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Living Kidney Donation Surgery: What You Need to Know Nov 19, 2025 | By Kristin Eggebraaten (@keggebraaten)Comment receiving replies
I donated a kidney earlier this week. I think it's important to note how variable patient experiences can be the couple days post surgery. The above makes it sound like nothing. I had intense pain from the gas that I couldn't relieve accompanied by very low blood pressure (caused a faint, weak feeling) and nausea. It was a cocktail that made for 36 hours of intermittent misery. I would do it again to help my friend, but this article really down plays what's possible and prospective donors should be treated with honesty and transparency.
Replies to "I donated a kidney earlier this week. I think it's important to note how variable patient..."
@jhoyt27 Dang that trapped gas! The surgical team uses it to distended your abdomen and create easier access to the kidney they were removing. There are so many nooks and crannies in our gut, it's not a surprise some may have been trapped. I have had that happen too, never fun. Are you feeling better now?
Ginger
Connect
@jhoyt27
I hope that your recovery is going well and that you are feeling better that you were a few days ago. You are absolutely correct that the patient experience is different for each indiviidual.
Please accept my Welcome to Connect. I would like to share some discussions where members share their experiences with the living donor process. Perhaps you will discover some helpful hints from other donore as you proceed forward with your recovery.
- Any living kidney donors that can share?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/any-living-kidney-donors-that-can-share/
- Living Donor Kidney surgery next Tuesday: Any advice?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/living-donor-kidney-surgery-next-tuesday/
@jhoyt27, Did you need to spend extra days in the hospital after your donation surgery?