Transplant Evaluation - What to expect

Posted by bamagirlgina @bamagirlgina, Mar 12, 2018

We received a call today from Mayo-Jax saying our referral had been approved for transplant evaluation and to schedule an appointment. We were told to expect to say up to 3 weeks for testing every day, the entire day. We were not expecting that long of an evaluation and told them we would call back tomorrow after we looked into travel/lodging arrangements. We will plan to stay the entire 3 weeks but just wondering what the general time frame it was for most people. Did it usually take the entire three weeks? And can someone give me an idea of the battery of tests/evaluations that will be included. Thanks!

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@beckyjohnson @onecentwalsh @2011panc outside dirt can have animal feces or urine along with whatever fertilizers and etc. I'm guessing at some point gardening will be ok as long as gloves and a mask are worn for protection.

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@gaylea1

I am wondering about the best course of action to take after transplant surgery. I have 2 options. Stay at home myself with my husband home after work or constant care from my daughter and live with her. Both locations are very near to the hospital. I just don't know how much care I will need post transplant for a few weeks.

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I was told that I would need a 24 hour caregiver for the 1st 4-6 weeks post liver transplant.

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@gaylea1

I am wondering about the best course of action to take after transplant surgery. I have 2 options. Stay at home myself with my husband home after work or constant care from my daughter and live with her. Both locations are very near to the hospital. I just don't know how much care I will need post transplant for a few weeks.

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@amyintucson it sounds like you got a very clear cut direction about requirements for caregiving after your transplant. @gaylea1 you have also narrowed down your options. Just as there are different patient transplant situations the aftercare follow up may be different as well. It never hurts to sound it out with members of your team. One size does not fit all. @beckyjohnson you should consider this too as you prepare to donate a kidney.

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@gaylea1

I am wondering about the best course of action to take after transplant surgery. I have 2 options. Stay at home myself with my husband home after work or constant care from my daughter and live with her. Both locations are very near to the hospital. I just don't know how much care I will need post transplant for a few weeks.

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I'm not waiting to donate a kidney I am waiting for a liver transplant. Thank you for the information though. Probably best to stay with my daughter for full time care for a few weeks.

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@gaylea1

I am wondering about the best course of action to take after transplant surgery. I have 2 options. Stay at home myself with my husband home after work or constant care from my daughter and live with her. Both locations are very near to the hospital. I just don't know how much care I will need post transplant for a few weeks.

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@gaylea1 fulltime care is best. My husband and I will be staying at Rochester for the first month after his transplant and I plan to stay home with him for at least another month after that.

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@jodeej @cehunt57 Thank you. I will look into airbnb. Question: How do you handle leaving the hospital & going anywhere outside your actual living space since there is no way to avoid crossing paths with dirt & contaminated objects like roads, parking lots & sidewalks? What about public places that often have live plants such as restaurants & shopping malls/ centers? I take my foot gear off upon entering my personal residence because I don't know what is under each footstep I take outside.

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Will someone please explain what happened to "The Journey From the Donors Side" discussion?

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Will someone please try finding & posting on "The Journey From The Donors Side". Apparently I was the last person to post there. I can see where Mmauraacro
@mauraacro posted a few minutes ago as did I. His post didn't show up in the thread & neither of our posts came to my gmail. I also noticed the moderator group doesn't show up on it when I go there through the back door. This is suggestive that it has been disabled? I do not have issues with any other discussion I'm following so I know it isn't my device.

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@beckyjohnson

@jodeej @cehunt57 Thank you. I will look into airbnb. Question: How do you handle leaving the hospital & going anywhere outside your actual living space since there is no way to avoid crossing paths with dirt & contaminated objects like roads, parking lots & sidewalks? What about public places that often have live plants such as restaurants & shopping malls/ centers? I take my foot gear off upon entering my personal residence because I don't know what is under each footstep I take outside.

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@beckyjohnson you wash your hands and use hand sanitizer. A lot.

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@beckyjohnson

@jodeej @cehunt57 Thank you. I will look into airbnb. Question: How do you handle leaving the hospital & going anywhere outside your actual living space since there is no way to avoid crossing paths with dirt & contaminated objects like roads, parking lots & sidewalks? What about public places that often have live plants such as restaurants & shopping malls/ centers? I take my foot gear off upon entering my personal residence because I don't know what is under each footstep I take outside.

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@beckyjohnson it is mostly about common sense infection prevention, good housekeeping and hygiene that everybody should practice anyways. When you are an organ donor you might want to step up these measures a bit while you are healing from your surgery. Organ recipients have extra precautions for life because they are immune suppressed. That won’t apply to you. You are trying to do a good thing. Don’t overthink it or make it more difficult than it is. Take it one step at a time and be kind to yourself.

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