Hello!
I am 7 weeks post surgery, having donated a kidney to my husband. The surgery was at Mayo Phoenix.
The process leading up to the surgery date was extremely thorough and my team made certain my decision was mine alone and that I wasn't being influenced to be a donor, particularly since it was my husband who needed the transplant and I was so emotionally invested in his health. It's easy to get caught up in "being a hero" and, for me, it was important to remove all ego from my decision.
Since you know the recipient, I can share that it is an amazing and life changing experience to see life come back into someone who has been very ill. My donated kidney began to work immediately and my husband looked and felt great, and continues to do so.
I urge you to ask a lot of questions about what to expect after surgery and for your long term health, and to speak with other donors. Everyone's experience is unique and I learned something from each person I spoke with.
My mentor at the National Kidney Donor Organization, http://www.nkdo.org, was a great help and support, particularly after surgery. It made a huge difference for my emotional recovery to have someone to speak with who had gone through the same thing and she continues to help me.
You will go into surgery healthy and strong and come out with one less organ, so you can expect to feel pretty lousy right after surgery and for the first week. From there, my recuperation improved steadily with each week.
I can't overstate the importance of having a good caregiver at the hospital (for moral support and advocacy) and for your first week home. My daytime nurses were not particularly attentive and I was fortunate to have my daughter with me . Luckily, my nighttime nurses were amazing. When home, you'll be able to move around, dress, shower, etc., but the caregiver will help you stay ahead of any pain, make sure you drink a lot of water, and also encourage you to move around.
I still fatigue easily and expect to for the first few months but I am already forgetting that I have only one kidney because I don't feel any differently physically. It is more about recovering from the surgery and regaining stamina.
There is so much more to share and I hope this helps in the early days of your journey.
Please reach out to other donors and ask a lot of questions. I know you'll make the right decision for you.
God bless.