Transplant: No or Few Antibodies after COVID Vaccination

Congratulations on your transplant! I’m a liver transplant recipient just over a year ago. I still have minor tremors, although mine may be related to an autoimmune disease I have, or both. They did decline, however, after I was able to reduce Tacrolimus. If you haven’t tried biotin for hair loss, it’s a blessing! Pretty much immediately after I started taking it my hair loss declined and it’s no longer an issue. I started with 5,000-10,000 mcg. Another thing that helps is to use a light amount of argan oil along your hair roots, let it sit, and then wash it as normal.

I was reading a recent post which had some good dietary input. If you are interested and have time, we’re starting a transplant recipient culinary arts webinar series. We’d like to feature different recipes and tips which pertain to the health needs of transplant recipients and those on transplant wait lists.

Here’s the original post -https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/transplant-culinary-arts-zoom-sessions/

Our first event will be on Thursday, October 7 at 4 pm western / 6 pm central / 7 pm eastern.

To your continued post transplant health!

Hi! I was diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy almost 20 years ago. I followed strict diet, almost vegetarian and was cautious with sodium, potassium, phosphorus and protein intake. Although, fruits and vegetables are generally good for the body, some of them are high in potassium. Knowing what you can and cannot eat is very important. My friends and family suggested that I eat this and take that, they’re good for you, but with kidney disease, it’s different. There’s a lot of dietary restrictions.
I was blessed with kidney transplant 4 months ago. My body is still adjusting to immunosuppressant medications. My doctor recommended that I get the third vaccine 8 months after my second dose, which will be in November. I’ve read several articles the transplant recipients develop zero or low antibodies to protect from Covid. For the time being, I’m staying safe at home.

I always love how friends give such helpful advice, here are a few of my favorites: there are yoga poses that will correct kidney failure, this supplement improves kidney health, try drinking more water. I know they mean well, but I think I’ll just listen to my Mayo transplant team. My favorite these days are all the people who say don’t worry, I’m vaccinated and very careful. Really? I just saw picture on Facebook of you at an indoor concert, jam packed with no mask on! I’ll just keep to myself, thanks.
By the way, I lost a lot of hair for about a year after my transplant, but eventually it all came back. Wish I’d known about Biotin!

Thanks for sharing these messages. I had my kidney transplant in 1987 (April 30th) at U Wisconsin Madison. Leading patient education was a nurse named Joann Nett who had an enormous impact on my entire perspective on health care and well-being. She taught me/us to be our own patient advocate. To never settle for pat answers and to always question medical personnel, sometimes harshly if necessary, to get an acceptable answer. That was the most important lesson. I was less focused on germs and CMV than rejection. I knew the rejection signs and every ache had to be my kidney rejecting. That lasted for 6 months. After that, I have always lived life like anyone else. However I exercised at a health club religiously, watched my food, drink and medications. I am the most compliant patient when it comes to medicine and diet. I traveled extensively in my job. All over the world and enjoyed it enormously. I still do. However Covid19 has made me super vigilant. I've become paranoid about people without masks and angry about people who do not get vaccinated. (I know. I know. I've read all these postings about people with Post-Covid diseases etc. etc.) This includes family members. I understand from friends that this is a common challenge. I wash my hands and avoid crowds as others have mentioned. But I'll be damned if I'm going to be a recluse. I've gotten back into groups and workouts at the Y. But I'm only doing small groups that are far apart. I hate virtual and Zoom. I've taught classes on Zoom and never will again. It is so detached. Bloodless. All of us need the social connection with family and friends. I pray that we solve this pandemic soon so that we can all live as carelessly as we once did. (My definition of careless is quite different than other people.) I wish everyone well. Each of us has to find our own path. It is never easy with chronic diseases.

@contentandwell I go this coming Thurs on 9/30 for labwork for nephrology, and had my PCP also put in lab order for antibody test. On my next oncology appt I will confirm with Dr. Y about getting my flu shot [I usually get it as soon as it is available!] Yeppers, real curious what the antibody levels will be. They say some multiple myeloma patients do not have the levels of antibodies the medical community would like to see.
Ginger

@joko, Would you share (copy/paste) this response in the discussion Living Life after your Transplant?

Hi! I was diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy almost 20 years ago. I followed strict diet, almost vegetarian and was cautious with sodium, potassium, phosphorus and protein intake. Although, fruits and vegetables are generally good for the body, some of them are high in potassium. Knowing what you can and cannot eat is very important. My friends and family suggested that I eat this and take that, they’re good for you, but with kidney disease, it’s different. There’s a lot of dietary restrictions.
I was blessed with kidney transplant 4 months ago. My body is still adjusting to immunosuppressant medications. My doctor recommended that I get the third vaccine 8 months after my second dose, which will be in November. I’ve read several articles the transplant recipients develop zero or low antibodies to protect from Covid. For the time being, I’m staying safe at home.

Since I just had kidney transplant four months ago and still adjusting to the strong meds, I’ll ask my nephrology if I can take Biotin. For now, I’m using Biotin shampoo and conditioner.
Thank you for the tip.