1. < Transplant

Specific Information about COVID-19 for Transplant Patients

Mar 26, 2020 | Kristin Eggebraaten | @keggebraaten | Comments (27)

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.03-26-20 COVID19 Post

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!

6 Reactions

Interested in more newsfeed posts like this? Go to the Transplant blog.

dhelmstetter | @dhelmstetter | Apr 1, 2020
In reply to @rosemarya "Welcome to Connect, @dhelmstetter. Congratulations on being considered for transplant evaluation. Do you already have a..." + (show)
@rosemarya

Welcome to Connect, @dhelmstetter. Congratulations on being considered for transplant evaluation. Do you already have a scheduled appointment? Have you heard from your transplant center regarding this?
Here is Mayo's current policy: "Mayo Clinic's response to the COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly evolving, with significant potential for travel restrictions and advisories. Depending on your circumstances, your care team may recommend that you delay your appointment at Mayo Clinic or seek care closer to home. Alternatively, phone call assessments or video visits may be able to replace face-to-face visits during this time. You may be contacted by your care team to discuss options that are best for you."
from- https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/covid-19-faqs/transplant

I would like to share this link. You can click on the blue text and you will go directly to the information for getting started on Connect. Let me know if you want more assistance.
About Connect: Who, What & WhyTips for Participating in an Online Community
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/newsfeed-post/tips-for-participating-in-an-online-community/

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Thank you Rosemary. No appointment has been set up but I heard from May Phoenix that they received my referral along with a list of what the evaluation would entail. When I contacted Mayo's transplant department, I was informed that 'elective' surgeries were being postponed - unless life and death.

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Apr 1, 2020
In reply to @dhelmstetter "Thank you Rosemary. No appointment has been set up but I heard from May Phoenix that..." + (show)
@dhelmstetter

Thank you Rosemary. No appointment has been set up but I heard from May Phoenix that they received my referral along with a list of what the evaluation would entail. When I contacted Mayo's transplant department, I was informed that 'elective' surgeries were being postponed - unless life and death.

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@dhelmstetter, I imagine that you are a little disappointed that you don't have a date, yet. I am a liver and kidney transplant recipient. I received my transplant in 2009 at Mayo Rochester and I am here if you have any questions as you wait and prepare for your evaluation.
Are you on dialysis? What is a question you have about the evaluation process?

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1 reply
dhelmstetter | @dhelmstetter | Apr 2, 2020
In reply to @rosemarya "@dhelmstetter, I imagine that you are a little disappointed that you don't have a date, yet...." + (show)
@rosemarya

@dhelmstetter, I imagine that you are a little disappointed that you don't have a date, yet. I am a liver and kidney transplant recipient. I received my transplant in 2009 at Mayo Rochester and I am here if you have any questions as you wait and prepare for your evaluation.
Are you on dialysis? What is a question you have about the evaluation process?

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I appreciate your communication Rosemary. Yes, I am on dialysis and have been for nearly a year now. I received a list from Mayo AZ as to what to expect in evaluation but no date has been set. I have a Living Donor who has yet to be evaluated as well.

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1 reply
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Apr 2, 2020
In reply to @dhelmstetter "I appreciate your communication Rosemary. Yes, I am on dialysis and have been for nearly a..." + (show)
@dhelmstetter

I appreciate your communication Rosemary. Yes, I am on dialysis and have been for nearly a year now. I received a list from Mayo AZ as to what to expect in evaluation but no date has been set. I have a Living Donor who has yet to be evaluated as well.

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@dhelmstetter, Here are some links where you can meet some members who are like you because of living kidney donation. All you need to do is to click on the blue text and you will be taken directly to the active discussion on Connect. As a member you can - read - make a short introduction or just say "Hi" - or ask a question. It's that simple. I will look for you there as you and help you to connect with others.

Here is the source of the best information that you will need as you and your potential donor move along. Take time to read the Transplant Newsfeed. And tutilize the information in the Living Donor and Recipient Toolkits
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/transplant/Kidney transplant

Meet other living donor recipients amd doners here:
Living Donor Kidney surgery next Tuesday: Any advice?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/living-donor-kidney-surgery-next-tuesday/
Be sure to share this one with your potential donor:
The Journey from the Donor's Side
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/kidney-transplant-from-the-donor-side/
Need help? Let me know. Hope to meet you there soon.

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ebrahim | @ebrahim | Apr 2, 2020

@dhelmstetter Hay.. It's all about hope my friend ..I've waited three years for a kidney donor ..and Guess where ? in Syria ..one of the worst places in the world to be an end stage kidney failure patient ...only tow dialysis rounds per week ... Creatinine never went down 7 mg/dl ...we don't have any kind of arrangement for organ transplantation and no one of my family match with me ...the day before surgery I knew that the last two kidney transplant surgeries had failed ...you know what I said ?? I said okay .. this one will succeed ..

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1 reply
dhelmstetter | @dhelmstetter | Apr 2, 2020
In reply to @ebrahim "@dhelmstetter Hay.. It's all about hope my friend ..I've waited three years for a kidney donor..." + (show)
@ebrahim

@dhelmstetter Hay.. It's all about hope my friend ..I've waited three years for a kidney donor ..and Guess where ? in Syria ..one of the worst places in the world to be an end stage kidney failure patient ...only tow dialysis rounds per week ... Creatinine never went down 7 mg/dl ...we don't have any kind of arrangement for organ transplantation and no one of my family match with me ...the day before surgery I knew that the last two kidney transplant surgeries had failed ...you know what I said ?? I said okay .. this one will succeed ..

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I truly HOPE this one took for you Ebrahim!

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Aug 13, 2020
In reply to @melabel "I was suppose to have a kidney transplant on March 26th, living donor. It has been..." + (show)
@melabel

I was suppose to have a kidney transplant on March 26th, living donor. It has been postponed not sure when it will take place.

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@melabel - It has been a while since we heard from you, and I'm wondering how you are doing? You mentioned that your March 26 kidney transplant surgery has been postponed, and that has to have been extremely disappointing for both you and your donor.

It is my understanding that transplant surgeries have resumed in many areas, with added safety protocol.
How are you getting along? Have you heard from your transplant team or been rescheduled for your surgery?

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