@edb1123 We’re a different breed of transplant patients. Solid organ transplants require being on immunosuppressants basically for the rest of their lives. So their immunity remains compromised.
We SCT people eventually get to the point where it’s no longer necessary to be on any meds. And with all our renewed childhood/early adult vaccinations by 2 years we have what’s considered a mature, adult immune system again. But it may not be functioning fully in all situations. We haven’t had that lifetime to acquire all the immunities and immune responses we had prior to our transplants. ((That’s how it was explained to me by my transplant doctor)
So that’s why we will always have to be proactive in avoiding anything which could ‘upset the apple cart’. ☺️ So as long as we’re still cautious even when vaccinated to just be mindful of crowed areas, long exposure time to groups of people, etc...wear a mask, use hand sanitizers and keep space.
For your own curiosity, type a note to your team in the portal and ask to get the antibody test added to your lab orders. Your doctor won’t mind. That’s the really great thing about Mayo doctors, they work with us and we are included in decision making.
Thanks for the detailed explanation, Lori. I did message my care team yesterday, asking if I could have the antibodies test today when they ran blood tests. The reply was that my doctor hasn’t been routinely ordering this test for his transplant patients but I could discuss it with him tomorrow when I will meet with him. ☹️ Today would have been the ideal time to have the test done, so I was disappointed with this response. I’m hopeful that I have antibodies since I tested negative for Covid again today after all the exposure I’ve had, but it would be nice to know. Thanks again!