1. < Transplants

Looking for what to expect as I consider Kidney Transplant

Posted by Sevkira @sevkira, Jul 11, 2017

Hi, I was wondering if anyone can give me more info on what to ask the transplant team when I go for my evaluation. I'm struggling with whether dialysis is better or a transplant. I know any surgey has risks.

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trishanna | @trishanna | Jan 3, 2018
In reply to @oregongirl "Well, I am 75, nearly 76. before this happened I could run circles around any younger..." + (show)
@oregongirl

Well, I am 75, nearly 76. before this happened I could run circles around any younger person. In the mirror, I looked my age, but in my and body I was about 50 What a way to go Huh? I guess i would not want my children giving up a Kidney. It is obvious why. We will see, maybe I have nothing to worry about. I am already on medications for my RA. The drug I take is taken once a week, 6 pills. I take them Sunday after church. Usually by Tuesday I am out of it and near vomiting all day...no appetite. It is so strong but I have no pain in my body and I no longer have to use a cane. This all came on very suddenly. I have had the RA but have learned to live with it. But my legs started giving out and I was falling. Falling is for OLD people, not me. I am going to come off the pills as I cannot eat or hardly get around fr about two days a week. I will do as much exercise as I can to get my body in shape and feeling better. Hope so anyway. Thanks for listening.

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@mimcg Well said. I'm 78 and understand perfectly how you feel. I was in pretty good shape except for my back, and had worked with physical therapy with great success. In October had my kidney removed for cancer and have recovered fully, except for my back, which physical therapy is again helping. Before and after my most recent surgery, I have spent considerable time researching kidney cancer, and have gotten to know several cancer patients who are stage IV and fighting very hard just to survive, overcoming the most horrendous side effects imaginable! God's message to me: how dare you complain when others are suffering so badly and would love to change health problems with you so they can live to see their children grow up! Message received and I don't complain (except maybe a little bit once in a while). Good luck to you and may God bless. Do be sure to ask for physical therapy order from your doctor.

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Texas Freedom | @oregongirl | Jan 3, 2018
In reply to @oregongirl "Well, I am 75, nearly 76. before this happened I could run circles around any younger..." + (show)
@oregongirl

Well, I am 75, nearly 76. before this happened I could run circles around any younger person. In the mirror, I looked my age, but in my and body I was about 50 What a way to go Huh? I guess i would not want my children giving up a Kidney. It is obvious why. We will see, maybe I have nothing to worry about. I am already on medications for my RA. The drug I take is taken once a week, 6 pills. I take them Sunday after church. Usually by Tuesday I am out of it and near vomiting all day...no appetite. It is so strong but I have no pain in my body and I no longer have to use a cane. This all came on very suddenly. I have had the RA but have learned to live with it. But my legs started giving out and I was falling. Falling is for OLD people, not me. I am going to come off the pills as I cannot eat or hardly get around fr about two days a week. I will do as much exercise as I can to get my body in shape and feeling better. Hope so anyway. Thanks for listening.

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I am very fortunate to have lived so without any serious illnesses, except as a baby. Does anyone think that the recent removal of my gall bladder (and when they opened me up I was loaded with infection) could have an effect on Kidneys? Thank you for your inspiring reply. I feel very sorry for my kids who are denying what is going on with their mother. I guess this is normal. I could never believe my mother could die.

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mlmcg | @mlmcg | Jan 3, 2018
In reply to @oregongirl "Well, I am 75, nearly 76. before this happened I could run circles around any younger..." + (show)
@oregongirl

Well, I am 75, nearly 76. before this happened I could run circles around any younger person. In the mirror, I looked my age, but in my and body I was about 50 What a way to go Huh? I guess i would not want my children giving up a Kidney. It is obvious why. We will see, maybe I have nothing to worry about. I am already on medications for my RA. The drug I take is taken once a week, 6 pills. I take them Sunday after church. Usually by Tuesday I am out of it and near vomiting all day...no appetite. It is so strong but I have no pain in my body and I no longer have to use a cane. This all came on very suddenly. I have had the RA but have learned to live with it. But my legs started giving out and I was falling. Falling is for OLD people, not me. I am going to come off the pills as I cannot eat or hardly get around fr about two days a week. I will do as much exercise as I can to get my body in shape and feeling better. Hope so anyway. Thanks for listening.

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I have had my back hurt only once, and once was enough. I lost my kidneys from cancer, but not kidney cancer. I was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma in 1975, had to have 6 weeks of radiation in 1980, the bladder was damaged from the radiation - my bladder shared everything with the kidneys including the radiation which over time killed my kidneys. Hence, the transplant. When I had the back pain, in the area of the resident kidneys I had it checked out. While they were running the test the pain went away. Everything was okay. As I said, having back pain once was more then enough for me. Yes, I have had physical therapy and if you don't do it, it doesn't work. I do not feel comfortable with a cane, my walker has a basket, does not have a seat or brakes, light enough to pick up and walk over bumpy terrain and small enough to fit almost everywhere.mlmcg

REPLY
mlmcg | @mlmcg | Jan 3, 2018
In reply to @oregongirl "Well, I am 75, nearly 76. before this happened I could run circles around any younger..." + (show)
@oregongirl

Well, I am 75, nearly 76. before this happened I could run circles around any younger person. In the mirror, I looked my age, but in my and body I was about 50 What a way to go Huh? I guess i would not want my children giving up a Kidney. It is obvious why. We will see, maybe I have nothing to worry about. I am already on medications for my RA. The drug I take is taken once a week, 6 pills. I take them Sunday after church. Usually by Tuesday I am out of it and near vomiting all day...no appetite. It is so strong but I have no pain in my body and I no longer have to use a cane. This all came on very suddenly. I have had the RA but have learned to live with it. But my legs started giving out and I was falling. Falling is for OLD people, not me. I am going to come off the pills as I cannot eat or hardly get around fr about two days a week. I will do as much exercise as I can to get my body in shape and feeling better. Hope so anyway. Thanks for listening.

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NO. I had my gall bladder removed and it had nothing to do with my kidneys.mlmcg

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trishanna | @trishanna | Jan 3, 2018

@oregongirl and @mimcg. My fault for not being clearer. I was agreeing with @mimcg, who is inspiring in having overcome her problems (30-something years ago, now), but what I wrote was to encourage @oregongirl who spoke of having RA. Assumed she meant rheumatoid arthritis. I considered getting a walker - one of these days, I shall fall for sure cause my balance isn't so hot!!

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2 replies
Texas Freedom | @oregongirl | Jan 3, 2018
In reply to @oregongirl "Well, I am 75, nearly 76. before this happened I could run circles around any younger..." + (show)
@oregongirl

Well, I am 75, nearly 76. before this happened I could run circles around any younger person. In the mirror, I looked my age, but in my and body I was about 50 What a way to go Huh? I guess i would not want my children giving up a Kidney. It is obvious why. We will see, maybe I have nothing to worry about. I am already on medications for my RA. The drug I take is taken once a week, 6 pills. I take them Sunday after church. Usually by Tuesday I am out of it and near vomiting all day...no appetite. It is so strong but I have no pain in my body and I no longer have to use a cane. This all came on very suddenly. I have had the RA but have learned to live with it. But my legs started giving out and I was falling. Falling is for OLD people, not me. I am going to come off the pills as I cannot eat or hardly get around fr about two days a week. I will do as much exercise as I can to get my body in shape and feeling better. Hope so anyway. Thanks for listening.

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Lymphoma...was a word that came up but I don't be know why. To be honest I know nothing. Thank you so much for sharing. I am hopeful that no call from doctor means all is well. I am so confused about the whole thing. The meds they have me on makes me deathly ill one day after taking 6 of them. I am in bed or at toilet. I don't vomit but all the signs to vomit are there. You are really brave. I don't think I WD make it thru chemo therapy. When I hear something I will let everyone know.

REPLY
Texas Freedom | @oregongirl | Jan 3, 2018
In reply to @oregongirl "Well, I am 75, nearly 76. before this happened I could run circles around any younger..." + (show)
@oregongirl

Well, I am 75, nearly 76. before this happened I could run circles around any younger person. In the mirror, I looked my age, but in my and body I was about 50 What a way to go Huh? I guess i would not want my children giving up a Kidney. It is obvious why. We will see, maybe I have nothing to worry about. I am already on medications for my RA. The drug I take is taken once a week, 6 pills. I take them Sunday after church. Usually by Tuesday I am out of it and near vomiting all day...no appetite. It is so strong but I have no pain in my body and I no longer have to use a cane. This all came on very suddenly. I have had the RA but have learned to live with it. But my legs started giving out and I was falling. Falling is for OLD people, not me. I am going to come off the pills as I cannot eat or hardly get around fr about two days a week. I will do as much exercise as I can to get my body in shape and feeling better. Hope so anyway. Thanks for listening.

Jump to this post

I had my gall bladder removed but to late. I was full of poison in my gut

REPLY
Texas Freedom | @oregongirl | Jan 3, 2018

Yes I have RA And I am on a strong med methotrexate.

REPLY
mlmcg | @mlmcg | Jan 3, 2018
In reply to @oregongirl "Well, I am 75, nearly 76. before this happened I could run circles around any younger..." + (show)
@oregongirl

Well, I am 75, nearly 76. before this happened I could run circles around any younger person. In the mirror, I looked my age, but in my and body I was about 50 What a way to go Huh? I guess i would not want my children giving up a Kidney. It is obvious why. We will see, maybe I have nothing to worry about. I am already on medications for my RA. The drug I take is taken once a week, 6 pills. I take them Sunday after church. Usually by Tuesday I am out of it and near vomiting all day...no appetite. It is so strong but I have no pain in my body and I no longer have to use a cane. This all came on very suddenly. I have had the RA but have learned to live with it. But my legs started giving out and I was falling. Falling is for OLD people, not me. I am going to come off the pills as I cannot eat or hardly get around fr about two days a week. I will do as much exercise as I can to get my body in shape and feeling better. Hope so anyway. Thanks for listening.

Jump to this post

Things have changed since I was diagnosed with lymphoma, they did not have the chemo meds they do today. Most of the people did not make it back then, which is not true today. All I can do is tell you that if I did not hear from a doctor everything was okay. If I was the second one to get the results, the doctor the first, it was bad news or the news was so good the doctor was dancing down the hall to tell me. Unfortunately you are waiting over a major holiday time and everyone has holiday plans, even doctors, so not knowing can be hard at any time. But Christmas time? There was a time I took a blanket or two and a pillow to sleep on the bathroom floor in front of the toilet, just to make sure I make it in time to I throw-up. Take a deep breath and remember all the good things that happen today, even if it was just one thing.mlmcg

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dshaver | @dshaver | Jan 5, 2018
In reply to @gaybinator "@oregongirl It is not necessary for a living donor to be related. Our BIL was not...." + (show)
@gaybinator

@oregongirl It is not necessary for a living donor to be related. Our BIL was not. And blood type is a moot point, with cross-matching.

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I’m on the transplant list. My direct donors have been eliminated. My nephew who is “A” will do a paired donation as I am “O”. How long did your crossmatching take?

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