Should I do only kidney or pancreas as well?

[Live_Positive]

I have been listed recently in august for kidney and pancreas transplant. I am type 2 diabetic and not on dialysis yet. I was not aware if my transplant doctor would list me for pancreas. I am not sure if I should go for pancreas transplant or keep only kidney. Having both increases risk? Any advise? Am 51 year old male.

Also, I am not able to find living donor yet, my siblings have been rejected. Not sure if I would find a living donor. Although Google has many answers, but I would like to know, what would be the life of cadaver kidney? I saw someone lived over 20 years on this forum. I am a vegan and live a very healthy life style.

Thank you for your reply !!

[Herkidney]

Please talk to your transplant center. They will be able to give the most correct information to you for your medical situation. Best wishes!

[mickfoxx in reply to Herkidney]

I did both and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, It’s a tough recovery but well worth it, Took a few days for the pancreas to wake up but it’s raised the quality of my life drastically, If you’ve gone thru the pre transplant process with your coordinator a surgeon should have explained what to expect either way, I wish you all the best with whichever you choose to do.

[Live_Positive in reply to mickfoxx]

Thank you, it is so helpful. I was wondering anyone else have gone through this or it’s just me. I have to decide some day soon.

[Live_Positive in reply to Herkidney]

Thank you !!! I will do that

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

You really need to discuss the kidney/pancreas transplant or kidney transplant options with the transplant center that has you listed. They can go over the odds with you and about your health, etc.I had a kidney transplant from a deceased donor. I am not diabetic. This Friday, October 15th is my 22nd Transplant Anniversary!

[Live_Positive in reply to WYOAnne]

Thank you, you are such an inspiration!!! You make many on this forum stay stronger. God bless you !!!

[Darlenia]

Hi! My hubby, a T2D, recently received a deceased kidney transplant. The lifespan of a transplant depends on a variety of factors - including your diet and lifestyle, the closeness of the match, the number of organs transplanted, your PRA (antibodies) level, the age and condition of the organ received, etc. We were given information about the kidney offered and given the opportunity to either accept/reject it based on those details.

It's been my observation that those who receive a pancreatic/kidney transplant often seem to be those with T1D because of the nature of that particular form of diabetes. But if you can get both as a T2D, perhaps there may be better outcomes...that's something to address with your transplant center. Since T2D runs heavily in our family, we opted for a deceased donor kidney (with conditions to speed the process) which hubby received after only a year's wait at age 71. (A pancreatic/kidney transplant was neither mentioned nor offered.) After some complications, hubby is doing well after 3.5 months post transplant. Hope you too will find success in your search!

[Live_Positive in reply to Darlenia]

Thank you! It helps. Wishing you all every best I can.

[BabyTee]

I just had an SPK (simultaneous pancreas kidney) transplant on 5/11/22. I am a 50 year old female. I hope my response isn't too verbose, but I want to describe differences between SPK and Kidney only transplants.

For me, type A blood, the average wait time in my region is 4 years for a kidney only, but 18 months for an SPK. You typically get qualified for the kidney transplant first, and then they add additional tests to qualify you for the pancreas, if that is the option for you. Wait time on Kidney list will be included on the Kidney Pancreas wait time, at least that is the current UNOS policy.

For my transplant center - Typical quantities:

Return to work for non-physical labor - 6 weeks for Kidney only, 3 months for SPK.

Can't drive - 2-4 weeks for Kidney only, 6-8 weeks for SPK

Can't lift over 10 lbs - 2-4 weeks for Kidney only, 6-8 weeks for SPK

Transplant meds are basically the same, but the dosages are different.

Blood Pressure - Most, I haven't found a number, of Kidney only patients have hypotension forever. Approx 75% of SPK patients have a 2 to 3 month problem with hypotension that inexplicably appears and disappears. Approx 10% SPK patients have hypotension.

SPK will come, in the US, from a healthy donor 35 years old or younger, because the pancreas is more fragile.

With the pancreas, they don't know until they harvest the organ if it is viable or not, so you may go to the hospital, get a work up, and then get sent home. This is less likely with a kidney.

My A1C was 6.8 prior to the transplant. 10 days later it was 6.3. A week after that it was 5.7.

If you qualify for the SPK transplant, the new kidney will likely last longer, and that is why they give it to people like me.

Best of luck to you making a decision, and when the surgery comes!

[BabyTee in reply to BabyTee]

Let me edit the following sentence: Blood Pressure - Most, I haven't found a number, of Kidney only patients have hypertension forever.