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!

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

@beckyjohnson

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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Hi Becky, Here is the discussion:
- Kidney transplant - The Journey from the Donor's Side https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/kidney-transplant-from-the-donor-side/

It is listed as one of the top discussions in the Transplants Group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/transplants/

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@colleenyoung Thank you very much. I appreciate the front door link.

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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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@cehunt57 I kind of figured that is the way it is. I chose to be a sociologist in part because I'm such a curious person. We are taught to think about everything from as many angles as our mind allows. That too is just the way it is. Thank you for being so kind. It is hard for a think tank brain to take it one step at a time like it is for a runner. But I will try.

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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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@jodeej LMBO We should buy stock in hand sanitizer?

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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 pretty much. 😉 Lol

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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 I have been told that regular hand soap is as effective, and I read the same thing somewhere. It said to sing happy birthday to yourself as you are washing your hands and that is enough time. Apparently it’s the friction of rubbing your hands together as you wash them that does the trick.
JK

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@bamagirlgina

@jodeej - Thanks for the information. Hopefully we will not have to stay the entire 3 weeks. I did contact Gabriel House today and right now the have availability...hopefully they will still tomorrow once I call about the appt. Trying to get an appt date at Mayo and Gabriel House in tandum is tricky. We considered taking our travel trailer over but the closest campground was at least 30 minutes drive away. Since Gabriel House has shuttle service that would be one less stressor to have to worry about (not to mention dragging the camper over, setting it up, etc.) Fingers crossed Mayo still has April 11 open when I call in the morning and that after that Gabriel House still has availability.

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This is my first time posting a question so I'm unsure on where to begin. I have signed up to be a living kidney donor for a friend at the Mayo Phoenix Az. I have returned the HEPA forms and have not heard back from them. This process started in October, 2017 and I still have not been scheduled for further testing even though my bloodwork was acceptable. Is this a reasonable amount of time for this to be taking or is there something I should be doing to help this donor process along? Please reply with any advice you can offer. Thank you

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@bamagirlgina

@jodeej - Thanks for the information. Hopefully we will not have to stay the entire 3 weeks. I did contact Gabriel House today and right now the have availability...hopefully they will still tomorrow once I call about the appt. Trying to get an appt date at Mayo and Gabriel House in tandum is tricky. We considered taking our travel trailer over but the closest campground was at least 30 minutes drive away. Since Gabriel House has shuttle service that would be one less stressor to have to worry about (not to mention dragging the camper over, setting it up, etc.) Fingers crossed Mayo still has April 11 open when I call in the morning and that after that Gabriel House still has availability.

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@bjcjke. Things went really fast for me after my bloodwork. Could the hold up be on your friend's end? I don't mean that shehe is holding it up purposely, could there a delay for health reasons?
I would bug Mayo though. There are so many channels things go through, maybe you inadvertently got put on hold.

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@bamagirlgina

@jodeej - Thanks for the information. Hopefully we will not have to stay the entire 3 weeks. I did contact Gabriel House today and right now the have availability...hopefully they will still tomorrow once I call about the appt. Trying to get an appt date at Mayo and Gabriel House in tandum is tricky. We considered taking our travel trailer over but the closest campground was at least 30 minutes drive away. Since Gabriel House has shuttle service that would be one less stressor to have to worry about (not to mention dragging the camper over, setting it up, etc.) Fingers crossed Mayo still has April 11 open when I call in the morning and that after that Gabriel House still has availability.

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@bjcjke, I would like to welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am happy that you have joined this discussion. I am a recipient of a liver and a kidney from an anonymous deceased donor and my experience with living donation is limited to what our other members have shared about their experiences.
You have already met mauraacro and she has suggested that you contact the department in Phoenix. I agree that that is a good idea.

Are you familiar with the donor tool kit? Here is the Transplant Pages, with a tool kit that might be helpful.https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/transplant/
Here is another resource: I Want to be a Living Donor - How Do I Start the Process?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/newsfeed-post/i-want-to-be-a-living-donor-how-do-i-start-the-process/
I hope that you find out what is going on. Your willingness to step forward is an inspiration to all!
Hugs,
Rosemary

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@bamagirlgina

@jodeej - Thanks for the information. Hopefully we will not have to stay the entire 3 weeks. I did contact Gabriel House today and right now the have availability...hopefully they will still tomorrow once I call about the appt. Trying to get an appt date at Mayo and Gabriel House in tandum is tricky. We considered taking our travel trailer over but the closest campground was at least 30 minutes drive away. Since Gabriel House has shuttle service that would be one less stressor to have to worry about (not to mention dragging the camper over, setting it up, etc.) Fingers crossed Mayo still has April 11 open when I call in the morning and that after that Gabriel House still has availability.

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@bjcjke Do not worry about where to begin because you have already begun. There is another discussion thread under Transplants (Kidney) Journey From the Donors Side. I started the donor process in the beginning of May & joined Mayo Connect & immediately began following Journey From the Donors Side. I now also follow What To Expect & Changes After the Transplant. I have learned in spite of our very diverse Mayo Connect members we all have compassion which forces understanding (Even when disagreeing) in common. It takes courage to open up to a bunch of strangers. Thank you for sharing with us. It won't be long before you feel like part of the Mayo Connect family too. Yes you most definitly have to stay in contact with your coordinator to move forward. There is only one of them to 100s if not 1000s of us.

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