Has Anyone Been a Kidney Donor?

Updated on January 09, 2016
E.T. asks from Rochester, MN
5 answers

I found out yesterday that a friend of mine is on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. She needs to have a living donor. I'm the wrong blood type so couldn't donate to her, but they are looking at a donor swap. If she has a willing donor who is a match to someone else and they have a willing donor that is a match to my friend they would swap donors. I've read what medical institutions say about being a donor--the process, the risks, the recovery. But I'd like to hear some personal stories--the reality of the recovery process, how it impacted your family life, time way from work, etc. I've wondered about being a donor every time I see stories about someone donating a kidney. Now that it's a friend I'm more serious about learning what is involved. I don't think this will be the time, but I want to learn more. Thank you!

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So What Happened?

Thanks for the feedback ladies. I've decided that now isn't a good time for me to do a kidney donation. If I knew it was going directly to my friend I would maybe feel different. I have no worries about the surgery or recovery time. The transplant would be done at one of the top transplant hospitals in the world. I actually know two people who have had heart transplants at the same hospital. They do laproscopic surgery for the kidney donor. My friend has joked that they need a surgeon with very small hands. The recovery period is about two weeks and the risks are much less than they used to be. But, although I'm in good health I have had on and off colds since fall and chronic back pain that could make the recovery a little harder. For that reason I just think it isn't the right time. But, in the future I would consider being a living donor. Thanks again!

More Answers

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J.F.

answers from Las Vegas on

One of my dearest friends donated a kidney to her uncle many years ago. She was in her early 30s at the time.

It has not impacted her life in any significant way at this point, several years post. She sees her doctor regularly and goes to her nephrologist once a year to review her labs and make sure everything is okay. So far, all is well.

My husband had a kidney removed two years ago, not to donate, but because of damage and ultimate failure of the kidney due to repeated kidney stones, surgeries to remove the stones, and built-up scar tissue. So, I can tell you about the surgery side from his experience.

The surgery was not particularly complicated, but he was in operating for quite some time. Even though he was the first surgery of the morning, it seemed like I was in the waiting room forever! But really, it was just about two hours. It just seemed long waiting to be able to see him in recovery. Keep in mind that having a kidney removed in order to donate might be a bit longer surgery.

He was in the hospital for a couple of days and was given appropriate meds for pain management, so there were no complaints about pain. He recovered well with no complications. He was up and around when he came home, but he did have to take it easy. No lifting, no exercising, no golf for a few weeks.

He travels about three out of four weeks for work, so he was grounded from all air travel for about three weeks. After that, he was back at his usual routine with no problems.

He also goes to his urologist and nephrologist, but even more regularly than my friend who donated. He has had some issues with some of his labs levels, so his doctors keep close watch on that.

Hope that helps. It's very kind of you to think of donating.

2 moms found this helpful

W.W.

answers from Washington DC on

A girlfriend of mine was able to donate one of her kidney's to her husband...talk about serendipity!!

There is a battery of psychological tests a donor has to go through. ESPECIALLY because death is a REAL possibility and the psychological toll is hard. Her recovery was NOT easy - it was a good 8 to 10 weeks. She is fine now. It's been 5+ years. Her husband is doing well (thank God).

The surgery was long. The exams prior to - including the mental checks were difficult and stressful. Part of it was she was TRYING to help her husband and this process literally took months.

I don't know WHO the deciding factor is. I believe it goes by the seriousness of the persons illness. Since you are NOT the patient? I don't know what any doctor or hospital can tell you - they would most likely give you hypothetical situations.

I wish your friend luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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P.K.

answers from New York on

Donating now is even easier. They can do it thru a laparoscope. I had to have a kidney out but they could not do it laparoscopically because of many previous surgeries. Laparoscopic is a much easier surgery. Hope your friend gets her wish.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.S.

answers from Denver on

A close friend of mine did this for her uncle. I would say it was really intense and the recovery was harder then expected. She had to take a leave of absence from work which was expected. Just recently, she was in a car accident and had to be really careful about taking any narcotics for the pain apparently because of the transplant.

1 mom found this helpful
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N.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

A friend of mine was up close and personal with this. Her husband donated a kidney to someone. It went well. They had the surgery and he quickly recovered and was back at work right on schedule. I think the docs that do the transplant would have a lot of details about what to expect and stuff though.

The docs that did my friend's hubby sat them down and talked to them quite a bit. They knew just what to expect and what to do if something happened that wasn't right on the right track. They stayed in the City for a while, maybe a week after he was out of the hospital just so they'd be right there if he had anything go wrong. There wasn't even a glitch.

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