COVID-19 and Transplant Patients

@contentandwell Typically we do not stay overnight anywhere on the drive. We might take a few extended breaks at truck stop, but keep going. If we drive the same vehicle, we simply trade off drivers. He has been doing the runs with utility trailer loads of goods since Sept, and only had two trips where he stop overnight in one direction.
Ginger

@contentandwell.. I agree with you about grocery delivery. I miss doing that myself. I got a food delivery from whole foods yesterday, the milk I ordered expires in two weeks, I only use milk in my morning tea and sometimes in my oatmeal. If I am shopping I would looking for milk with a longer expiration date. I was told I can freeze milk. My daughter and son in law came to see me for my birthday next week. The trip usually takes about 90 minutes but with no traffic, they were here under a hour. They met me and my son in a park next to his house. When it got too hot, we moved under the solar panels in the schools parking lot. We all wore masks and sat at a safe distance. It was great seeing them in person although we do video chats. Hopefully next time we see one another, we can give kisses and hugs. My city is doing everything to help us, meals to seniors and disabled. Wellness checks, we have distributed over 11 thousand masks to store employees and anyone who needs one. I just heard that they plan to offer every resident free covid test, symptomatic or not, to make sure we are in a plateau before lifting stay at home. So far people in my city is compliant, unlike our neighboring cities whose residents are demonstrating and openly defying social distancing. My family agreed we can't do anything about that, we can only do what we can to protect ourselves. Stay safe everyone. Pray for the end of the tunnel when we'll see the light again.

@gingerw When we do long drives like that my husband does almost all of the driving if not all of it. That's for two reasons -- he is a backseat driver and I hate driving with him in the car, plus driving tends to make me sleepy after about an hour, sometimes even less! I guess it's just the boredom of it.
That's great that you can do it without having to stop to stay overnight anywhere. My son has mentioned they could tent on the way here, but from the look his wife gave him (we were zooming) I don't think she was fond of that idea. They would definitely need to stop somewhere I think. We once made the drive from Michigan to here without stopping anywhere to stay overnight and by the time we hit CT we were both getting very woozy.
JK

@contentandwell I do not comment on my husband's driving [sometimes I want to!]. I not-so-gently remind him if he comments when I am driving, of that fact, and that if he doesn't stop, he'll be put out on the side of the road. He knows I am serious. I fall asleep as a passenger.
If he goes back as a contractor to his job while restrictions are in place, he might rent a car and drive, to save wear and tear on his truck. No airplanes or trains for him!
Ginger

@gingerw I do not comment on my husband's driving either but he reacts to mine. My husband tends to over-react to many things. He is a worrier about ridiculous things and has unfortunately passed that on to our son.
JK

I received my dad's kidney 39 years ago. I am retired and my wife works at the local school district but has been off since March due to the covid-19. We do wear masks when we go out which is not very often. Our daughter does the shopping once a week and we have a meet in the driveway with our grandchildren. We are concerned now that my wife is back at work today to replace staff that were furloughed. We are stepping up cleaning she she comes home and keeping our distancing from each other here at home. Praying she doesn't bring anything home!

@guidant07 I believe you will be fine. I had my liver transplant in December 2019 and my husband works at Lowe's part time. When he gets home, he takes his shoes off before coming in. Then he heads straight to the shower. He wears his mask and gloves while at work. Your wife will probably be wearing her mask and gloves too. Good luck and God bless!!

Welcome to Connect, @guidant07. I was just about to sign off for the evening when I saw your message. That is some good timing!
I am happy and honored to meet you. What a beautiful tribute to your dad that you are doing well 39 years after your transplant. I am 11 years post liver and kidney transplant. My husband and I are both retired, so our lives will remain much the same as last week, and the week before, etc. We have become very comfortable during the isolation, and seldom have ventured out.
I can understand the concern about your wife returning to work. I does sound like she is taking all of the precautions that we have been advised to take. Is she going to be with children? Or is she in administration? That would make a big difference, I think.

Hi, @guidant07 It’s nice to welcome another post-transplant patient to Connect, particularly one who is still doing well after so many years. I had my liver transplant in September 2016 and have done well ever since.
Like you and your wife we are very much self-isolating, having groceries delivered, etc. My husband and I are retired from our careers so we have no need to go to work. My husband was working two days a week but is now laid off for 6 months. When that is over we will have to think about whether or not he will risk returning to work.
The schools in your state are reopening? In ours, NH, they are now closed until the end of the year I believe. I’m sure with the precautions you are taking that you both will remain well, but it will probably be a bit nerve-wracking.
JK

Hi all, As many of you know, Mayo Clinic News Network has been providing up-to-the-minute trusted information about COVID-19 in their special segement:
Mayo Clinic COVID-19 News: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/category/covid-19/

Here you will find the latest news about testing, safety, your questions answered and much more. There are also special articles about what patients are talking about and advice and support Connect members offer each other is these trying times. This week's article talks about transplant.

- Connecting Patients: COVID-19 and transplant patients https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/connecting-patients-covid-19-and-transplant-patients/

Thanks to @rosemarya @contentandwell and @jolinda for their cameo appearances in the article.

See all related Connect articles here: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/tag/mayo-clinic-connect/

Your words mean so much to many - written by patients for patients, by caregivers for caregivers. Thank you.