Catch-22

Normally when someone has an suppressed immune system, you have to make sure they don't go around people that have colds. The problem is when a post transplant patient has a family member that gets sick and they live in the same house. That would be us! This morning I woke up with some dry sinuses and then my throat started to burn.

Now, you have to keep in mind that it is winter, all of the windows are closed tight, and my husband has a suppressed immune system. Sure, it is only a head cold at this time but any cold bug put Greg at a high risk of developing the same cold or something worse. Some people would freak out about now and stay in different houses (if possible) but it is not possible for us. And, no, Greg is not going to walk around the house in a mask. Over the years of illness and then being post-transplant, we have learned that we do not need to go to extremes in order to make sure he doesn't get this cold. First, and foremost, I load up on vitamin C, drink lots of fluids, and start popping some Cold-Eeze. Then, I break out the Lysol and anti-bacterial wipes. The Lysol is for the air and the anti-bacterial wipes are for everything I touch from door handles to computer keyboards. Everything gets wiped down twice a day so that Greg isn't at such a great risk. We also don't kiss (or do anything else intimate) and stay on different sides of the house.

It is impossible for Greg to live in a bubble - so we do what we can to protect his health - even when we are caught in a catch-22 where a sick person and an immune suppressed person are living together.

~Shan
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