Info needed on the procedure itself.

[MightyMike]

How long did the operation take? About 6 hours

For a live donor.  Mom went about an hour before me.

When you come out of theatre do they put you in ICU with the rest of the people or in isolation? ICU

How long are you in ICU / Highcare? Two days but in hospital 2 weeks rejected right away but kidney was functional

Do they put the new kidney in on the left or right? (I know it goes in the lower abdominal front area) Right

How long is the cut? 12 inches

Do you need someone to care for you at home? No, I did everything for myself, I just did it much much slower for awhile.  Couldnt drive for 4 weeks, so needed a chauffer for doc visits.

[4thsiblingondialysis]

I received my live donor transplant about 5 months ago.

My operation took about 5 hours.  The doc said he wished all of his donors and recipients were like both of us because we were both healthy and relatively thin

My donor did go in about 1 hour prior to me going in.

I did not go to ICU actually.  I went directly to a single bed room from the post recovery area.  I was in the hospital for 5 days.  Then I went home.

My kidney went into the right lower abdominal area.  The surgeon said they prefer to take a left kidney and put it in the right side because there are less arteries etc to be cut in the surgery.

My cut is about 8 inches.

I did need someone to take care of me for about 2 weeks.  I was really weak.  Then I was able to do everything except drive until 4 weeks passed.

Hope that helps!

PS I think the hardest thing for me post transplant was to get into a routine with my meds so I created a list that was broken down for am and pm which really helped!!!!

[raidym]

I really like this post as I find myself a little fixated on whats gonna happen. So thanks everyone for the info. You always hear how everyone recovers differently. But this post shows just how differently and what speed it happens..

[SooMK]

I really appreciate reading this thread. I'm starting to obsess about some of these details so this is all great info.

[Sugarlump]

I have had two transplants. Both ops were from cadaver transplants. (That phone call out of the blue)
Both ops took about 6 hours. In recovery for 1 hour.
The first one I went to surgery as soon as I arrived, 2 weeks recovery on general transplant ward.
The second one was a 12 hour delay partly because of weather (a snowstorm) and partly due to a crossmatch problem.
I spent 10 days on general transplant ward although the kidney did not work for first 7 days at all.
Recovery at home is a good 6 weeks to be honest.
My first transplant went in left side.
My second in the right side.
So I now have 4 kidneys!!!!

Sadly the first one stopped working after 3 months, after I caught a CMV infection from the donor kidney.

My second transplant, despite a very slow start and severe antibody problems with one tiny tiny gene, lasted 12 months.
I had a year off from dialysis and I traveled to America. I l really lived that year! So I do not regret anything.
Eventually it lost its fight against the antibodies.

The chances of a third are slim. But I never give up hope.

Transplants don't always succeed. The drugs DO have a lot of side effects. There are risks.
It is important to go into the process with your eyes open.

[raj_blr]

Hi,
I got my transplant on 3rd jan 2014 from my wife ( living donor).

I have documented the actual procedure (India)  here - http://rmishra111.wordpress.com. I hope this would be helpful to folks who like me are apprehensive about he procedure itself.

Thanks,
Raj

[MommyChick]

I have had 2 deceased donor transplants. The first was when I was 13 years old (1996) and my second was just 7 months ago.
They were both out of the blue phone calls saying a kidney was available.
My kidney i just received was a 1am phone call. was then told I could relax till I had to be at the hospital by 6am... whos kidding though, you cant sleep when you have news like that. I was hyped!

It took 24 hrs. of staying in a hospital room having cross match tests and 2 hours of dialysis prior to transplant time.  It made for a long and anxious day of waiting! Very emotional!!! I was taking down to the OR by 2am the next day and very cool that I saw my kidney come off the elevator aside of me and went into the OR knowing my kidney wa s in the organ box next to me!!  I was highly sensitized at 100% but found 6/6 match!

Surgery took 2.5 hours. My first transplant the kidney was put on my right side. This transplant they put my kidney on the left side, due to scaring from a nephrectomy. The incision is about 6in. long starts a little above my bellybutton. I spent a day in ICU on the transplant floor.
I was in the hospital for 7 days thought things were going great. Was sent home but ended up returning less then 24 hours later due to my
hyper active parathyroid. So that was a different situation then most people.
The worst was having to wait while they do the testing prior to transplant that day. Otherwise things seemed to go well. I did have my husband and family around to help with everything, especially since I had a 3 year old. I was also very week from all the weight I lost in the hospital. My family was a huge support!
  7 months post TX and going strong!! 

Best of luck all !!!

[raidym]

I've just been checking through some topic's that I commented on and came across this one. Oh my how times change I got the call and had my transplant on the 13 of June 2013. So I'm almost a year in from my transplant. Things have went really well for me it was pretty straight forward and I've had no complications thank goodness.

How long did the operation take? 5 hrs went in at around 9pm and was out at around 2pm

For a live donor. - did you and the donor go in at the same time? It wasn't a living donor my sister was going through her testing but never got the chance to donate. I feel glad she didn't have to go through it all.

When you come out of theatre do they put you in ICU with the rest of the people or in isolation? A transplant wing.

How long are you in ICU / Highcare? 24 hrs I think

Do they put the new kidney in on the left or right? (I know it goes in the lower abdominal front area) Mine is on the right.

How long is the cut? Not sure never measured

Do you need someone to care for you at home? Oh yes my sisters where brilliant and wouldn't let me do a thing. Felt very pampered and cared for


Sorry for all the questions - lots more to come. 

[inga]

I really like reading this thread. Anyone else have answers about the procedure itself? Those are excellent questions!

[Deanne]

How long did the operation take? I think they said about 3 hours. I have few memories of anything from the time they put me under through the following day. I kept falling asleep.

For a live donor. - did you and the donor go in at the same time? Deceased donor.

When you come out of theatre do they put you in ICU with the rest of the people or in isolation? no. I think I was in a curtained post-op area until I came out of the anesthetic, and then back to my own room in an abdominal surgery ward.

How long are you in ICU / Highcare? Zero. I woke up back in the room I started from. A tiny little closet to myself.

Do they put the new kidney in on the left or right? (I know it goes in the lower abdominal front area) right

How long is the cut? about 5 - 6 inches. It's a large kidney, they said maybe from a tall man.

Do you need someone to care for you at home? It was a transplant requirement. I still think I would've been mostly ok on my own.