Workup for transplant at UCSF - Again

[CW]

So I went to UCSF on Friday for a transplant evaluation as I lost my first kidney in 07. I see why some people choose not to get transplanted I had forgotten all of the risks that go along with it. Well, I still choose transplant but I do not fault anyone who chooses not to as it is a risky venture.

The person who conducted the presentation part of the evaluation said that UNOS is now referring to cadaveric donor kidneys as deceased donor kidneys now (pointless quick fact). Altogether it was pretty boring but it did remind me that i will be waiting about 7 years for another TX. Take good care of the one you have for all of you transplantees out there, I really miss mine  .

CW

[okarol]

The wait time is very long in San Francisco. We multiple listed there (California Pacific) but were told the wait is as long as Los Angeles (5 to 7 years.) Can you list in San Diego (you'd have to be able to travel)? The wait is shorter. I also have heard that Davis does more transplants than UCSF.
I was told by a woman in the Nat'l Kidney Foundation that they call the donors "non-living donors" so I told her my daughter was waiting for a transplant and that she was a "non-dead recipient." 

[Slywalker]

Hi CW -  the wait is long for a "non-living" donor - but who knows - perhaps a living donor will pop up for you.

Good luck and hang in there.

Sandyb

[CW]

I was told by a woman in the Nat'l Kidney Foundation that they call the donors "non-living donors" so I told her my daughter was waiting for a transplant and that she was a "non-dead recipient."

ok I am back

San Diego is so far (about 7hrs) - how long could they hold an organ? and then what if they had a bad crossmatch  I would be mad. They gave me a choice Davis or UC I chose UC because it was closer (I sound so lazy). I would love to have a shorter wait time but i am not sure how difficult it would be  maybe. I could ask my tx clinic about it.

[okarol]

You don't have to get an okay to multiple list, your clinic is a seperate procurement area. You can just call Scripps Clinic in La Jolla and they will tell you what to do. You would fly to San Diego, and since your blood is sent monthly to the transplant team, getting a positive crossmatch is pretty unlikely. It IS more effort - yes! I guess you have to be motivated to do it, but after the initial evaluation - it's just waiting.

[KT0930]

With it not being your first transplant, your team is not likely to call you until they have very close to a 6 out of 6 matched kidney. The surgeon in charge of my transplant team told me that once you have a 6/6 match, you have a 90-95% chance of a negative cross-match. Yeah, it'd be frustrating to be in that 5-10%, but the chances are also slim enough, that it might be worth a day out of your life to try!

[stauffenberg]

Because the number of new renal patients requiring a kidney is going up extremely rapidly, while the number of organs available for donation has been nearly stagnant for many years now, any prediction of waiting time today will only grow longer as the years go by.

Although there are risks to a transplant, they are miniscule compared to the certainty of the health damage caused by remaining on dialysis, so don't let anyone discourage you from opting for a transplant rather than dialysis.

[kidney4traci]

Wow, that is a long wait.  I used to live in the Mountainview area, so I guess I would be waiting too.  I am told it's about a 3 year wait here in Texas.  Guess that's a blessing, although I do miss how beautiful CA is!!!

[CW]

Thanks for the input everyone. Although I am ridiculously busy I am seriously considering pursing a listing in a second region. I had not seriously considered this before. 

Thanks

CW