SPK (simultaneous pancreas and kidney) transplants

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!💚

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

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

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

@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?

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

Honestly this baffled me. I am 5’5 and 220 lbs and I am listed for SPK. And they put the new pancreas in away from the old one, at least in my hospital. The old one would not be touched.

@benlam11, I’ve forgotten what kind of transplant you are pursuing, but when I saw your post it reminded me of my father-in-law. I want to share his experience with you to encourage you. Dad had ESRD and needed a kidney transplant. He had previously had heart bypass surgery and a valve replaced. He also had blocked carotid arteries. He underwent carotid endarterectomy on both sides. He ended up getting his kidney transplant at age 76. My daughter/his granddaughter was his living donor!

@benlam11 You sound very encouraged. I hope you can get to work in losing that weight and getting your A1c down. When it comes to losing weight, I am very good at it, or was when I was waiting for my liver transplant. Right now I am not as good at it as I was then, but if you need any support or help please feel free to ask.

I have frequently mentioned how helpful I found the app myfitnesspal to be. If you follow it, and are true to it (if you are not true to it you are only cheating yourself) it makes you very conscious of everything you put in your mouth. That along with getting more exercise helped me to lose between 40 and 50 pounds. Prior to that I had very gradually lost about the same amount so overall I lost about 90 pounds. I also used a fitness tracker, at that time I had a Misfit, and that kept me encouraged about exercising. My third tool was my scale which gives a gauge of fluid and BMI. If my weight went up a bit but I noticed that my fluid did also I realized that was the cause. That actually happened today, I was up a pound. The scale measures in tenths of a pound so even if you only lose a tiny bit it shows.

If you are anything like me, any aid that keeps you honest and motivates you is helpful.
JK