Asking for Assistance
Hello everyone, I'm donating to my dad Oct 14th since that'll give me enough time over all of the holidays to recover and get back to work. I'll be having the procedure in Tampa, FL. I know for me, personally, I'd feel better if I had people to talk to that have gone through this before who could also be there throughout it all. It would make the process a little bit easier. If anyone has the time, then I'd appreciate it.
Michelle
I'm a kidney transplant recipient here in Tampa! I also work at a hospital in Tampa. Probably the one you are going to be at. It is a great hospital with amazing staff! I could visit you.
Good morning Alfred, I will be going to Tampa General. It seemed like a nice place when I went there and the staff communicated really well. That's cool you also work there. Sounds good to me if I'm able to have visitors. Do you mind me asking why you needed a Kidney?
I have polycystic kidney disease. It's generic. My dad has had 2 transplants. The transplant team at TGH is amazing. I was very impressed!
My daughter wanted to be my donor but because of pkd she needed to be 28 years old to make sure she didn't have pkd. It can show up that late. She just turned 26. She also works at TGH. So glad you are a match for your dad. What a blessing!
Sounds like you have a wonderful family also. Thank you for the information and your kindness.
Good for you! My son donated his kidney to me. It saved my life! I had transplant on 6/2/2020. I was on dialysis for 3 months due to Covid and the original date of surgery being postponed from 3/2/2020. My creatinine level was 12.74 prior to dialysis. I was in very bad shape. Now my creatinine is 1.09 and I feel like I’m in my 20’s! I’ve had my immunosuppressants lowered 3 times since surgery and may have them lowered again end of this month. I walk 2 miles every other day and all my blood work results are in the normal range. I am 66 years young now! Looking back now any anxiety both my son and I had prior to surgery was worth it. I plan on getting back to the gym as soon as Covid vaccine gets results lowering the infection rate. Good luck to you and your dad, our prayers are with you.
Good morning! Thank you for sharing your story with me. My dad actually just turned 64. I just want him to feel better and live a longer life.
Hi Masvec, Come here anytime for support and a kind word. All of us recipients are so grateful to the donors. What you are doing for your dad is going to keep him alive and well for many years. On behalf of all recipients: Thank you for your life saving sacrifice.
Hi Masvec,
I donated one of my kidneys to my mother back in Feb 2020. Any questions you have fire away! I am actually based in the UK but I’m sure things would not be any different!
It’s an amazing thing you’re doing and you will feel immensely proud of yourself once it’s all done!
Pat
Good morning and thanks for the response. How bad was the surgical pain? I had some of the people on my care team state women would rather have a c section again because it hurt less.
Hi,
To be honest the pain relief I was given was very good so I wasn’t in too much pain. It’s uncomfortable there is no denying that. I was back home after 4 days and the first week at home was the toughest. Hard to sleep and the tiredness is really draining. Once I made it to about 2 weeks post op things were much better.
Here in the U.K. I was given Fentanyl as my pain relief whilst in hospital.
Pat
Hey Pat! Thanks for the reply. I'm a side sleeper, right side to be exact. They said they would be taking the left kidney. While recovering at home were you able to sleep on your side or were you only able to sleep on your back to deal with the pain?
Hi,
They took my left kidney as well as they normally do! I was unable to sleep on my side for about a week and only on my back. The main thing is to make sure you are getting up and about a bit. I recovered fully after 5-6 weeks. I was 31 when I donated so I guess had some youth on my side which did help.
Pat
I'll be 32, so not that far off!
You’ll be fine 😊 once you get pat the first week at home things will get a lot better. It’s just tiredness and uncomfortable to begin with. I do not feel any different with 1 kidney and it will be a year on 12th Feb.
Great to be a part of this community iam very encouraged and less anxious from the comments read so fari am 63 and plan to donate kidney to my 27 years old daughterStill waiting for the HLA result but hoping to be a good match
Just feel i am a bit too old to be a donor but honestly we have no other choice
Hey, good morning, thanks for the feedback. That's amazing you're taking the steps to help your daughter. I wish you the best of luck with all of your tests. My dad is 64 and I'm 31, turning 32 next month and they approved it for me. So maybe they'll do the same for you even though it's the other way around.
Michelle
Hi Michelle. I am currently a patient at the kidney clinic in Tampa. I received my kidney a little over a year ago and I travel from Orlando to go to this hospital. I have had some complications which has necessitated me going to clinic and/or hospital several times (if not more) a month -- so I know this hospital all too well. It is the absolute best!! The doctors and nurses are top notch. I swear they pump happy gas in the vents because everyone is so nice and caring. I have never received better care anywhere. You and your Dad are in the best hands. I can't speak from experience for donating a kidney, but I can speak from experience about pain and receiving a kidney. I will tell you this -- the staff at TGH will do everything they can to relieve your pain. The nurses are not afraid to ask the doctors for more pain medicine if you need it. The transplant unit is a special place, filled with special people. You will get VIP treatment there. I promise. Good luck to you and your Dad and I will keep you all in my prayers.
Hi, good morning, thank you for the inside information. I'm sorry you had complications and wish you the best. The TGH and Tampa Medical Group staff were all very friendly when I went there. They had great communication too which I'm not used to seeing being 13 years in the military.
Michelle
I was lucky to be compatible enough to donate to my unrelated sister-in-law, back in 2000. She unfortunately just passed away in December due to COVID-19. She had actually lived for 37 years with a transplant. You will so improve the life of your Dad! I was in some pain once I left the hospital and probably rushed that to my detriment, but was back to work in 4 weeks. Guarantee you won’t be sorry you gave,
Good morning! I appreciate 🙏 your response. My sister in law and I were the only family members able to get tested for my dad. She is actually more of a match than I am, 5/6 markers where I'm only 3/6. She is just a last resort thing since her and my younger brother just had their first kid. That's great you were able to help her and I'm also sorry for your loss. My new job is an instructor which I will be teaching the basic and advanced motorcycle courses and traffic safety. I don't think I can go back to work after 4 weeks to that profession. I'll have to force myself to take it easy a while longer to ensure I have no setbacks. Have a wonderful day!
Michelle
Hi Masvec
Just found this forum ... I donated a kidney (altruistically) in the UK nearly 7 years ago. It was VERY straightforward - in hospital on a Friday for the op and discharged on the Monday morning. No pain (except for a trapped nerve in my calf - I was apparently operated on my side); minimal key-hole scarring. On morphine in hospital for the first day then given a variety of other pain relief - and my partner set up the dining table to get it to me properly on discharge - and weaned off everything after a week at home.
You will feel tired very easily for the first few days and I didn't want much to eat for a good couple of weeks - a bit of toast, fruit and soup and that was pretty well it. I went for little walks outside - plenty of sitting down - and could increase distances each day.
I went back to work after three or four weeks - not a physically active job 
and reduced hours to start with.
Please keep in touch if you want - and good luck for October
Good morning!
As far as the procedure goes, I'm nervous about having a catheter. I wouldn't mind if I was asleep when they inserted and removed it, but they stated the day after they would remove it meaning I would be fully aware of what is going on. I have a very low pain tolerance. I'm worried it'll hurt super bad!
I was in a severe motorcycle accident in Jan 2019 which resulted in 3 hospitals and totalling 28days. I broke 3 limbs severely and my mother had to take care of me. It took a year and a half to fully recover and it was extremely difficult. I'm not afraid to ask for help and take my time healing. I didn't expect to get in a bike accident, it was hard mentally, but I got through it with my support system. With the kidney transplant, I know it's coming so there is a certain amount of anxiety I feel, but in no way, shape or form will I back out. My dad would do it for me in a heartbeat and I want him around as long as possible. My mom is an RN with hope hospice who will be with my dad and I for a month in an apartment close to the hospital. My younger brother and sister in law will also be helping take care of us together.
Thanks so much!
I'm a girl - so catheters are no big deal! Can they give you a local before they take it out if it's likely to hurt?
Couple of other thoughts - I don't know what it's like in the US but you don't want to be in hospital in a hideous hospital gown, so take some nice pajamas of your own: much nicer. Also, I was advised to take a small cushion to hospital ... if you think you might cough or sneeze, hold the cushion tight to your scar to reduce the impact. [Also VERY useful on the drive home whenever we went over a pot-hole].
I was also part of a trial - don't know if this has progressed since my op - whereby they did a daily scan while I was in hospital, and explained how to read it. The idea was that if you can see yourself heal on the scan, it will be quicker and easier. I thought it was fascinating!
I'm sure you will be fine but keep in touch x
Thanks. I'm a woman too, but still I think it'll suck!
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Michelle i had a transplant in 1981 my sister donated one of hers life saver she was a bit saw forabout a month she is doing great living a normal life and thank you 4 donating to yourdad would of ment a lot to him i hope he is doing good all the best wayne
Hey Wayne, thanks for the response. My dad just got on dialysis a few months ago and it's a huge strain on the family. He is much better on it though, looks healthier and more alive. That's amazing your sister helped you. I'm expecting A LOT of soreness, but I know I'll have a good support system. One of my friends actually got me coloring books 🙂 for when the time comes.