Transplant: Third dose, no antibodies: How are you staying safe?

I hear a lot about zinc for virus protection - is this good/bad for kidney patients? i do take a one a day multi-vitamin - Thanks 🙂

Zinc, like vitamin C, echinacea, and similar immune system booster herbal and vitamin products are typically not recommended for transplant recipients, as it may cause our bodies to reject our organ.

I’d definitely recommend that you speak with your transplant team to see what they say.

I try to eat daily amounts of the recommended diversity of vegetable and fruits in order to get plenty of natural zinc and other minerals, vitamins, etc. and, also plenty of good proteins and good carbohydrates like brown rice, quinoa, etc.

Hi Everyone! I just just got home from my 10 year, post kidney transplant, checkup. My kidney is doing great, thank God! But the best news I received was that my antibody test came back showing I have full immunity! You could have knocked me over with a feather. I’ve had three doses of Pfizer, and it’s been about 2 months since my booster. I take Tacrolimus and Imuran for my anti rejection meds. She thought maybe I had antibodies because of taking Imuran instead of Cellcept. No scientific research on that as yet. Of course I’m to continue to take full precautions and avoid crowds, so nothing much changed there. She also mentioned that using the KN95 masks was great protection. I’ve been wearing them exclusively for months now. So, that’s my report. There is hope for us!

Thank you for sharing. I took Pfizer and had no antibodies 4 months after my vaccine. I just took my booster and plan on checking my antibodies in two months. I will continue to wear my mask, and practice all of the suggested precautions. Sadly my church doesn’t believe in wearing mask nor safe distancing so for 2+ years I have attended virtual church on line. Stay safe and thank you

Hello @mollyv 🙂 Congratulations on your covid antibodies and your ten year post kidney transplant anniversary!!! Both of those events are wonderful news! I just celebrated my one year post kidney transplant anniversary (but no antibodies after three Moderna shots). I take Tac and Cellcept. May I ask two questions. After ten years, what does your creatinine and BUN readings look? I am starting with a creatinine of 1.0 and BUN of 20 (deceased donor). I am curious what happens to these numbers over time. Do they tend to hold the same or start to slowly increase over the years? Also, were you originally on Cellcept and switched to Imuran for a reason or always on Tac and Imuran? Thanks so much for sharing your awesome and very happy news! 🙂

I was on Cellcept right after the transplant, had a failed ureter, got really sick and they switched me to Imuran. The first year is a blur to me, having had four major surgeries in about 8 months. My creatinine has remained very steady, fluctuating between 1.7 - 1.9. I don’t really hear much about BUN, so I guess it must be good. This visit it was 25. I was very alarmed early on when my creatinine was so high and my GFR was 35, but none of that has changed over the years. I’m very grateful. Congratulations on one year!

Thank you so much for this very comforting news @mollyv 🙂 I am so happy to meet a TEN year PLUS success story!! Your story gives me great hope for my future. My hemodialysis fistula has been growing in size and there is a recommendation to remove it. Did you keep your fistula or shut it down? I was so sorry to hear about your difficult first year with FOUR major surgeries. Were they all related to your failed ureter or something else?Happily, you are now experiencing WONDERFUL, FABULOUS news with your kidney numbers and your ANTIBODIES!!! Enjoy and celebrate this fabulous news 🙂 You brought a big smile to me!! Love to you 😊

I received my transplant before I needed dialysis, so never had a fistula. My college roommate donated her kidney to me. It makes me cry to think about her generosity. Yes, my surgeries were due to the failed ureter. But it all worked out! When I was finally discharged from the transplant team, I asked “what do I do now?”. They replied, “go and live your life!”, and that’s what I did! Enjoy your gift and your life!

Best news, EVER!

Hey! Virtual church works just as well! Stay safe.