Anyone here ever donate an organ? Looking for feedback.

[vi edit]

If I may ask, why do you have only one kidney? Were you born with just one, as some people are? And why do say you will need one in the future? Most people are fully able to survive a full healthy life with only one functioning kidney, or so I am lef to believe.

Yes, it was congenital but there's some concern about it's long term functioning later in my life. I'm only 32 and don't really worry about it. But I don't abuse it either. Just something that I'm careful with...no more full contact sports and try to keep my water intake, weight, and diet decent.

 

[Miramonti]

I've donated organs before but each time the donations were not approved.

I've never tried to donate my own before tho.

 

[Perknose]

What you're doing is both selfless and noble. You have my utmost respect, and I hope that the procedure works out perfectly for you and your sister.

My sentiments exactly, OP. I salute you!

 

[akshatp]

Yes, it was congenital but there's some concern about it's long term functioning later in my life. I'm only 32 and don't really worry about it. But I don't abuse it either. Just something that I'm careful with...no more full contact sports and try to keep my water intake, weight, and diet decent.

Yea. That's the plan for me going forward. Im 34, in good shape (not overweight) but my diet could definitely be better. I dont play too many contact sports anymore, so thats not really an issue.

I'm hoping that the surgery forces me into a healthier lifestyle subconsciously, where i exercise more and drink more water, but that remains to be seen

 

[moshquerade]

Hello akshatp!

I have a friend who just donated a kidney to a unknown person in need. In fact, surgery was just done July 8! She donated to someone else so that her husband could get a kidney from a person in the donation pool that matched him. It's a round robin kinda thing that benefits those who have no matches from willing friends/family. My friend donated so her husband could get a donation. Make sense?

She is doing wonderful, and her husband's new kidney is now working just as well as any healthy persons. He is so grateful to be off dialysis. The reason he needed a transplant is because his own body, for reasons unknown, starting attacking his kidneys. It was an auto-immune thing.

My friend, who donated, just said that the day after surgery it kinda felt like the day after the first day of soccer practice where you'd done a lot of sit ups and your stomach was sore from that. She was put on pain med which made her nauseous. After realizing that is what made her feel sick they took her off it and she felt great.

I salute her and you for doing this! What an awesome gift.


I also used to work with a woman whose husband was an uncontrolled diabetic at one time and it ruined his kidneys. His diabetes is now under control and he has had his sister's donated kidney working in him for over ten years and going strong.

 

[rudder]

I have never been asked to donate anything... but if I die I gave whoever permission to carve me up. Nothing to add except people should sign that little form on the back of their licenses!

 

[DrPizza]

wtg akshatp. It's wonderful that you're helping your sister. As far as not being a "perfect" match and needing the additional procedure, I'd think that the likelihood of success is still very high, else doctors wouldn't have attempted it in the first place.

 

[Azraele]

How nice of you to help your sister! Best of luck to both of you in your surgeries.

 

[KeithTalent]

I never have, but I would if I knew someone in need. I have too many organs anyway.

Good luck to you and your Sister!

KT

 

[akshatp]

wtg akshatp. It's wonderful that you're helping your sister. As far as not being a "perfect" match and needing the additional procedure, I'd think that the likelihood of success is still very high, else doctors wouldn't have attempted it in the first place.

Likelihood of natural rejection is around 30% because of the mismatched blood type and antibodies present, but they are prepared for that and have solutions to combat the rejection.

Realistically, there is only a 2-4% chance that the kidney wont work despite all best efforts, so our hopes are high and fingers are crossed.

 

[akshatp]

Hello akshatp!

I have a friend who just donated a kidney to a unknown person in need. In fact, surgery was just done July 8! She donated to someone else so that her husband could get a kidney from a person in the donation pool that matched him. It's a round robin kinda thing that benefits those who have no matches from willing friends/family. My friend donated so her husband could get a donation. Make sense?

She is doing wonderful, and her husband's new kidney is now working just as well as any healthy persons. He is so grateful to be off dialysis. The reason he needed a transplant is because his own body, for reasons unknown, starting attacking his kidneys. It was an auto-immune thing.

My friend, who donated, just said that the day after surgery it kinda felt like the day after the first day of soccer practice where you'd done a lot of sit ups and your stomach was sore from that. She was put on pain med which made her nauseous. After realizing that is what made her feel sick they took her off it and she felt great.

I salute her and you for doing this! What an awesome gift.


I also used to work with a woman whose husband was an uncontrolled diabetic at one time and it ruined his kidneys. His diabetes is now under control and he has had his sister's donated kidney working in him for over ten years and going strong.

Thanks for the feedback mosh! Your friend did whats known as a "kidney swap." We explored that option but with her rare blood type and number of antibodies, that option would have resulted in a long wait trying to find a suitable living donor.

Question... when they took her off the pain meds to reduce the nausea, did the pain return? I generally try not to take any kind of medication unless absolutely necessary, and was hoping to get away with just extra strength tylenol, but from what the coordinator told me I will probably need to be on vicadin for at least a day or two. Just trying to get a feel for how long I will be on prescription pain meds. Some have reported 1 day, some 5 days...

 

[moshquerade]

Thanks for the feedback mosh! Your friend did whats known as a "kidney swap." We explored that option but with her rare blood type and number of antibodies, that option would have resulted in a long wait trying to find a suitable living donor.

Question... when they took her off the pain meds to reduce the nausea, did the pain return? I generally try not to take any kind of medication unless absolutely necessary, and was hoping to get away with just extra strength tylenol, but from what the coordinator told me I will probably need to be on vicadin for at least a day or two. Just trying to get a feel for how long I will be on prescription pain meds. Some have reported 1 day, some 5 days...

Went back and read her emails... This is what she said the evening after her surgery, "My pain is not too bad; it's more like discomfort. I have my pain button. The worst thing about it all was being nauseous."

I think she was nauseous because of the pain medicine (which she didn't name). I know sometimes people are a bit nauseous just because of being put under general anesthesia too, but that passes soon enough.

She was on the prescription pain med for 3 days, but it sounds like they should've stopped it sooner as it was making her feel sick.

More from her: "I haven't emailed sooner because I've been sick. I have been nauseous Friday morning and all day and night Saturday. It is terrible! I'd rather have the pain. Well, I got my wish! They figure the pain medicine is what makes me nauseous so now I'm off of pain medicine, but it's so much better now."



Where are you having your surgery done? PM me if you want with that info. They might have went to the same hospital as you are as this is a top notch transplant center in the U.S.

 

[akshatp]

Went back and read her emails... This is what she said the evening after her surgery, "My pain is not too bad; it's more like discomfort. I have my pain button. The worst thing about it all was being nauseous."

I think she was nauseous because of the pain medicine (which she didn't name). I know sometimes people are a bit nauseous just because of being put under general anesthesia too, but that passes soon enough.

She was on the prescription pain med for 3 days, but it sounds like they should've stopped it sooner as it was making her feel sick.

More from her: "I haven't emailed sooner because I've been sick. I have been nauseous Friday morning and all day and night Saturday. It is terrible! I'd rather have the pain. Well, I got my wish! They figure the pain medicine is what makes me nauseous so now I'm off of pain medicine, but it's so much better now."



Where are you having your surgery done? PM me if you want with that info. They might have went to the same hospital as you are as this is a top notch transplant center in the U.S.

Seems like the pain meds contribute to the nausea, which seems like a common vibe from people I have spoken to.

Its taking place at Columbia Presbyterian in NYC. I live about 7 miles from there on the other side of the GWB, so at least its convenient for me to get to in case I need anything post-op.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

Seems like the pain meds contribute to the nausea, which seems like a common vibe from people I have spoken to.

Yeah, nausea from pain meds is very common. If one makes you nauseous and your still in a lot of pain, ask the doc to prescribe something else. All pain meds are not created equal, and your body might react to one better than the other.

As for what I said about not leaving the hospital before taking a shyster, that was what the doc required before he would discharge me from lymph node surgery (I had a partially ruptured lymph gland under my right arm that was causing a massive buildup of fluid). I don't know how long you will be under from kidney surgery, but I was under for about 5 hours for the lymph node surgery. The surgery itself wasn't complicated. The reason it took so long is because the doctors had to very carefully remove a "sausage" like fluid filled sack from around the nerves in the brachial plexus.

Even with all that time and care, some of the nerves were damaged (I still have no feeling on the underside of my right arm, from the elbow to the shoulder). Apparently when you are under that long, your digestive tract itself is sedated, and it take a lot longer to "wake up" then other parts of your body. That's one reason you may feel nauseous when you wake up. At least that's how it was explained to me. I woke up and wad hungrier then I've been at any other time in my life. But I put on ice cube in my mouth and immediately started retching. Not to worry though. 4 hours later I felt better, and the next day I ate 4 chicken sandwiches in one sitting. They were awful, but tasted like the best thing I had ever eaten.

 

[akshatp]

Thanks soxfan..

Had an anxious weekend, and just trying to get mentally prepared for the surgery this week, only to find out it has been delayed until next week. Based on the latest crossmatch results, they determined she needs more plasmapheresis treatments than originally thought.

UGH. I just want to get it over with at this point so I can stop thinking about it.

 

[silverpig]

Hang in there man.

 

[Saint Nick]

Good thing you are doing.

Can you let us know how it goes after your surgery...maybe give your login/password to a friend/family member so they can let us know?

 

[Howard]

Good luck.

 

[highland145]

Luck.

 

[DougK62]

Are they doing it laparoscopic?

My friend just donated a kidney a few weeks ago. He is 30 - giving to his younger sister. They both are recovering at what I can only say is an astonishing pace. He was in the hospital for a couple of days, and less than a week later he was walking around mostly normally, and sipping on rum and coke with us at a bar. Unbelievable.

Very common surgery these days, and if your doctor has done a good number of transplants your chance of anything going wrong is basically nil.

 

[ThePresence]

As far as I'm concerned you are a hero. You are a genuinely good person and you have my respect.

 

[endervalentine]

props to you for doing it! I think anyone doing this would be a little scared, but you're doing the right thing.

If it makes you feel better, after your procedure, everyone on this thread owes you cookies and beer!! good deal?

 

[akshatp]

Are they doing it laparoscopic?

My friend just donated a kidney a few weeks ago. He is 30 - giving to his younger sister. They both are recovering at what I can only say is an astonishing pace. He was in the hospital for a couple of days, and less than a week later he was walking around mostly normally, and sipping on rum and coke with us at a bar. Unbelievable.

Very common surgery these days, and if your doctor has done a good number of transplants your chance of anything going wrong is basically nil.

Yep, laparoscopic. Your post makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. No, seriously that is awesome to hear. Not sure if wifey will be letting me hit a bar so soon, but I am hoping to be able to attend my cousins bachelor party in September.

props to you for doing it! I think anyone doing this would be a little scared, but you're doing the right thing.

If it makes you feel better, after your procedure, everyone on this thread owes you cookies and beer!! good deal?

Ill take the beer. You can have the cookies. Thanks

Good thing you are doing.

Can you let us know how it goes after your surgery...maybe give your login/password to a friend/family member so they can let us know?

Ill be back online a couple of days after. The surgery is next Tuesday, so by Thursday this thread will be updated. If not, uh-oh! D:

 

[F1N3ST]

I hope it goes well, good luck, and it's a wonderful thing you're doing.

 

[BudAshes]

You're a hero!

Seriously, you should get a medal or something for donating a body part. My dad died on the donor list and I wish it would have been possible to give him part of mine.