Give one, get one: During liver transplant, can I donate a kidney?

Posted by smmattocks @smmattocks, Jan 30 4:37pm

This is probably a stupid question......

WHEN/IF: I get called in for my liver transplant - can I also donate a kidney??? ...(while they have me "open" and on the table) Just curious... any one know??.... I'm so curious - because if I can...I'll do that!!!
Thanks ....ahead of time... for ANY answers one has.

S. Mattocks

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craigcraig | @craigcraig | Jan 30 5:59pm

If they start you on immunosuppressants during the procedure then I assume no. I assume they do start that stuff right off but I am not a doctor. But I have been told more than once I can never be a donor because I have taken TAC so my kidney , or whatever, would be bad for the person getting it. Not official but I bet it's a no.

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jan 30 8:51pm

@smmattocks Ask your transplant team! They are the best source for a question like that.

How kind of you to think of donating a kidney!
Ginger

luckee | @luckee | Jan 31 9:00am

One surgery takes several hours so I wouldn't think they would want to take your kidney at the same time. I don't think they would want to keep you under anesthesia longer than they have to. That is kind of you to think of it though!

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Feb 12 9:15pm

@smmattocks, did you have a chance to ask your transplant team this question? Curious minds want to know.

smmattocks | @smmattocks | Feb 13 12:08am

In reply to @colleenyoung "@smmattocks, did you have a chance to ask your transplant team this question? Curious minds want..." + (show)

I haven't yet - beginning of March I'll be meeting with them again....however, I have read that it would be harder for the kidney that's left to have to" deal with" the liver post-op meds. and the body having to heal from both happening.
Still...you'd think these days that it could happen somehow.
Thanks for staying curious!! Stay tuned!!! I'll definitely get an answer either way!!
🙂 Shawnah

footballmum | @footballmum | Feb 13 9:42am

Good morning from Canada, my question to you would be are you the donor or the recipient? If you are a donor and you're doing a partial liver transplant, I don't see why they can't do the kidney at the same time. If you are the recipient then I would say absolutely no cuz you will need two good functioning kidneys to survive the transplant to begin with and you would need two good functioning kidneys moving forward as your transplant medication will be very hard on your kidneys.

smmattocks | @smmattocks | Feb 13 11:36pm

In reply to @footballmum "Good morning from Canada, my question to you would be are you the donor or the..." + (show)

@footballmum

I'm leaning to agree with that. I'm the receiver of the liver...I would give a kidney. I do know the meds post op are an issue. Thanks for your advice/input!! Btw.... maybe you'll know the answer to this before I go digging into it.....If colorectal cancer's gaining unwelcomed popularity in some people....I'm wondering - why can't they transplant any of that "area"??? Have a great evening!! God bless!
Shawnah 🙂

jimb43581921 | @jimb43581921 | Apr 4 6:32pm

This is not advisable. Immunosuppressant drugs such as the very common Tacrolimus are notoriously tough on kidneys. Prior to my liver transplant, I had great kidney performance and now I have to drink 120 oz of water per day to help my kidneys function properly. Also, liver transplants are difficult, time consuming and tough on the body. Adding a kidney component is only going to tax your body more and add extra complications to an already complex procedure.

lylii | @lylii | Apr 5 11:23pm

That would put an additional stress on your body, and your body will be stressed enough. Plus, you may very well end up needing that kidney. Generous thought, but bad idea.