What I should Know Before Transplant

[LarryG]

I have met with the anesthesiologist,transplant nurses and the transplant coordinator. I also met my donor for the first time.So I have received my instructions and I will arrive at the hospital 10AM Sunday morning and they will give me my last dialysis and prep me for surgery the following morning. Is there anything that you think I should know or that you did that you wish you knew before you had your transplant?

Larry

[kellyt]

Congratulations!  Just relax and enjoy the ride.     Just kidding, just give your donor love and support, as they will have all the attention in the beginning.  My donor had to have two enemas and was on a clear liquid diet the day before surgery.  I, on the other hand, needed no prep work (other than vitals and lab work) and I got to eat a turkey and dressing lunch.   

My advice, take a blanket for your bed and a pillow from home, and also a towel.  My hospital had hard, tiny towels, and my room was freezing.  Give your house a quick cleaning so that doesn't need to be done when you come home.  You want to just relax and drink water.

We'll be thinking about you and your donor on Sunday!!!   

[LarryG]

That is some great advice. They told me to have a big breakfast before I check in Sunday morning.

[okarol]

Hi Larry,
How did you find your donor? We had an altruistic donor and had a small gift for her.
Will you be on steroids following the surgery? Jenna was WIDE awake from prednisone, but luckily she was off it completely after 3 days.
Do you have help? You will need to get rides to the clinic very often the first 4 weeks or so.
Jenna watched a lot of youtube and videos. We also walked every day.
Oh - if you're on pain meds - take stool softener with it!
Hope all goes well!

[Des]

very very good advise. Keep it coming. 

I heard that you must drink lots and lots after the op  - so stock up in the fridge on stuff to drink for when you come home.

As well as healthy stuff to nibble on. I believe you will want to eat anything and everything.

 

[LarryG]

Karol I found an altruistic donor by placing an ad on Craigslist. She is just so wonderful. What was the gift that you gave your donor. There is no way a gift I could give mine could equal the gift she is giving me but I do want to give her something. I am an artist so I thought one of my paintings would be nice but I am open to suggestions.

[cariad]

Larry, I think one of your paintings is a fantastic idea! She is giving you a piece of herself, and it would be like you are giving a piece of yourself in return. Also, since they are your paintings, you determine the value and you cannot get done for trying to buy a kidney, while an expensive gift that you purchase could be misconstrued by the people who monitor this sort of thing.

Definitely go with the painting. If I were donating to an artist, that would be what I would want....

So very happy for you. Best of luck. If I could think of anything that you need to know before the operation, I would tell you, but aside from a few comforts of home, they will provide you everything you need. Oh, maybe unrestrictive trousers for after. I was afraid to touch my scar for a while, and it will have these scary staples in it that you will not want to press on catch on your clothes. Assuming no complications, you'll be back home before you know it.

If I think of anything else, I'll post it here. Thinking of you during this exciting time. Hugs to you and your angel donor.

[okarol]

Karol I found an altruistic donor by placing an ad on Craigslist. She is just so wonderful. What was the gift that you gave your donor. There is no way a gift I could give mine could equal the gift she is giving me but I do want to give her something. I am an artist so I thought one of my paintings would be nice but I am open to suggestions.

Wow thats great - Craigslist has everything!!
We gave Patrice a necklace: a silver kidney bean on a chain.
I love your artwork and I bet she would too.

[tyefly]

I am  curious as to where on Craig list you put your ad....   was in under personals. or  community.... voluteers.... 


Good luck with your transplant and keep us informed as to how you are doing....

[LarryG]

Tyefly I see your screen name and I think fly fishing. I placed my ad under "VOLUNTEERS". I was surprised by how many actually answered the ad. Some flakes of course but you know who is serious. I also worded the ad so people would understand how to go about becoming my donor with out me giving up much information and effort. You have to use your intelligence and common sense.

[tyefly]

 Thx  LarryG.....   and Yes I do tie flies and   fly fish as well....

    I was thinking of placing a ad as well...cant hurt  and I was also going to put it in the voluteer section.... Did you have  them contact you or the center..... or transplant coor.....   not sure how much info to place on there.... 

[LarryG]

I love to fly fish. I can't wait until I am able to get back out on the water. Maybe I can get one of your flies. I had them contact the transplant coordinator in my behalf and have them explain what they needed to do. I also made clear that it was not for purchase and I was looking for an altruistic and caring person. My donor contacted the coordinator and went in on her own for the blood work and later all the major testing. Truly a donor Angel.
If you are interested I can write anyone privately and send you exactly what I wrote.

[tyefly]

  I will PM you      Thx again  LarryG...

[kellyt]

I took my laptop, but due to the blocking the hospital had set up there was very little I could do.  I didn't think about taking DVDs.     I did, however, catch up on all the infomercials.  lol  Even found one I wanted to buy.  I spent most of my awake time running people out of my room.