New transplant patients living with children who get colds

[skyedogrocks]

What happens when a new transplant patient goes home and their children or spouse gets a cold/sick?  Rob is having someone get tested right now (they just need to lose 10 pounds and can finish their last round of testing).  If it's a go and it happens in January, what happens if me or my son get a cold (which I usually do in the winter) right after he comes home?  I'm so scared this will happen and he will get really sick since his immune system will be so weak.

Any thoughts?

[Romona]

I did get sick a few times. I have 4 kids. The worse time was when my white blood count dropped. People around me seem to get sick more than I do. Knock on wood! Everything goes through the dish washer here. I do have to constantly remind the kids when they are sick to wash their hands often and try not to cough or sneeze on me. We've had a few cases of strep and a case of mono here, but I was lucky not to catch it.

[pelagia]

I've been sick twice in recent months with colds and Stephen hasn't shown any symptoms at all (6 mo. post transplant).  When our son came home for fall break in October with a terrible cough, I thought that would be the real test, since Will is  not super careful about washing his hands, covering his cough, etc.  Well, I caught a cold within days, but Stephen didn't.  Stephen didn't get sick much before the transplant and despite his suppressed immune system he isn't showing a high susceptibility now.  Makes you wonder about how this immunity stuff works...

[monrein]

I was often around people with colds and germs during my transplant, even in the early stages since I returned to work (at a university) after 5 weeks.  I washed my hands frequently but I'm far from obsessive.  I was often the one who did NOT catch bugs that were going around which surprised me somewhat.  The rub was that if I did get anything it would take me three times as long as the next person to recover.

[skyedogrocks]

This gives me hope!    Rob has a pretty good immune system now, he barely gets colds or sick (but when he does, he really gets sick).  On the other hand, I get colds a LOT.  Our son is a typical 4th grader who touches everything and hardly washes his hands, so he gets colds also. 

[okarol]

Jenna is the oldest of 4 kids so there were lots of opportunities for colds (her transplant was in Jan.) so after her first month (away from home, down at the transplant city) she was exposed to everyone. I asked her 11 year old brother to cut back on visitors for a while, and everyone that came over had to wash their hands at the sink as soon as they came in the back door. She has been very healthy since the transplant so we've been lucky so far!

[kellyt]

My transplant surgeon said "You're going to get colds."  Expect it.  Hand washing is one of your main defenses.  Keep hugging, kissing, unecessary touching to a minimum when someone in the household is sick.  Do your best to avoid people who have a runny nose, cough, sneezing, fever, etc.

Did anyone see the show on the Discovery Health with Dr. Oz regarding "Our Immune System".  He said that 80-85% of cold and flu viruses are passed on by touch.  The touching of people who are sick and the touching of things others may have touched with germs on their hands.  KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM YOUR FACE, EYES, MOUTH, NOSE.  Wash your hands and use hand sanitizers regularly.

I'll see if I can find the show on-line...

[donnia]

Tomorrow is 6 months post tx for me and hubby has been sick twice.... I didn't catch it either time... We just didn't kiss... he slept facing the other direction... and we washed our hands alot

[kellyt]

Six months!      Time flys, huh?   You're doing great, Donnia!  I can't wait for us to meet and visit!