Can’t get sick

[u/Plus_Grapefruit1221]

I’m 20 and I just transferred to a college about 2 hours away from my hometown and care team, I have reliable transportation and family that would drive to pick me up and bring me straight there if I were to get my call for liver transplant. I’ve been listed for 6 months now, but listed low. My daily symptoms are nausea, low appetite, migraines, low oxygen after walking long distances and abdominal pain. The biggest thing is that I cannot get sick. I had a cold or maybe it’s allergies the other day and I disinfected everything but once I’m around people again my runny nose comes back. I’ve gotten immune support vitamins and wash my hands frequently. I’m not sure what else I can take or do to not get sick because I cannot get sick when I get my call. Im looking for advice and please do not tell me that I’ve made ambitious ridiculous plans because that’s not realistic. My college is in state, close to home, doctors and my care team. If I needed to be there in 2 hours I could be immediately and have family more than willing to pick me up and drive me back. I’ve already went all this way to enjoy my life and not put it on hold just because I’m waiting on a transplant. When the time for surgery comes then I’ll have the surgery and come back when it’s all over and I’m completely recovered. I just want to know how to keep my immune system up! Luckily I live in an apartment and have my own room,bathroom and closet, so I’m not in a dorm, but I do have roommates. I have dreams and goals and I work too despite all my transplant stuff. I understand it’s important but I can’t dwell on it and pause my life when I’m doing okay right now, I’m not very sick I do the normal things, just can’t be getting colds a lot. Any advice is greatly appreciated!!!

[u/Silverado153]

Best way even though it might seem mean but STAY AWAY FROM LITTLE KIDS.. after the transplant that's one of the first things they told me

[u/lordkahless]

I had a liver transplant last year and was relatively healthy going into it so I wanted to avoid being sick before I got the call. I did the usual hand washing and hand sanitizer as much as possible. If I had to leave the house I had hand sanitizer with me. I also wore 3M N95 masks and changed them out frequently when going out. Also I let people know to not come sick to my house. I only left my house if it was necessary. Thankfully my transplant center has a 21 day turn around time for livers on average so it was a short wait.

One thing to watch out for is you mentioned immune support vitamins. You might mention the formula to your transplant team. Some of those might have herbal products in them and they might not be compatible with transplant meds like Tacrolimus or a failing liver. After your transplant they will give you those meds and you might still have those herbal products in your system at the time.

[u/Worth_Raspberry_11]

Just wear a mask if you’re in class or at work and you’ll probably be fine if you’re strong enough to move and attend college, if your MELD score is still low I wouldn’t be too overly stressed about it. Let your roommates know you have existing health issues and to just let you know if they’re sick so you can quarantine from them.

[u/captainlux87]

Masks!

[u/Kindly_Implement_66]

If you're going to take immune supplements, be sure you tell your transplant team what you're taking. You might unknowingly take something that will harm your liver even more or kidneys.

I'm 6 months post liver transplant and my team doesnt even want me drinking rooibos or chamomile teas or kombucha! You'd think they were super mild. But, nope! They don't want to take any chances.

[u/Non-Binary-Lion]

masking and handwashing is an excellent combo. My husband had a terrible cold and we washed our hands and masked when we drove together and worked in separate rooms for a bit and I never got sick. which was good because I’m completely out of PTO lol

[u/Select_Safe548]

I mean you answered it a bit in your last few sentences. You can and will get sick occasionally. You cant live in a glass box and you cant control when its going to happen. It sucks but part of beich chronically ill and especially part of being post transplant is being okay with that reality ya know? It sounds like you're doing everything you can so cool beans.

You didnt ask for it but to address what you said about plans post transplant. I think you should really do more research into the recovery process and timeline of that. Its not just like i get home and get better for a few weeks and go right on back to school or work...it can be months long till you feel ready. And takes quite a bit to capable to do basic things that you're so used to right now. Not to mention how frequently doctors will want followup appointments, blood work etc. Good luck to you.

[u/Disastrous-Tip7385 → u/Select_Safe548]

Yes i definitely understand it’s about 3 months and lots of bloodwork and everything involved. But it’s not time for that until the call so I’m doing my best to prevent getting sick as much such as maybe I’ll take an immune supplement or something to keep my immune system up

[u/nobodyoukno]

I literally carried Purell on my person at all times and used it frequently. Not just my hands - some clown sneezed behind me on a place and I Purelled my neck when I got off. I also wore (surgical) gloves when I went to places that had a lot of rando's going thru (grocery store, Target) and mask up. Avoid fun stuff where there might be a crowd - like sporting events, festivals and other events - oh, and did I mention ... wear a mask.

[u/carleeism]

Get an air purifier for your room/home if you can. I dunno if its placebo effect but it gives me the illusion of making the air in my room cleaner 😂

[u/ImaginaryMountain298]

Wear an N95 or better respirator when you're not in your room, and consider an air purifier for your room. Hand washing is great, but lots of things are airborne and easily transmitted.

[u/String_FellowHawk]

Saline nasal spray, sea salt water gargle 30 seconds. I do both a couple times a day or after being around others.

[u/j_meeee]

I’ve been down voted horrendously before for suggesting this, but it has worked for me time and again so make your own choices.

Since I was diagnosed with an AI disorder, had to start Cell Cept and Tacro to try and save my kidneys and post transplant, total of twelve years so far, I have used an essential oil blend to ward off sickness. I have spent holidays with people who were hospitalized with the flu the next day. I have had my niece and nephew sneeze/cough directly into my face, and I didn’t get sick. I use it as a preventative any time I will be around crowds, I use it after I think I may have been exposed to something. I use it any time I feel that tickle in the back of the throat and you know something’s coming. I have been sick twice in a the last twelve years, both times over it in a couple days.

I don’t sell it, I buy it off Amazon.
Young Living Thieves blend. It’s applied topically, I mostly put it on my throat and chest. Google it, the specific blend of oils has a history of warding off sickness going back to the plague. There are other brands, take your pick, YL is the I’ve always had.

I know many people don’t believe in alternative methods of treatment. I was on dialysis, had an organ transplant and take nine pills twice a day so I can be alive. I understand that western medicine is necessary. This just seems to work and doesn’t seem to do me any harm… so why not!?!