Donated a kidney 3 days ago

[Lolly2721]

I just donated to my nephew. I’m feeling pretty good now but wondering what to really expect in the next few months concerning energy levels and over all recovery.

[KarenHope]

I'll be donating in a few weeks. Please, let us know how you progress.

[Lolly2721 in reply to KarenHope]

Thank you for donating! It’s emotional for sure but know you are giving a gift that not everyone is capable of doing and your donor will thank you for every day. The support I get when people ask is just overwhelming and I think that is what is helping me heal.

[butterflyintraining]

Lolly -

Welcome! Im not far ahead of you - My donation was 10 days ago.

- I am still napping twice a day.

- I feel no pain and don’t need pain medicine.

- I can walk over an hour at a time.

Happy to answer questions but with only a week difference in our surgeries, I hope someone here responds with their longer picture view for you. I know they have posted on other threads about this also.

[hjwazwaz in reply to butterflyintraining]

Congratulations and I pray you have a full and speedy recovery!

[alimesoda]

Congratulations! You gave such a generous gift to your nephew! I hope he is also doing well and feeling better with each day!

I donated to my husband a year ago. I am totally back to all my presurgery activities and do not feel any effects of the kidney loss.

Initially I too did not have any pain except gas evacuation. The only impacts that I had for the 1st month was that I was tired which was very unlike me! I would take daily naps and often sleep later (until 8 instead of 6am!) in the morning. That was just my body healing and adjusting to operating with one kidney. After a month or so, I had a lot more energy and now I’m totally back to my 6am wake-ups!

I also felt full with a fraction of food that I used to eat. My husband and I eat much healthier now. We want to reduce the burden on our one kidneys! I now, nearly year out, am feeling better than before my surgery!

Best of all is the feeling and reception I get when I share my story!

Take care and give your body some time to adjust to the new normal. You are a fantastic person! Feel free to ask additional questions as you progress as I’m happy to share my experience if you find it helpful. Keep walking daily and drinking a lot of water!

[hjwazwaz in reply to alimesoda]

That’s amazing to hear! Hope you are doing well. I too had a similar experience and made some changes to my diet and lifestyle. It’s amazing what this experience can do to you

[alimesoda in reply to hjwazwaz]

I totally agree! I would do it again if I could!

[hjwazwaz in reply to alimesoda]

AGREED!

[Lolly2721 in reply to alimesoda]

Thank you! I’m finding that I don’t eat as much but have to have some kind of snack more often. Oh and the bathroom schedule definitely increased! All donors and potential donors are healthy going in so I was a bit leary of not being healthy on this side of donation. Thank you for saying it can be done. The naps are a must and I welcome them. I’m a teacher and will be going back to school in a week. I’ve made some adjustments to my schedule but was hoping that the low energy levels were temporary. Seems they are 😊

[Crocheting-Cricket in reply to alimesoda]

Thanks for this reply! It is VERY helpful! This site has been SO helpful in letting people know what to expect, what occurred, and how everything went...months and a year later! Thanks to EVERYONE who participates!

[hjwazwaz]

Congratulations!! I wish you both a full and speedy recovery and I’m so glad you are feeling well. I donated a year ago and like @alimesoda said, you will return to your normal self in a few months.

Take it very easy now that your body is slowly healing. Rest as much as you can and try to walk as tolerated. Remember that anesthesia is still wearing off and that does effect your mood and emotions. I was able to wean off of my pain meds within the first week and my incisions fully healed by week 4. Try to eat light and healthy especially adding protein (to aid in muscle repair) and fiber (to rid constipation). I have also noticed how in the first few days I couldn’t sleep on a flat surface because I was stretching my muscles and had to sleep with my back elevated. Laughing was also painful the first few weeks!

All in all, your body will tell you when you’re ready and what you can tolerate as each body heals differently.

Keep us posted with your recovery and I pray everything goes very well with both of you!

[Happydonor]

Congratulations and thank you for donating to your nephew. I donated my kidney nearly 9 years ago. I read all of the responses below and I completely agree with their commentary. Same exact recovery characteristics that I had. Take it easy and don't be in a hurry to overdo your recovery. In just a few months you will be so back to normal that you will even forget that you are a kidney donor. Great job by you!

[alimesoda in reply to Happydonor]

I agree totally that a year out I can’t even tell that I donated! I thought I would urinate more frequently but I don’t! I just went for my 1yr creatinine screening and I’m in the normal zone with one kidney—the body is so amazing!

[DSKdonor NKF Ambassador]

It only got better for me!! Hoping for you to have the same experience!! Just follow doctor's orders.

[EchoMax1012]

Hi, Lolly. I went back to work three weeks later, and really was able to do a normal schedule at that time. I was 62 when I donated and I had a sedentary job. I want to stress, however, that everybody is different, and so the stories you hear may not be your story!

[Lolly2721 in reply to EchoMax1012]

Thank you. I'm a teacher in a building of 2000 students. I don't have a sedentary job, but have met with my administration about my current limits and how I am working my way back up to the movement levels I will need. It will be a slow go so I can make sure I heal well, but the being tired is something new for me.

[EchoMax1012 in reply to Lolly2721]

I know this is new. Rest assured, you will eventually get to a normal energy level, but listening to your body is very important! I'm glad you have support from your admin. Keep us posted!

[PeaceToall]

So how does it go now?

Do you have any pain now from donating?

[Lolly2721 in reply to PeaceToall]

Hi there. I’m 2 months post surgery and I can barely tell I donated 😊 it’s been amazing for my recipient and me.

[laurenduvall in reply to Lolly2721]

Thats awesome!

[NeedingAdonor]

Hello , how wonderful of you. My husband also needs a kidney and his aunt is going through the screening. Next is a hospital day of testing. Then that's about it besides an appointment right before surgery. I am really grateful to her for saving his life. It's such a gift and impact on our lives that we can't stop thanking her. We pray the last steps are passed so my husband gets off dialysis and has a quality of life that is much healthier. You are a blessing and it's such a high success rate of surgery that you will be fine. Take good care!

[Parmar9321]

Very nice .

You are good person.

Always live for family.