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Any living kidney donors that can share?

Posted by shalanajoy @shalanajoy, Sep 17, 2024

I'm seriously considering donating a kidney to a young man who desperately needs one. And I just wanted to get feedback from any other living kidney donors out there. I would like to know how the experience went and what sort of long term differences you may have noticed in your own health if any? I'm a 48 year old woman in over all pretty good health.

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tknall | @tknall | Sep 29, 2024
In reply to @rosemarya "@tknall, Thank you for sharing your family journey with kidney transplant, donation, caregiving. You are certainly..." + (show)
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@tknall, Thank you for sharing your family journey with kidney transplant, donation, caregiving. You are certainly blessed to have such an amazing support network. I know that this has taken a lot of communication and coordinatiion - you are to be commended for making this happen.
As a recipient who has taken tacrolimus as one of my antrejection medications for 15 years, I want to let your husband know that the hand trembles will diminish over time.

Tknall, as a living donor, is there any advice or 'wisdom' by experience that you would share with someone who is considering living kidney donation?

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Hello!
Thank you for the positive report on hand tremors. I passed it on to my husband and it gave him hope!
Regarding my experience when considering becoming a donor, I am 68 and based on my health history, felt confident I would not have to deal with CKD in my future so didn't worry about having only one kidney. For a younger person, with fewer years of medical history, I imagine this would be a consideration. I wanted to help my husband and keep him off dialysis, but I took a lot of time researching the risks, speaking with other donors, and making certain the decision was mine alone. I felt zero pressure to be a living donor.
We are now approaching 9 weeks post surgery and the focus has been entirely on healing and regaining stamina. I lead a healthy and active lifestyle and, except for tiring after a busy day, feel great.
As a last piece of advice, if you have children, bring them into the conversation. My husband and I were going to have serious surgeries on the same day and that can be frightening for the family. I feel they appreciated having a voice in the process.
Coincidentally, my very good friend's daughter, who is 38, donated a kidney one week after my surgery. Her young children made it a celebration and were so proud of their mom. She and her husband did a great job of reassuring them and making the entire experience a positive one.

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gsibigtroth | @gsibigtroth | Mar 13 8:39pm
In reply to @tknall "Hello! I am 7 weeks post surgery, having donated a kidney to my husband. The surgery..." + (show)
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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.

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@tknall Great information. I wish you all the best in health and pray each day you keep getting stronger. I am considering donating to my brother in law ( we are both 65). I am fortunate to be in excellent health. I haven’t said anything yet as I have just begun this journey and want to make sure of all the reasons why and what is involved.

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Mar 14 12:42pm
In reply to @gsibigtroth "@tknall Great information. I wish you all the best in health and pray each day you..." + (show)
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@tknall Great information. I wish you all the best in health and pray each day you keep getting stronger. I am considering donating to my brother in law ( we are both 65). I am fortunate to be in excellent health. I haven’t said anything yet as I have just begun this journey and want to make sure of all the reasons why and what is involved.

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@gsibigtroth Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! You will find a lot of information, and speaking to a transplant center there will be resources for you. Being evaluated for a living donor, you yourself will undergo many tests, and yes, a psychological examination, to ensure the organ you want to donate is healthy, that you are healthy, and everything is in order. The transplant center wants success as much as you do!
Ginger

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benedict66066 | @benedict66066 | Mar 15 10:47am

Just a quick note, my son was my living donor but he wasn't a match for me. ;). Through the National Kidney Registry, he saved the life of a young father in California and it put me in line for a matched kidney which I received in January, just 5 months later. My son was 36 when he donated. The first week of recovery was a challenge and then he just made amazing progress. 2 months later he was hiking 10-15 miles every weekend. (That's his thing.). The only changes from his previous 2-kidney-life are that his creatinine is higher than before, he cannot take NSAIDS, and he is aware he needs to drink more water for general kidney health. All the best to you!

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