Donating a kidney
Posted , 3 users are following.
Has anyone donated a kidney ? Are there any medical experts on this site that can advise ?
Basically a close friend's son has a failing kidney and he only has the one kidney anyway. My friend is soon to have tests to see if she is compatible. I have told her if all else fails that I would be willing to donate one of mine. What tests have to be carried out and does the fact that I have blood group O rhesus negative make any difference in that it might be more compatible as blood group o neg can be transfused to anybody regardless of their blood group.
0 likes, 10 replies
helen54849 angela192
Posted
Hi,
This is a patient form so no medical experts, however I am going through the process with my friend who is giving me her kidney. O is popular as it can only be given to O where kidneys are concerned that is why people with blood group O always wait they longest on the doner list as it is the most needed as we can only have from another O. So first you both have blood tests to check your blood group, you both have to be the same or they won't go any further unless its an emergency. Your friends son will also go on the live list regardless of the fact he has a live doner or not so he may get a kidney that way. Next your tissue type will be checked if more than one doner has come forward they check both of these things on all parties to see who is the best tissue match. This is less importanat these days due to the standard of the anti rejection drugs. Then they will pick the best tissue match and concentrate on that one person so this may be you or may be his mother. I would go forward and get those inititial tests done first so if all is not well with his mother a start has been made with you. Then you are both tested for anti bodies, everyone has these to start with and women have more if they have had children (different ones for each child) the more different antibodies the more difficult it is apparently. You will have a chest xray, kidney function test which involves being injected with special dye to see how long it takes to go out of your body, a heart scan an ECG. Please be aware lots of people who go for doner find out they have things wrong with them that they didn't know about. My friend had an issue with her bladder and so had to have further tests to investigate to ensure she was ok, thankfully she was but this is not always the case and you can go through all of this to be told your are suitable. Or you could be suitable for someone else but not your friends son this is called paired donating where you would give your kidney to someone and someone ese would kive their kidney to your friends son. If you ar suitable more tests you will have more dye and some more detailed scans that will see how many valves you have in your kindneys and where they are also checks on the blood supply are done. They also predict what your kidney funtion will be when you are 85 and if it is too low they wont do it. They carry out so many checks but if they find anything untoward quite rightly so they wound remove your kidney. It can take quite a while depending on the waiting lists and the NHS how it is. At the begining I and my doner was told work up took 6 months as I was an urgent case, when 6 months came I was told 12, the 18 we started the process in May 2014 and our transplant it Sep 16 mot of that was waiting for tests one of them was supposed to be completed in 2 weeks and the wait was 52 weeks obvs told them I wasn't having that but it was still an 8 month wait. After all that you visit the transplant hospital together and see the consultant you also have to get a licenece from the human tissue authority, this involves being interogated by them they ask you why you are doing it etc its quite harsh in parts and if they are satisfied they will allow the licence this takes two weeks to process. If they say no the op doesn't go a head also. They have to do this to ensure you haven't been bullied or paid to give your kidney. Your friends son will remain on the live list until all the tests are completed and you have been given the go ahead and he gets a date then he will be suspended. You will be given a date for the op and also the pre op. You can change your mind at any time. I will be asking my friend if she is sure before she goes to theater and if she changes her mind then I will support her and she will still be the best friend ever. It is a massive thing you are offering to do make sure your friend recognises your right to change your mind at any point. I would also advise your friend to start looking at the differnt types of dialysis just in case things don't progress fast depending on the sons GFR etc. Like I said I am not a Dr however I have gone through the process and am on dialysis so if I can help anyone going through the same oh course I will. Good luck x
angela192 helen54849
Posted
Thank you so much for this info. You are a brave lady and you come through very positive on your reply, which is a very good thing.
I sincerely hope everything works out for you. Please update from time to time
helen54849 angela192
Posted
Hi,
Will do, I am very lucky although I am young I have the most wonderful husband, family and friends to support me. All of them play a part in keeping smiling. I know its not the best situation but I have to remind myself there are thos who are ill who there is nothing can be done or are alone. What is the point of making those around me sad, I have a nice home gorgeous kids and husband lovely friends and work mates that ensure I am safe and very well looked after. I don't think I could ask for more. You sound like my friends don't under estimate what you have offered to do as you are nothing short of an angel. Dialysis is ok but Eric will vouch that it is a bit of a pain to do and no where near as good as a functioning kidney. I love my friend who is donating she is more like a sister and she is scared to dealth of needles so I know how hard she has worked and how she has had to over come so many fears and barriers to do what she has done so far. I am so proud of her and thats why I wouldn't mind if it came down to it she changed her mind. In my eyes she is so brave and selfless she is a star in my mind for doing all of this. I would of course do the same for her in a heart beat if the boot was on the other foot. So you see I have lots to smile about to me I am the luckest person alive if this makes sense.
eric31962 angela192
Posted
{You can change your mind at any time. I will be asking my friend if she is sure before she goes to theater and if she changes her mind then I will support her and she will still be the best friend ever.}
You are truly inspirational, it is lovely to read this post which gives so much hope to such a disturbed society as we live in today.
Thankyou for such a special post. E
angela192 eric31962
Posted
Thanks "E" for your reply. How are you now ? Are you still on dialysis ?
Heartwarmed by your praise for me, but this is what you do for friends in my opinion. I have known this lady since her son was about 8 years old and he has just turned 40. He can't handle his situation and struggles to cope. He has 2 children, and is youngest is only about 7 years old. My friend goes to Hammersmith Hospital very shortly for the first tests.
I wish with all my heart that your health is restored. Please feel free to update here. I will report back on my friend's situation from time to time as well.
Warm wishes, Angela
helen54849 eric31962
Posted
Eric,
It was me that wrote the change your mind post and I mean every word. My friend thinks I am brave the way I deal wwith this situation, but I think she is brave as it is a massive thing for her to do for me. I struggle with it a bit as I would never want to put my friend in harms way and it is her that has pursuaded me as I said no at first and it scares me in case anything happens to her as it will be my fault as if I wasn't ill she wouldn't feel the need to save my life literally. I am a little better now but still not 100% that is why I constantly ask her and make sure she knows that should she change her mind I will still love her to bits our friendship would never change I think she is bloody amazing and I am lucky to have her. I am gald that you no longer need dialysis and you are doing good. Stories like yours always make me smile as it is one less person suffering. xx
eric31962 helen54849
Posted
I've been very fortunate, I have a condition called nephrotic syndrome which they think I have had my whole life. I had dialysis for about three months or more. Towards the end they didn't seem to worry if the machine failed, and for various reasons I knew something unusual was taking place.This was over a year ago and at present I'm off steroids too. I have to say again I was more than fortunate.
I used to work with a man who gave a kidney to his sister. He had to lose 3.5 stone to undergo the operation, not easy to lose so much weight in a year.
'I liked the change your mind post' There is a lot of humanity inherent in those words. Every day we see disasters cruelty and greed on our televisions. Your words are worthy of front page interest but we know they will not be. E
eric31962 angela192
Posted
It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known. (Dickens 'Tale of two cities'
Well it isn't exactly rest but there is a risk involved and it is, so noble.
Until I became ill I'd never thought of kidneys. They just do their job and ask for no maintainance at all.
The symptoms were awful, months of vomiting and other end too.Thombosis in the legs and awful blood pressure. I was in a cottage hospital for two weeks and no-one had any idea. Took about two hours in a city hospital to tell me I had kidney failure. I had dialysis for about 2-3 months and out patients for about a year. Been more than lucky to have a way out. I will probably be on Blood pressure treatment for ever. But a small price to pay for functioning kidneys.
Warmest regards and admiration E
helen54849 eric31962
Posted
Hello,
Nephrotic syndrome was my first diagnosis (I have had many, I don't really think they no what it is really but the end result is the same) my mum and brother also diagnosed with it. They are ok my brother insulin dependent. So you have been very lucky and long may you stay as you are. I am so glad to here nice stories where people recover, makes my day. xx
eric31962 angela192
Posted
My understanding is that It's not a disease (Nephrotic Syndrome) but a collection of symptoms that together damage the kidneys.
If I was to go into the whole story you would probably lose interest.! I'm aware that people may well read these pages and try to sell me some preparation as has happened on one occasion. I had some faith in the specialist who seems abnormally caring and efficient. I've had almost 18months on very large doses of Steroids, which may very well create their own problems. At the moment (touch wood) I seem to be free of symptoms.
I have no history of illness, just normal childhood diseases. However trauma and colds flu etc do give me protein in the urine.
Good luck to you and your family , E