KidneyLyfe — KidneyLyfe

The "C" Words.

TaylorC — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 15:43:25 +0000

This discussion is open, and I ask that it remain respectful. Every transplant recipient carries a story shaped by resilience, loss, and survival. None of us arrive here without having endured a great deal. We are fighters.

For me, the turning points were Cirrhosis, Covid, and Cancer.

Those three “C” words entered my life in 2019 and permanently changed the way I see the world and my own body. They forced me to slow down, to question, and to become deeply intentional about my health and my choices. As we approach 2026, just two days away, I find myself reflecting on how much has changed since I first joined this group.

There is far more information now than there was then, and at one point I needed to step back. I took the time to look at myself from multiple perspectives and learned just how vital critical thinking is, how essential it is to advocate for yourself within the medical system, and how important it is to honor your own truth while navigating complex care.

Today, I want to open a conversation.

Have any Canadian transplant recipients faced medical challenges or barriers at the provincial level related to being unvax*inated, either before or after transplant? If so, what did that look like for you?

I am an unvax*inated transplant recipient, now five years post-transplant, with no complications. I am healthier than I have ever been and have not experienced rejection issues, or any other health related issues. This is simply my lived experience, NOT a statement for everyone, but an honest account of my journey.

If there are others here with similar experiences, I would truly value hearing your story.

Thank you for sharing this space with openness and respect.

Covid Shots?

TheMac — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 01:47:22 +0000

Just curious friends, with the federal guidelines changing and the national debate about vaccine safety, who is getting the COVID Vaccine this year? This is strictly a health question not a vaccine debate prompt. I am really curious from a transplant perspective, how we navigate these waters.

I have had Covid 4 times and was very ill. And I have had 6 Covid vaccines, 4 of them were mandatory to stay on the transplant list Planning to get my COVID vaccine end of September and the flu a few weeks later. Even before I got sick pre-transplant, I had bad reactions to vaccines. Any vaccine I get, I am “sick” for 1-2 days after. Yet I choose to get them in case the alternative is worse. What will you be choosing?

Covid re-emerging

Karin — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 18:42:25 +0000

I am hearing from many parts of the country how covid is hitting harder and wider again - I have not used a mask in years - are you going back? Getting vaccinated??

Let's talk staying healthy

AliEm14 — Wed, 29 May 2024 19:35:17 +0000

With summer fast approaching - a season typically full of graduations, weddings, family holidays and fun times - one of the things in the forefront of my mind is how I can continue to do all the things I love AND stay healthy.

This is what we're discussing tonight in our support group, and I'd love for you to be there! You can register under the education/support tab and scroll down to find support groups. These are always the highlights of my day, and we create such a fun, supportive environment

How do you feel about being unmasked in crowds?

LaVise0325 — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 22:36:43 +0000

yesterday I was a part of a panel discussion with my surgeon for donate life by month and today I returned to the clinic to get blood work to find out that there was a Covid exposure yesterday . I have lived under a mess for the past four years. What are your thoughts about being on unmasked And possibly subjecting yourself to Covid or the flu? The nurse alerted me as soon as I walked in the room. I was tested and I was fine, but I just wondered everyone’s thoughts on this.

Symptoms during Flu/COVID/Norovirus/Rejection

coopscadoop — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 22:00:01 +0000

'Tis the season for all the bugs! As immunosuppressed transplant patients we have so much at risk and many of the symptoms overlap, even with organ rejection. With all that is going around, how do you distinguish which are symptoms that need more urgent attention? When you hightail it to the emergency room versus scheduling something with an outpatient doctor or clinic?

How long should we wait between getting the flu shot & COVID vaccination?…R you getting both?

Jay — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 19:15:42 +0000

Could you please answer at least yes or no to whether you are getting both flu shot and Covid vaccination.

Covid resurgence

Karin — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 18:33:44 +0000

Are you hearing about this new wave in the NYC area? How has it affected you if at all?

I have covid 4 m post transplant

Karin — Sat, 19 Aug 2023 01:27:29 +0000

So I went to the acute care center tonight, and I have covid but good O2 Sat and lungs show signs of bronchitis but not dangerous covid infiltrates.

Tmrw I will start a three day antibiotic treatment, to treat the bronchitis, and I hope this will pass fast!

The covid test showed a very faint line, so I have probably had this for at least a week which is the time of my respiratory symptoms (silly of me not to test earlier), so no indication for intervention medically.

Anyone else w covid right now???

My transplant was only four months ago, and my drugs are pretty high still, so that might be why I got it and why I still have symptoms a week later…

Paxlovid

Karin — Sun, 20 Aug 2023 15:03:58 +0000

I decided Not to take it - it would have required me to stop prograf for five days since it COMPLETELY blocks the metabolism of Tacrolimus… I am feeling so much better today (got zpack yesterday), and my covid test is negative! Anyone w experience on paxlovid???