Transplant: No or Few Antibodies after COVID Vaccination

Hello @banksnc49 I would love to hear a more about your experience as a kidney transplant patient with severe covid! (I am a kidney transplant patient too). Were you hospitalized? Your symptoms, your treatments, how long did it last,?
how are you feeling now? Thank you so much for anything you can share!

I’m sorry you had Covid Nancy, but glad you developed antibodies. I did get vaccinated, but because my autoimmune caused neuropathy increased after both shots, I’m not, at this time anyway, getting a booster. My neurologist said that due to the autoimmune diseases I have, the vaccine probably triggered a spike in my neuropathy. I’ve not had my antibodies checked, but given the John Hopkins research I’m doubtful I’ve got many. I remain vigilant in masking and social distancing.

I got covid from my husband who got it at work. I got the kind that caused me to have pneumonia. I spent a total of 10 days in the hospital. Thankfully, I did not need a ventilator but I did have some oxygen. It left me very weak. I had visiting nurses and visiting PT’s for a month. I used a walker for about 3 months. It was a slow recovery. My husband had the kind of body aches and loss of smell and taste. He was better after 2 wks. It was hard going through it but the Lord really protected my kidney throughout it. I was thankful to get antibodies and I’ll find out Tuesday if I’m still positive. I’m hesitant to get the shots because I have painful neuropathy in my feet and I don’t want it to get worse. It was a hard experience but I’m glad it turned out well. I’m hopeful you won’t ever get it. God bless. ❤️

Thank you @banksnc49 for sharing your covid experience! It sounds pretty terrible, but the wonderful news is you successfully made it through!!
I haven't seen the covid survival rate for transplant patients, but my understanding is that it's not guaranteed that transplants will make it through.
Did you go to your transplant hospital for care? Did they give you monoclonal antibodies and Remdesivir in addition to supplementing your oxygen?
I am thrilled to hear a successful recovery story from a transplant patient even though your experience sounds pretty awful. (I am going to try to continue to be safe, but I know there are no guarantees so I appreciate hearing your success story!)

I started at my transplant hospital but they sent me home sick after 5 days. A home nurse was assigned to me and when she came to my house, she saw I was near death and called 911 immediately. I went by hospital to a different hospital that handled the bulk of the covid cases. I received excellent care at the second hospital. I should never have been sent home from my transplant hospital. I got terrible treatment there. I was not treated with remdisiver as I was told it could damage my kidney. Monoclonal antibody treatments were not yet available. I was treated with steroids and pain medication. They had me go through a day of physical therapy to prove I was strong enough to leave. As I said before, I had a lot of at home services which really helped. When I look back at my experience, I really see the hand of God in protecting me and my kidney.

I got covid from my husband who got it at work. I got the kind that caused me to have pneumonia. I spent a total of 10 days in the hospital. Thankfully, I did not need a ventilator but I did have some oxygen. It left me very weak. I had visiting nurses and visiting PT’s for a month. I used a walker for about 3 months. It was a slow recovery. My husband had the kind of body aches and loss of smell and taste. He was better after 2 wks. It was hard going through it but the Lord really protected my kidney throughout it. I was thankful to get antibodies and I’ll find out Tuesday if I’m still positive. I’m hesitant to get the shots because I have painful neuropathy in my feet and I don’t want it to get worse. It was a hard experience but I’m glad it turned out well. I’m hopeful you won’t ever get it. God bless. ❤️

Thanks for Sharing, God Bless you and your in my prayers also.
Dana

I started at my transplant hospital but they sent me home sick after 5 days. A home nurse was assigned to me and when she came to my house, she saw I was near death and called 911 immediately. I went by hospital to a different hospital that handled the bulk of the covid cases. I received excellent care at the second hospital. I should never have been sent home from my transplant hospital. I got terrible treatment there. I was not treated with remdisiver as I was told it could damage my kidney. Monoclonal antibody treatments were not yet available. I was treated with steroids and pain medication. They had me go through a day of physical therapy to prove I was strong enough to leave. As I said before, I had a lot of at home services which really helped. When I look back at my experience, I really see the hand of God in protecting me and my kidney.

Thank you so much for all the details regarding your covid experience @banksnc49 You really went through a lot!! I totally agree with you that God was watching over YOU and your kidney! I am a one year post kidney transplant patient. I had my transplant during the pandemic! I am curious, after seven years post kidney transplant what does your creatinine and BUN look like? I am hoping that seven years from now I am doing as well as you Nancy! 😊

My BUN was just 19 and my creatinine 1.9. 1.7–1.9 is pretty normal for my creatinine.