covid-19-response/

REPLY
@des46893

I am a post liver transplant and have my yearly visit to Rochester in a few weeks. You all know what the lab waiting room looks like at Charlton, plus all the other waiting areas in the other buildings you have appts. in. I was pretty well in control of my mindset until it was pointed out to me that people from all over the world visit that facility every day. Has anyone heard if Mayo is taking precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of this virus on campus?

Jump to this post

@des46893 - My annual is scheduled for end of April in Rochester. I am concerned about the same thing.
Today my 24 hr urine collection kit was delivered to me. This is the first time that I have been directed to do the collection 2+ weeks early and to return a small specimen container early. Since we drive, I have always toted that jug with me.

REPLY
@des46893

I am a post liver transplant and have my yearly visit to Rochester in a few weeks. You all know what the lab waiting room looks like at Charlton, plus all the other waiting areas in the other buildings you have appts. in. I was pretty well in control of my mindset until it was pointed out to me that people from all over the world visit that facility every day. Has anyone heard if Mayo is taking precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of this virus on campus?

Jump to this post

@des46893

Great news, Mayo Clinic is way ahead of the game... as usual! I found out that most immune compromised patients are scheduled at the Charlton Lab. You'll run into a lot of us transplant patients, pre and post-transplant and a variety of c\Chemo/Cancer patients etc. They do this to keep the more vulnerable patients (like us) safe. The crowd you are amongst are just as precautions as you are. Occasionally someone will decide to bring a bunch of kids with them which is so dangerous but people are people.

Good luck at your check up.

REPLY
@rosemarya

@des46893 - My annual is scheduled for end of April in Rochester. I am concerned about the same thing.
Today my 24 hr urine collection kit was delivered to me. This is the first time that I have been directed to do the collection 2+ weeks early and to return a small specimen container early. Since we drive, I have always toted that jug with me.

Jump to this post

My annual is mid April. I haven’t gotten anything from Mayo yet. Last year my 24 collection arrived early. I collected on the day that we drove down to Mayo so it was ready to turn in the next day when I went in for labs.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.