Hi, I just discovered this site. Was so glad to find it! I am considering becoming a living kidney donor for a family member desperately needing one. Everyone in the family has been ruled out as they either have wrong blood type or an underlying condition. I want to help her but I’m terrified of the procedure and what it will be like afterwards. I have 3 kids do need to get back to life as soon as possible. I’ve read a lot but never had the pleasure of speaking to someone who went through this. I would love to hear your stories, experiences and outcomes.
Thank you
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Birdwatching
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I am a RN and donated a kidney in 2015. I would do it again if I could. I have a non physical job and could have gone back in 3 weeks. Was home in 2 days, went walking in the mall in 5. They do say no lifting more than a gallon of milk for 4-6 weeks. Procedure is laparoscopic so very small scars. First day painful but they give you good pain meds.National Kidney Foundation has a Peer Mentor Program. You can talk to one of us through the process. Look on lineNKF. I would be glad to answer any questions.
I think it's very normal to have some apprehension about kidney donation and the physical complications post surgery. I must tell you that there are individual variations---most people are released from the hospital after spending two nights, and most people return to work in 2-4 weeks, depending on the type of job they have. I would also say that you increase the odds of a successful and quick recovery the better shape you are in before the surgery, so self-care is critical before and after surgery. What seems almost unanimous from people who have donated is the wish to do it again if it were possible and the learning that compared to the gift they had given someone, the inconvenience and the pain were not significant.
Next to marriage and the birth of my children donation was the most important thing I have done
In the eight years since my donation my life has been enriched in many ways
The recovery was uncomfortable but only for a couple of weeks
I was back to work part time two weeks after surgery and back to normal in a month
The only advice I can offer is to limit your contact with the recipient while you go through the testing and evaluation process if he or she is a close relative than resolve. It to talk about the process
I agree with all my fellow donors that donating a kidney has changing my life in only positive ways. My husband received his 1st transplant from his sister ~20 yes ago now. She was relatively young (30s) and had 2 young children. I donated my husband’s 2nd transplant Aug 2018. Both my sister in law and I would do it again— if we could! We had a single port laparoscopic removal at Cornell in NYC where there is a fantastic surgeon - Dr DelPizzo—I call him my rockstar!— who has mastered this minimally invasive technique. I had only a minimal incision to extend my belly button. I was out of the hospital in 2 days and walking walking walking. The only pain I experienced was in my shoulders from the gases that are used for the laparoscopic technique. I was amazed myself! Go for it- get tested and don’t hesitate to reach out to me with ANY questions. I had the benefit of my sister in law and a person I met 1 month before my surgery who coincidentally was an altruistic donor with the same surgeon! I call her my guardian angel! We will now be friends forever!
Thank you for your consideration of donating. I too had Dr. DelPizzo as a surgeon back in Oct 2018. I also was just in the hospital for just two nights and back on the bike 12 days later and couldn't figure out what the fuss was about. I was cleared to lift weight again but didn't for 3 weeks. I think the wait time is way overblown for most donors but depends on the surgery technique and your physical condition. Some donors really are out of action for up to eight weeks but the ones I have met weren't that physically active to begin with and weren't eating the best afterwards. The hardest part of donating was getting my digestive system operating again since the procedure just shuts everything down. Best regards and do contact us if you need to.
The short answer is that I follow a plant based vegan diet and have been that for about six years now. Before that I was mostly vegan and vegetarian for at least 35. I haven't had a cold or been sick for the past six which says something. The hardest part about being vegan isn't the stupid questions or jerks who try to put you down, it's watching your friends die from diseases that could have been prevented. My best advice to you for a speedy recover is this: stop eating anything solid a day and a half before surgery to clear out your system. Stay away from the animal proteins after your hospital stay. The medical community will tell you differently but I think they do that as not to scare donors away. The organizations that help me with my donation (Renewal) has a large number of donors (that I've met and know) that like to eat meat and have problems. Somehow the evidence based science doesn't mean much or are afraid to change because of their religious community. It's diet that's causing CKD in the first place and diet is also the answer. You will need to protect your one kidney to the best of your ability and the more you know about food the more you go vegan. Hope this helps.
Hello. I donated in December. Amazing experience. Would love to talk to you if you wanted. I spoke to probably 6 to 8 donors on the phone prior to my donation. It was very helpful. Let me know if you want to exchange numbers.
Birdwatching, I’m following your story as mine is very similar. Do you have apprehensions about long-term affects from donating? Sounds like the recovery from surgery is not that bad. Is your husband and 3 kids on board w your decision to donate? Mine are very concerned about future health issues related to living w only one kidney.
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