1. < Transplants

Kidney transplant - The Journey from the Donor's Side

Posted by mauraacro @mauraacro, Jan 2, 2018

I'm headed to Rochester on the 10th for surgery on the 12th. I'm excited and nervous! I didn't know the recipient but have gotten to "meet" her and some of her daughters through phone calls and emails.
I've had labs done at my doctor's office and went to Mayo a few weeks ago for a million more tests. My case was presented to the donor board a few days before Christmas and I was approved and notified the same day. It seems like everything took so long and now is going so fast.
I'm interested in hearing from donors but haven't had a lot of luck. It seems like the recipients are the ones who post the most, which gives me some info and reassurance but it would be nice to hear from the other side too.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Transplants Support Group.

mauraacro | @mauraacro | Jan 13, 2019
In reply to @hopefulgirl "(Does anyone know if there is a way to post without it being in response to..." + (show)
@hopefulgirl

(Does anyone know if there is a way to post without it being in response to another post? 🙂 I am an NP at Mayo and am in the testing phase of donating a kidney. I completed the first day of testing Friday and it was so good to see what my patient's go through in a busy day!
I was blessed to be able to find my way around, but still found the day a little exhausting. The 18 hour blood pressure testing and the 24 hour urine testing made the day, umm challenging. BTW we went to a movie that night and I thought the bp machine would not be audible to others but of course it seemed to go off when the movie was quiet... the couple in front of us turned around a couple of times at first. I apologized after the movie and he said he is a cancer patient at Mayo and they figured out right away what it was 🙂 They were very nice! So, back to my day.. everyone I met was SO nice and helpful! The process is very thorough and for good reason. So far all of my results are good and I have two more days of testing next Thursday and Friday. When I was asked at what percent I was interested in doing this I said %100!!! I have worked at Mayo for two years (we came here after my sister had been working here for 30 years already!) and feel confident in the care and the people I have met have been amazing!

Enough rambling 🙂 I would love prayers that the rest of my testing turns out good and I am able to proceed with donating!
Thanks!

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@hopefulgirl the testing process is pretty amazing, isn't it?
It took me until almost the end of the evaluation to realize that all of those tests were to make sure I was safe to proceed. I had thought most of it was for the recipients information.
There were a few family members worried about my donating so I sent them my schedule of tests to show how thorough it was.
The stress test was rough for me but now that you've gotten the 18 & 24 hour tests done, everything else is easy!
I'll be thinking great thoughts for you.

REPLY
hopefulgirl | @hopefulgirl | Jan 13, 2019
In reply to @rosemarya "I am a recipient of liver/kidney from deceased donor. So I assure you that your intention..." + (show)
@rosemarya

I am a recipient of liver/kidney from deceased donor. So I assure you that your intention to donate a kidney is a prime example of human goodness. I would be honored to include you in my prayer intentions.
I am a very non medical person, and I was amazed at the compassion and the skill that was demonstrated by all who took care of me at Mayo.
I love your experience with the 18hr Blood Pressure cuff! I usually get caught in the middle of crossing a street when mine goes off.

I hope you will continue to update your progress here on Connect. Anytime that you want to read, or join into any of the discussions, or even begin a new discussion, I extend you a sincere welcome.
Have you visited the Transplant Pages? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/transplant/

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Rosemary,
Thank you for suggesting the transplant pages. I found several helpful articles there! You are such a great facilitator btw!

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @rosemarya "I am a recipient of liver/kidney from deceased donor. So I assure you that your intention..." + (show)
@rosemarya

I am a recipient of liver/kidney from deceased donor. So I assure you that your intention to donate a kidney is a prime example of human goodness. I would be honored to include you in my prayer intentions.
I am a very non medical person, and I was amazed at the compassion and the skill that was demonstrated by all who took care of me at Mayo.
I love your experience with the 18hr Blood Pressure cuff! I usually get caught in the middle of crossing a street when mine goes off.

I hope you will continue to update your progress here on Connect. Anytime that you want to read, or join into any of the discussions, or even begin a new discussion, I extend you a sincere welcome.
Have you visited the Transplant Pages? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/transplant/

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@rosemarya I wore a 24 hour blood pressure monitor from Friday after until Saturday afternoon. It pumped up every half hour, hourly during night/sleeping hours, but never made any noise! I did find it annoying though. I am hoping that my BP won't be enough of a problem to prescribe medication, I think I take enough already, just no BP medication.
JK

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1 reply
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@rosemarya I wore a 24 hour blood pressure monitor from Friday after until Saturday afternoon. It..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@rosemarya I wore a 24 hour blood pressure monitor from Friday after until Saturday afternoon. It pumped up every half hour, hourly during night/sleeping hours, but never made any noise! I did find it annoying though. I am hoping that my BP won't be enough of a problem to prescribe medication, I think I take enough already, just no BP medication.
JK

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BP control plays an important role in protecting our kidneys. So as a transplant recipient it is important to monitor and/or treat. I do take BP meds and have a home monitor that I record my readings regularly.

REPLY
2 replies
JK | @contentandwell | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @rosemarya "BP control plays an important role in protecting our kidneys. So as a transplant recipient it..." + (show)
@rosemarya

BP control plays an important role in protecting our kidneys. So as a transplant recipient it is important to monitor and/or treat. I do take BP meds and have a home monitor that I record my readings regularly.

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@rosemarya I never really thought about BP affecting kidneys. I only thought it about affecting my heart. If I do need to start taking it I will tell him I want to wait until after our trip to Denver. I would hate to be there and discover that it did not agree with me in some way as lisinopril did.
JK

REPLY
cmael | @cmael | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @rosemarya "BP control plays an important role in protecting our kidneys. So as a transplant recipient it..." + (show)
@rosemarya

BP control plays an important role in protecting our kidneys. So as a transplant recipient it is important to monitor and/or treat. I do take BP meds and have a home monitor that I record my readings regularly.

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I have new, since my transplant, home bp monitor that has Bluetooth so all of my readings are transferred to my phone. That makes it easy to share with the doctors.

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1 reply
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @cmael "I have new, since my transplant, home bp monitor that has Bluetooth so all of my..." + (show)
@cmael

I have new, since my transplant, home bp monitor that has Bluetooth so all of my readings are transferred to my phone. That makes it easy to share with the doctors.

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You are way ahead of me! I have BP recording booklet that I use.

REPLY
1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Jan 15, 2019
In reply to @rosemarya "You are way ahead of me! I have BP recording booklet that I use." + (show)
@rosemarya

You are way ahead of me! I have BP recording booklet that I use.

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@cmael @rosemarya I actually do not record mine, I just take it to see how it is doing. My doctor has never mentioned wanting me to record it. When I am home it's always pretty good, but I guess high for today's standards -- systolic in the 130s, and diastolic in the high 60s. I am dreading my appointment tomorrow.
JK

REPLY
1 reply
cmael | @cmael | Jan 15, 2019

I have “white coat syndrome”. Whenever I’m at the dr my bp is elevated and when I’m relaxed at home it’s good so it helps to have proof.

REPLY
Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jan 15, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@cmael @rosemarya I actually do not record mine, I just take it to see how it..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@cmael @rosemarya I actually do not record mine, I just take it to see how it is doing. My doctor has never mentioned wanting me to record it. When I am home it's always pretty good, but I guess high for today's standards -- systolic in the 130s, and diastolic in the high 60s. I am dreading my appointment tomorrow.
JK

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My PCP used to ask me to jot down a few numbers between my 6 month check ups with him. But it is my Kidney transplant team who is keeping a close watch. I only see them tyearly, so they gave me the small booklet. I will return it at my annual visit.
My PCP has been working with me when my BP meds were giving me trouble after the Kidney folks made a change. He is my GoTo person, but he knows that the Kidney (and Liver) get priority treatment.

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