Coronavirus & kidney transplant

[Pem_0904]

My husband is 3 months post kidney transplant (donated by his sister) and on immune suppressants now for life. Anyone have insight into how coronavirus might affect him if he was to get it? Anyone have any advice?

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

The bottom line is to protect himself and your family. I too am on very strong immunosuppressant drug and have been for over ten years. I am very cautious anyways but I am taking it up a notch.

The bottom line is I am not going out to anywhere where there are more than a dozen or so people. I did go shopping before all the stores got emptied, and we had a lot in stock already because of winter. I am not going out to restaurants and eating at home only. I have told my husband that he too is on quarantine, because our stupid governor has not shut down the schools. We are retired and the income from his subbing does not out way the need to be in harms way. I volunteer and most everything is closed or I am working from home. We are not going to have anyone over either. No hairdressers, no other appointments will be kept.

In my house, I have cleaned every surface multiple times with bleach compound. I do not touch metal when I am out, like door handles and shopping carts handles. I use sanitizer a lot, I had it in stock, when I am out and the first thing we do when we come in is wash our hands. But this is not a new habit for us. I also wear gloves a lot and wash them often.

The next two weeks is going to be telling. We have had our second outbreak here locally and the guy was on a bus.... so it could produce a plethora of new cases.

My biggest fear right now is getting through the next weeks with my husband and I being home so much and not killing each other...…

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador in reply to Bassetmommer]

We live in a retirement community and all social activities and the community transportation shut down. Independent living residents are not to go wherever a crowd such as grocery stores and shopping malls etc. The Assisted living building is closed to visitors. Being CKD am glad for the list of other precautions. Here in FL even Disney shut down.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador in reply to orangecity41]

Our senior rec center in town has shut down. That means the senior chorus I sing in is not rehearsing and we are not going to be able to perform at the local nursing homes. It makes me sad as they really enjoy us. We aren't the best but we do have fun. We were doing a tribute to WWII songs and there is a quartet of us who were doing Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy..... so sad.

[Pem_0904 in reply to Bassetmommer]

My husband is 38 years old. We have a 5 year old who (here in UK) is still at school every day. We haven’t closed schools yet which is frustrating. It’s hard to square self-isolating when our child is still going to school each day! Some people have suggested I pull him out of school but I can’t do that for months so it’s a hard one! Thanks for sharing your practices - I need to step up surface cleaning. We are pretty good with hand washing but could do more disinfecting of areas. Thank you stay safe!

[Tolmezzo]

Hello from hell of Italy. Bassetmommer gave very good recommendations. Just point more: most effective countermeasure is isolation. Don't listen unresponsonsible politicians who trying to minimize. This virus is spreading extremely fast. Is not time for compromise: stay home! And cross fingers..

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador]

The very BEST advice must come from your husband's transplant team. They will have his health as their PRIORITY and the health and longevity of new kidney a TOP concern. Follow their guidelines impeccably. They will have the best practices and guidelines per CDC and HHS.

Advice from strangers or even someone meaning well may not understand the complexities of someone on post transplant meds. Recently on transplant support group via FB someone suggested consuming clay and activated charcoal daily to prevent contracting the virus. This advice given not understanding the indications of using it with post transplant meds and interacting/reducing efficacy and possibly endangering the transplant and life of recipient was dangerous at best.

We cannot afford to cling to advice of anyone who does not understand our unique and very individual medications and health issues no matter how well meaning. JMHO

Blessings

[Pem_0904]

You’re absolutely right. Luckily I’m very careful with what I read. I guess what I’m really after from my post is to hear from a transplanted person or someone who knows a transplanted person who has had coronavirus who can talk about their experiences and hopefully reassure me. Hey husband’s nephrologist isn’t saying much yet. They’ve said they may move to all patients weighing themselves to check they’re well hydrated.