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Specific Information about COVID-19 for Transplant Patients
As COVID-19 spreads across the country, we know that this time is more stressful for transplant recipients than others. After all, your transplant centers have been telling you for years that you are at a higher risk for illness and infection and you should avoid contact with anyone who is ill. Now the entire world is learning what you’ve already become an expert at doing – social distancing. At every Mayo Clinic we have staff working around the clock to help stop the spread and to treat those who’ve become ill. We will continue to do everything we can for our patients and for those around the world that need our expertise and resources.
As you can imagine, our inboxes and phone lines are filling every day with our patients wondering how to stay safe. Mayo Clinic’s providers, even those in transplant, are following CDC guidelines for protections for our patients. This article, posted on the Mayo Clinic web page, can help you learn and share the correct information for patients who are at high risk at this time. Some of the bullet points from this article are:
- Take precautions to keep space between yourself and others.
- Make sure you have enough supplies.
- Have a plan in case you get sick or your caregiver gets sick.
Details about these topics and more can be found on our web page. Other trusted sources of information include:
Mayo Clinic COVID-19 Q&A Podcast with Dr. Gregory Poland
Mayo Clinic Appointment Guidance during COVID-19
COVID-19 News and Resources – Mayo Clinic News Network
CDC Coronavirus (COVID-19) Web Page
Mayo Clinic’s priority right now is the health of you and your family. The changes we and other hospitals are making are temporary to protect our patients and our staff so that we can continue to offer the best care. We hope that you understand the changes happening around you, and we want you to know that you can look to us for guidance in the coming weeks.
If you have any specific tips for others during this time about how to stay busy and content at home, please share below!
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Hi to all my fellow Self Quarantined Transplant patients one way I stay sane is to take nice long walks outside. It has always been part of my exercise routine but now it has become my only safe way to get out of the house. One advantage of living in Arizona is the weather is nice this time of the year. and I live near the desert so avoiding people is rather easy. so that's my suggestion to help stay Busy
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9 ReactionsHi I'm ebrahim from syria ..i had a kidney transplant five years ago ..and I'm 26 years old now ...i'm healthy and active now but my problem is my study at college ..I've started studing medicine before I got sick and now I'm at the last year but i don't know if I can continue my carear as a doctor with weak immune system ...I hope you will help me
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6 Reactions@ebrahim, Welcome to Mayo Connect. I am a liver and kidney transplant recipient with no medical background. I commend you on your successful transplant and your desire for a medical degree and career. Being so near to your goal, I am sorry that you are faced with this difficult decision.
Might I be so bold as to remind you that you are and always will be a kidney transplant patient. And that is a good thing because of the valuable experience that you will bring from the patient's point of view.
My first thought is for you to have a conversation with your own transplant provider(s) about this.
My second thought is that I wonder if you could investigate whether you can be a doctor who works behind the scene and does not require face-to-face contact.
Here is a link. And I invite you to post your question there. Some other medical providers have similar questions related to their own current situations. They might be able to provide their thoughts.
COVID-19 and Transplant Patients
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/covid-19-in-transplant-patients/
Keep in touch. I look forward to addressing you as "Doctor" someday.
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5 Reactions@ebrahim Welcome to Mayo Connect. Congratulations on your kidney transplant. My husband had his October 2016. The road to becoming a doctor is long and arduous, as you well know, even without becoming sick and having a transplant. Kudos to you! What is the specialty you would like to pursue? Have you considered being a research doctor, connected to the specialty you prefer? There is such a need for dedicated souls to work on advancements in treatments and pharmaceuticals! We're glad you're here and I look forward to hearing more from you.
Ginger
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3 Reactions@rosemarya I'd like to thank you for these kind words ..I've always said that if I could make it to this point then no thing can stop me ..here in my country we don't have advanced medical system so I will not get an adequate care as a doctor so I'm searching for people who have the same situation in developed countries ..hope someday I can take care of you as a doctor
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3 Reactions@gingerw Thank you for support ..here in Syria we don't have research departments at hospitals ...so I'm trying to know how people like me adopted with their jobs ...wish a healthy life for you and your husband and thank you again
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2 ReactionsHi, @ebrahim I too welcome you to Connect.
Congratulations on your transplant. I hope it does not hinder you in reaching your lofty goal.
As others have said you can work behind the scenes in research or something similar. I am sure you could speak to someone who could give you guidance about that.
JK
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1 Reaction@ebrahim I hope you will be able to continue with your medical studies and practice medicine. Your experience as a kidney transplant recipient will certainly add to your understanding of the patient experience. I'd like you to meet fellow member @dfenderso, who is a transplant patient and a nurse practitioner.
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3 Reactions@contentandwell Thank you for these kind words .. now I'm trying to improve my skills in English so I can get better chances ✌️✌️
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1 Reaction@ebrahim I am sure your English skills will improve greatly the more you use English. They are excellent now I think. On a side note, my transplant surgeon is from Syria and although I often have trouble understanding accents, I have never had a problem at all understanding him, he's very clear. I think he's been in the United States for about 20 years probably.
JK
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