Still positive after 5 weeks

[ceecee32]

After 4 weeks in hospital following a transplant I tested positive for covid
Came as a complete surprise as I had no symptoms and must have picked it up from a member of staff who all wore full PPE.

Was moved to a covid ward until my transplant treatment completed. I am now immunosupressed.

I am still testing positive after 5 weeks of still having no symptoms and I dont really understand why people are told to self isolate for 14 days when it can clearly stay for longer.

And how long do I have to wait to get a negative result

The PCR tests "positive" even when the only virus it finds is inactive -- can't infect anyone. Immuno suppressed people might have more active virus for longer, though.

Oh did you start a thread a few weeks ago? If so I was trying to find it last night to ask how you were. Glad you are still well.
I have no advise on still testing positive though sorry, although I do know a nurse who tested positive for 10 weeks after having symptoms for a week. Im not sure if you are classed as infectious after a while

As PP, if you’re immunosuppressed you might shed live virus for longer, whereas immunocompetent folk are assumed to have either stopped shedding or shed non-infectious dead virus after 10 days. PCR can’t distinguish live/dead virus.

Also work on a transplant unit and we had some patients shed virus for weeks (longest was about 4 months). The crucial thing is that you are well - people that get really sick from covid seem to have highly active immune responses and so perhaps being dampened down post transplant is also protecting you too. Discharge planning will be complicated but hopefully they have a red/covid outpatient zone for treatment/follow up, so If you were fit for discharge you could go home but would need to isolate (&household members) until negative. Our unit says two negative swabs before regarded as not infectious.

I wonder if this is what happens with schools and pubs, that some people are still shedding but forced into close quarters.

Thanks for your responses.
They discharged me from hospital and the only people I see are carers twice a day.

The hospital thought I had to have 2 negative results but the carers accepted me. They are only making sure I get downstairs safely in the morning and upstairs at night

Are you the lady who had the stem cell transplant?

@StarCat2020
Yes that's me

I am so glad to hear that you are back home and doing OK.

My friend had a stem cell transplant nearly three years ago now and you wouldn't know it to see her now.

I wish you the best for your recovery and the future!