Social Worker Meeting: Pre-Transplant Questions

[Cordelia]

So this coming Tuesday I have my session coming up with a social worker at the transplant hospital where I hope to have my transplant. What kinds of questions can my living donor and I expect? 

[Jie]

Work, depression, finance (pay for the cost and medicines as well as no pay for the donor), and post-transplant care (plans with detailed care givers for both patient and donor).

[jbeany]

What's your support system, financial, emotional, and physical?  Mental health history?  Ever been depressed?  Suicidal? Are you religious? 

Smile, nod, and don't volunteer things not asked.  Don't fall for the pauses where they don't say anything after you answer.  They are waiting for you to start blabbing at random, so they can play shrink. 

[Cordelia]

Thanks.....

I must ask though, are they going to ask for personal references? LOL!

[edersham]

Mine didn't. They just asked all the standard questions about any issues in my life that may have been a problem. I think the most important question was why did I want the transplant and what were my plans if it was successful. They wanted a fairly complete bio of my life and
then they took my picture. This was the first day of 5 days of evaluation. I probably saw 12 different people in the transplant dept. that week and every one of them mentioned some aspect of my life to demonstate they had read the bio and it was always something different.I know it was a technique they use but it still felt good to know they were aware of your life. I never felt under pressure during the psych thing but I have a wonderful neph  that had worked with the head of the transplant clinic years ago in another state and she had paved the way for me like a patient advocate. I feel very lucky to have her for my doctor. I hope she doesn't move.

Ed

[Cordelia]

Has anyone ever been denied a transplant because they had 'problems' in the past?

[Lillupie]

depends on your definition of problems...lol,
 Well I think they think for any reason the kidney will not last with you, then they may reject you. Universrity of Michigan almost rejected me because they thought at first I was living alone with my daughter. And who would watch her if I got a call in the middle of the night, but that got cleared up by saying at the time that my boyfriend was living with me.

 I dont think they ever want to deny people a transplant, they just want to make sure you are going to be able to take care of it if you do get that call.

Lisa

[Cordelia]

THank you for the advice

Well, here we go, my appointment is this morning, wish me luck everyone

[jbeany]

 

[bette1]

Good Luck!

[Cordelia]

Thanks It went good! I was pleased how it all went. I was nervous, but the gentleman I spoke to, he was quite nice and he seemed to think everything was good. I left feeling happy about it If all goes well with the rest of the pre-transplant testing, my husband (my living donor) and I hope the transplant can take place early next year

[Marina]

Thanks It went good! I was pleased how it all went. I was nervous, but the gentleman I spoke to, he was quite nice and he seemed to think everything was good. I left feeling happy about it If all goes well with the rest of the pre-transplant testing, my husband (my living donor) and I hope the transplant can take place early next year

[jbeany]

 

[Cordelia]

Thanks, Marina and Jbeany!

[rsudock]

Glad it went well! God Bless your hubby!!

xo,
R

[Cordelia]

Thank you, Rsudock!