@cathyherman I am sorry you are facing these ordeals. I had a pancreas only transplant 10 years ago. It was a perfect match except for one point. My transplant has worked perfectly since the day of the transplant. I received one injection of 2 units of regular insulin during the first week following the transplant surgery and nothing since. At that time my kidneys were already showing damage and they told me I would need a kidney transplant within three years because of how hard the immunosuppressants are on kidneys.

Sure enough, three years later I was worked up for and put on the kidney transplant list. Among the multitude of tests was a test that showed oxalate crystals in my kidneys were the primary cause of the damage. I went on a strict no-oxalate diet and was able to improve my kidneys enough to be taken off the transplant list. After initial improvement my kidney function held steady until last year. There was a huge drop in function, some recovery, and a continued slow decline so that last month I began getting worked up for a kidney transplant again.

That is the broad strokes of my story. To help you understand why you were approved for a kidney transplant and not a pancreas transplant, they are very different surgeries. This is what I believe about your situation:

Unless procedures have changed, you will be opened from just below your breast bone, down and around your belly button, and stop at your pubic bone. The pancreas is much more vascular than the kidney and attaching all those vessels takes a long time, meaning the surgery will last around 6-8 hours. The kidney surgery does not require such a large opening or have as many vessels, and so is a shorter and less invasive surgery. I believe the expectation is about 3 hours.

Considering the health status you reported, you do not have enough reserves to make it through the rigors of the pancreas surgery. Which is what your physicians have told you. You should feel better after your kidney transplant, and that should help you improve your status for a possible pancreas transplant at a later date. Your digestive system seems to be heavily involved, and that also will make your recovery more difficult. You won't have to wait as long for a kidney transplant, because you do not have to wait for a death. Use the time you have to contact family, friends and your community to look for a volunteer donor match. Pancreas is a death donation, so you will not be able to receive a transplant from a living person.

There might be a chance that after your kidney transplant you can improve your overall health and qualify for a pancreas transplant at a later date. I pray that will be the outcome for you. I encourage you to be as stable as possible with your diabetes, as that will also help to improve/maintain your health status. No matter what, I believe you need to get your digestive issues addressed before your can undergo a long, involved pancreas transplant surgery.

I can tell you this for sure, if you do get a working pancreas you will feel worlds better. Right now you are the place where you need it, it will help your overall health, but you are not healthy enough right now to get it. That's a tough place to be. Please feel free to respond with any specific questions you have. There is a great deal of information to take in. Blessings to you. I will continue you in my prayers.

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