SPK (simultaneous pancreas and kidney) transplants

@nikkispk are you still waiting for your SPK? I just finished with my evaluation at Mayo Jacksonville.

@tiffersann, Welcome to Connect. I am a liver and kidney recipient, however, I want to say that I am happy to hear that you have just finished your evaluation. I know that it must be a relief to get it over with. Do you know when you will hear whether you are listed for an organ?

I'm hoping that I'll hear today. The committee meets on Tuesday afternoons, so fingers crossed!

@tiffersann We'll be keeping our fingers and toes crossed, too! Please let us know, won't you?
Ginger

I just got word that my case will be on the committee's agenda on Tuesday afternoon!

It's always good news to hear that you have been selected for a transplant. I my case, because I was at MELD 40 when entering the Transplant Hospital, two committees met within a week.One Surgical to determine if I was healthy enough for surgery and one for the transplant issues to determine all things considered, if I was a good candidate. I looked back in my medical records and there were a number of test such as phycological tests that I was not aware of. I know I failed at least one. I was very ill land at 40 Meld with failing kidneys the odds were in my favor. I was told by a family member that had worked a UCLA transplant center to treat the symptoms of my liver failure as they occurred. I had three trips to the ER for parasytethis and the fourth was for kidney failure due to E Coli poisoning. That was treated locally near my house. Within a day the liver team were I was found a bed at the Cedar Sinai Comprehensive Transplant Center. With that week I received the MELD 40 liver Transplant letter from the transplant team. I want to stress that I took very good care of myself while I was very ill. I stayed active and went to bed very early. I ate very small portions of food during the day. The doctors noted that I was healthy for my M level. I have no idea what the outcome would have been if I had been on the transplant list during the duration if my illness which was ten years since the first signs of liver damage.

I was on the list for a SPK at Mayo in Rochester MN and also at UW Health in Madison WI. I ended up getting my call from UW Health and had my SPK on 7/28/16. Almost 3 years ago! Feeling great with no complications!💚

@jgloede9, Hi Jennifer. I want to extend my hand in a virtual handshake to welcome you to Connect. As a transplant recipient, I am excited to see that you will be celebrating your 3rd year anniversary soon. Do you have any plans to honor the special day? My husband and I have made it our practice to go out for dinner on the anniversary of my transplant. We make it special with an iced tea toast!
I have a simultaneous transplant, also. Mine is liver and kidney. I have 2 incision sites/scars. How about you - Did you have 2 incisions/scars?

Hello! Thanks for the warm welcome! Congrats on your transplant as well. I always feel like getting a kidney and pancreas is is so much less of a journey than what you had to endure with getting a liver and kidney! Happy to hear you are doing well. So far every year on my anniversary I spend the day in clinic for my yearly follow up. I usually end the day hanging out with family and friends and speaking to my donors family. We are actually very close and talk all of the time. I had one huge incision, that starts at the bottom of my sternum and runs to my pubic bone. I'm so happy it healed so well! How many years have you had your transplant now?

The above is 1 week post transplant and then now, 3 years later.