Common cold post transplant

[Divg]

When did everyone get their first cold post transplant? My partner seems to be coming down with it and he's about 4 and a half months out from his transplant.

Should we tell the transplant team or coordinators, or just let it run its course?

[Hidden]

I got one around 15 months post tx. I was bedridden for 4-5 days. Never felt so ill in my life, it was horrendous! I didn't inform the transplant team but you probably should. They'll be able to best advise what he should and shouldn't do.

[Kate50]

I have had a few colds post transplant and they do knock you on your backside, I would definitely contact your gp at least, hope he feels better soon 🌸🌸

[Dulux]

I’m about a year and a half post and have had a normal amount of colds, a stomach bug, just treat as normal, unless there are worrying signs it’s pointless going to a GP, plus you are walking into an area where everyone is ill! There is no cure for a common cold, paracetamol and caffeine is what I was told to have. If there are any more worrying symptoms then go to A&E and get liver function blood test and make contact with co-ordinators to let them know what is happening.

[littleleah86]

Mine was 4 weeks after transplant but I have the flu jab every year and pneumoniajab every 5 years but because I was so sore still after transplant it was a painful cold. I was allowed paracetamol and cold flu capsules and lemsips but remember only one of these and every 4 hours as all contain paracetamol and I also has vicks on my back and chest I asked if this was ok with my consultant and he was fine with it x

[LAJ123]

Hi,

Be prepared for routine infections to be worse and to last longer. Just dose and treat as you would have done before.

Not wanting to frighten anyone, but if you cant shake it off, you should consider a very common problem that affects people following a liver transplant. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus of the herpes type which most of the population have without any problem. If you didn't have the virus, the likelihood will be that your donor was a carrier. However, post transplant when we are immune compromised the virus can re-activate and become a serious illness. If you check back on your lab results you will probably find that you have been regularly checked for the CMV virus. The symptoms can resemble a flu infection. I've included the usual very informative British Liver Trust website link and one to the NHS which will make it clear.

britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

nhs.uk/conditions/cytomegal...

Once diagnosed its easily treated with a course of anti-viral medication. I had a brief episode which was treated effectively and in the following two years there have been no detectable virus levels.

Your transplant team may expect you to take the routine health issues to your GP, but as you are four months post transplant, you will still be having very regular Transplant Clinic appointments, so you can discuss it there.

Hope this helps.

Jim

[Adelou]

Hubby had his first one about 3ontjs after transplant, we are just coming up to our 8 month post transplant milestone

His was more of a persistent cough & runny nose, transplant team were not worried about it as anything more severe would have been picked up in his weekly/fortnightly bloods