Covid19 and transplant patients

[RodeoJoe]

Hi all, hope you're all as well as can be expected. I haven't been around for quite some time now. I guess normal life gets back in the way eventually.

Bit of background, I am a Liver Transplant patient, Kings College Hospital 2014, so coming up to 6th year anniversary. I've been doing well and got back what I consider a fairly normal life. Well that is until the pandemic. I'm obviously shielding and have absolutely no idea what to expect if I caught the disease. Basically, do we have any stories regarding how Liver Transplant patients can expect to fare if they catch it?

[Hidden]

HI RodeoJoe,

I have included a link from the British Liver Trust website regarding liver disease and COVID-19 statistics.

britishlivertrust.org.uk/hi...

It does make for alarming reading, and I will point out 2 things - 1) these are the 'sharp end of the wedge' , the patients who were hospitalised - there will be many more who have been mildly unwell at home, therefore not included in the reporting,

2) This is not specific to transplant patients, but those with 'significant liver disease'

I do not know of any statistics available specifically to liver transplant patients, but I am sure the British Liver Trust website will be updated if and when that data is available.

Take care,

Trust9

[RodeoJoe in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your response. I had previously wondered why people with liver disease weren't on the shielding list, and it seems they really should be.

Yes it is quite an alarming read so I guess that's why I posted wondering if anyone had any first hand experience. I'm finding that as the lock down measures are relaxed I find myself more anxious and finding the shielding almost impossible to comply with.

[TT-2018]

Here is an article about Covid and Liver Transplantee’s from the Lancet.

thelancet.com/journals/lang...

[RodeoJoe in reply to TT-2018]

Thanks for the reply. Grim reading!! Probably just what I needed to keep me on track to be honest.

[1football in reply to TT-2018]

I didn’t understand most of it the words were to long 😥

[RodeoJoe in reply to 1football]

Me neither but the key bit was "Within their cohort of over 150 transplant recipients, the authors identified six patients with COVID-19, including three resulting deaths."

[1football in reply to RodeoJoe]

Very worrying indeed,maybe we should be expecting shielding beyond june

[TT-2018 in reply to 1football]

It does look like we will need to wait for a vaccine. The Oxford and Southampton trials are progressing well.

[1football in reply to TT-2018]

They are indeed but I think I heard September earliest but we don’t know

[RodeoJoe in reply to 1football]

The 3 months isolation was right at the start of the pandemic, so I think was based on nothing more than seeing how things go. If you are working from home or furloughed it might be worth having a chat with your boss.

I'm lucky that I can work from home and work at a University. There are no plans for anyone to go on premise until the new academic year in Oct. And even then they are talking about a slow return. As much for well being and mental health as anything else.

[1football in reply to RodeoJoe]

My work will go by what gov does regards shielding, if it’s decided shielding ends then so will my pay unless I go back

[Hidden in reply to TT-2018]

Thanks for sharing Mark.

[Mama41]

theguardian.com/world/2020/...

Article from today's Guardian that the government is removing some liver transplant/liver disease patients from the shielding list.

Have just seen the BLT has responded to this on Twitter.

[RodeoJoe in reply to Mama41]

Thats not good at all. Why would some transplant patients not be on the shielding list? Has anyone received this text?

[Mama41 in reply to RodeoJoe]

I've not seen anyone here mention it but from what I read on Twitter the BLT are telling patients to talk to their GP or consultant if they receive the text.

[1football in reply to RodeoJoe]

I received a text on Friday from NHS digital saying I’ve been identified as someone who should shield and I’d be getting a letter this week, not sure why I got this text again as had it around 10 weeks ago unless it’s an update

[Paderico in reply to Mama41]

Mama41 H there its Paderico here so nice to see you have taken the time to post, I wont add or detract from the post just so so so happy to hear from you hope you are as well as you can be.

Regards

Paderico. X

[Mama41 in reply to Paderico]

Thank you Paderico..I'm good,hope things are well with you. X

[Hidden]

Good to hear from you again RodeoJoe

Keep safe and keep us posted