donors and kidney stones

[sullidog]

My sister would check to see if she's a match for me but something she and I are concerned about is  she has a history of kidney stones, my question is what are the chances for a donor with kidney stones to pass that along to the recipient?
Troy

[Golferchick]

Hi,

Two years ago I was testing to donate one of my kidneys to my dad. I got to the final stage (CT scan of my kidneys) and it turned out that I have kidney stones. I was devastated! I wanted to give this gift to my dad.

I wound up spending the summer at many appts with a nephrologist and a urologist and they explained to me (several times because I wasn't willing to accept this answer the first few times) that if I were to donate one of my kidneys to my dad, and then get a stone in my remaining kidney that could do damage to my body.

It was told to me that it would be very likely that I would develop other stones during my life and that by donating one of my kidneys would be me at risk and they wouldn't allow that.

It took me months to get over this. My dad did get a kidney in February 2009 (1 year after being on transplant list) and just had his first anniversary. He has had other issues related to all of this but that is another very long story.

Actually, my dad did have a blockage this summer and had major surgery as his new kidney did have a stone develop and got stuck in there. The docs thought it was scar tissue but found out it was a stone when it was removed.

I have not passed any of these stones that I have but they are being watched now and while they are still there, they have not gotten any bigger nor have they moved around.

Good luck to you.

[kellyt]

My husband was denied as my donor due to "high amounts of calcium in his urine".  They said that he "might someday, possibly, maybe" get kidney stones and he was rejected.   He's never had them before and there is no history of them in his family, BTW.   The doctor said "Well, if he drinks a lot of water he might not ever have kidney stones" (and he does), but the "committee" said no.  I don't think the worry was that he would pass them on to me - the worry was 100% with the his (donors) health.

Good Luck.