Kidney Transplant Questions

[Dragonfly]

Hello

Can someone please tell me what the procedure is for an evaluation? What do they do at the evaluation? Please help, nervous and scared...

Thanks Dragonfly

[okarol]

There are lots of good subjects in the Transplant Section http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?board=27.0

[Dragonfly]

ok Thanks, okarol

[paris]

Have you had any appointments with the transplant center yet?   It all seems overwhelming, but I learned to just take one thing at a time.  1st there was orientation - classroom with lots of patients and family members.  Lots of information, questions, introduction to financial coordinator, your own coordinator.  After that, they started scheduling the evaluation tests.  Some get theirs done in a couple of days. Mine took a few months - just depends on the center and you.  Test are simple, EKG, stress test, echocardiogram, blood test (and more blood tests!), sonogram and other basic health tests.  The best advice I was given was to not be afraid of the tests, they were just checking to make sure nothing else was wrong so they could fix it. They weren't trying to rule me "out". That made me feel better.   During my testing, I had potential donors tested (that didn't work out).  Then once a year they redo test to keep you current on the "list".  This is just a brief overall.  Keep asking questions.  I am 9 months post transplant (thank you donor!!).   Good luck with everything.  We'll all help you so you can leave the nervous part behind.         

[RichardMEL]

dragonfly, I'm not going to talk about the actual evaluation since things are different in oz compared to other places (like I barely had any formal evaluation, though I am sure everything was crossed off behind the scenes between my neph and transplant team and all the rest) but I did want to just say to you to try to not be too scared or have nerves. Just be yourself and answer questions honesly and prepare for a bunch of tests and probably a lot of waiting(from what I've read!!). Hopefully you'll be fine and on the way to something better!!

[rsudock]

If you are getting on the waiting list for a cadaveric kidney you will have to meet with the social worker, neph, finacial person, and surgeon. They will make you go through some orientation class about transplants and how to take care of them after the surgery.

If you have a living donor the donor goes through many tests like 24 hour urine, blood tests, EKG, BP monitoring plus add in the social worker, neph, finacial, and surgeon.

Don't be nervous...you can do it!

xo,
R

[Dragonfly]

I haven't been down for my evaluation yet, I was too scared and nervous and wanted to wait a bit, still had to accept the thing, I had a hard time dealing  with it all. Now I am trying to get over the fact of carrying someone Else's organ around in my body. I mean don't get me wrong I would love to be healthy and I appreciate the sacrifice, but it kind of weirds me out and then to think of carrying around a kidney from a deceased person puts a lot of mental emotions on me. If I went to a mental health dr they would commit me. This whole thing has really been something to deal with. I want to thank everyone for their input on the evaluation process, now its not the great unknown.

[willowtreewren]

Norma......GET ON THE LIST!!!!!

Go ahead and have your evaluation done so you can be collecting time. If you finally decide that you don't want a transplant, you can deal with that later, but you need to have your time building up as soon as possible.

My husband got a cadaveric kidney about 4 months ago. He's doing great! I sometimes think about the donor, but in a good way. His death allowed so many others to have a better life, so in a way his life wasn't wasted. 

Aleta

[Dragonfly]

Just called, I have my evaluation appt July 19th and I also have two family members willing to be tested, that makes four living donors.

[paris]

Dragonfly,  I relate to the part about carrying another's organ.  I had years to prepare for the acceptance, but reality was harder than I thought.  The day of the surgery, my mind was totally on the donor's family.  I had to be at the hospital as soon as I could--about 10am. Surgery didn't happen until midnight, so that whole day I kept thinking that somewhere a family was having to say good bye to their loved one and accept their death.    Now, 9 months later, I still think of the donor and family every day. When I work on my garden, I thank him for giving me the ability to do that.  Everything I do, I give thanks for my second life.    I probably think about the family too much, but they are my heros and saved my life.    In the beginning, I was so filled with joy - but had sadness that someone died in the process.    I am dealing with it much better now.   But how could you not be "weirded out"a bit when you think of someone elses kidney working inside you?  BTW, the transplant team expects you to have some trepidation about this. 

Please start the list process.  It took about 10 months for me to get listed, then 5 years on the list.   So, the sooner you can be listed, the better.  I'll look forward to reading about your journey.    Good luck   

[paris]

Yeah!!!!!!                             

Good for you!   Very happy that you have made the call and have an appointment.     

[willowtreewren]

w00t! 

This first step is a big one. The rest will be easier. 

I'm so glad you made that call! 

Aleta

[Dragonfly]

Yes, making the call was a big step, but I do feel a little better.  I cried. I always seem to cry all the time...

[CHeatherS]

Oh my...... you are reminding me of all of the emotions and unknowns that go with this.  But now, on the other side of it, (and waiting for a transplant in Seattle in August, I live in Alaska) I wonder, what was I afraid of?  So, let us encourage you, because my goodness, 4 potential donors, that's amazing!!!  You have a LOT going for you.  But worry and fear are your biggest enemies, so really work on shortening the time that those things dig into you. 

Blessings, prayers and congrats!!!!

Heather