Living Donor: It's a huge responsibility

@fauneconner - Wow! I don't think I have heard of that before. My husband wants to be my donor but some of his health issues might not allow him to. Safe travels and just keep praying.

My husband has struggled for years with high BP and it has scarred his kidneys. Now he has to keep his BP higher than normal in order for his kidneys to filter at all. It is a balancing act.

@fauneconner - I had no idea that was what high bp for a years does. I knew it was bad for your heart but did not know it damaged your kidneys. So sorry to hear this but so glad you are willing to donate to your husband. I think you should feel positive because as long as you are healthy they can always use the paired kidney chain if you are not a match. Best of luck and keep us up to date if you want a cheering section for you and your husband.

Thank you, Lynn. I will. Three weeks away from Rochester. Hoping for good results and that we can move forward. What is your GFR at this point? My husband's is around 18.

@fauneconner - My GFR is 22. I will meet with the transplant team once it is 20 (national standard) which my nephrologist predicts will be in the next year (by the end of 2018). My disease, PKD, has a fairly predictable rate of speed of kidney failure although nothing is set in stone.

Is your husband feeling ok? I assume he is not on dialysis yet? My goal is to avoid dialysis altogether as that is ideal for the most successful kidney transplants. It sounds like you two are being proactive as well.

Lynn, he has had one dialysis treatment in the hospital when he got in trouble with his BP too low. We are trying to avoid that as well. He gets weekly lab work and the results are sent to his recipient nurse at Mayo so they can monitor him. Once his dropped below 20 they contacted me and asked me to come for further evaluation as a donor. So far I have just had preliminary blood work in June since I knew we were the same blood type.

@fauneconner , I have been following some of this discussion while traveling. I plan to catch up after I get home and back to routine.
I admire you for being tested as a potential kidney donor for your husband. Myself, I have a liver and kidney from an anonymous deceased donor. There is information about the living kidney donor process on this site. You can find it in the Transplant Pages. If you need the link, I can send it when I get home.
You are in good hands at Mayo!! Great Doctors and Nurses-the Best!!
Rosemary

@fauneconner, it sounds like you are traveling to Rochester. If this is so, I encourage you to check out the Gift of Life Transplant House.
My husband and I highly recommend it.
Rosemary

@fauneconner - I wouldn't worry about even 6 months to a year of dialysis impacting the success of a transplant. It is when someone is on dialysis for years on end that the impact is seen. My uncle had dialysis for about a year before his transplant and his lasted 20 years. I was shocked to learn that dialysis only does 10% of what your kidney does which is probably why people don't feel very well when they must do dialysis (not to mention the time, strain on the heart etc.). You are doing the best you can!

Post kidney transplant, my BP is very carefully monitored, too, by my kidney team.