George's Transplant Evaluation @ UNC

[George Jung]

I have an appointment to meet with a Transplant Social Worker at UNC.  Anyone care to shed some light?

[angela515]

I love my transplant social worker.

They deal with the insurance and that type of thing. (At least at my center..) They will make sure everything is in order and all papers are signed and so forth so your ready to be transplanted at the drop of a hat. They also work for you after the transplant.. such as mine does for me, if I need to be put on a med and it's not covered, they fix all that for ya annd get it covered and so on and so forth.

[George Jung]

My first round of testing included meeting with a Financial Coordinator with whom we discussed insurance and things related with money (mostly insurance).  It seems to be my only appointment of the day so I wonder why they would have me come out just to meet with this person.  Is it a fairly involved meeting?

[okarol]

The hospital here in LA had us meet with a financial person - took about 20 mins - she just wanted to clarify about the primary (Medicare) and secondary (Blue Shield.)
When Jenna multiple listed it was just a phone call with each financial office.

[George Jung]

The hospital here in LA had us meet with a financial person - took about 20 mins - she just wanted to clarify about the primary (Medicare) and secondary (Blue Shield.)
When Jenna multiple listed it was just a phone call with each financial office.

Did you meet with a Transplant Social Worker?  What was that about?

[angela515]

Hmm, dunnno George.. Maybe your Social Worker does diff stuff since you met with someone already about finances... wish i could help more.

[okarol]

The social worker evaluated Jenna's emotional and mental status to be sure she would be able to get through the whole process, and also that she would be compliant. She explained the meds protocol so Jenna knew it was a lifelong commitment. Then she spoke to Jenna privately to be sure a transplant was something she wanted, and that she wasn't being pressured by anyone to have it. She also discussed with me the possibility of my being Jenna's donor. She told me that I needed to be there to care for Jenna after transplant - who would take care of me and the rest of the family? I said "I will hire someone" and she seemed content with that answer. As it turned out we weren't a match, as you know.

[angela515]

Ahh.. Karol, great memory. Yes, that's what mine did also.. besides the financial stuff. I forgot.. lol

[Rerun]

What about stool cards???  You have to do stool cards!  Every Year!  I just got my annual stool cards!  Oh Joy!

I think I'll go out in the yard and get 3 samples of dog poop and see if they notice.   

[okarol]

What about stool cards???  You have to do stool cards!  Every Year!  I just got my annual stool cards!  Oh Joy!

I think I'll go out in the yard and get 3 samples of dog poop and see if they notice.   

 

[goofynina]

Aye yi yi Rerun, lol    ok folks, i believe she is serious on this one   

[Rerun]

They will give him stool cards where he will have to scrape his poop and put it on the cards and either "mail" them back or take them in.  You have to do it every year!  They check for blood and bacteria. I just got mine and they are in the bathroom just waiting.  I wanted to wait until I got back form Vegas.  Airport security would have had a fit.

I just wonder if I took dog poop if they would know the difference!   

[angela515]

Never heard of these stool cards, lol... glad I didn't have to do them... eww don't sound fun! 

[Rerun]

Never heard of these stool cards, lol... glad I didn't have to do them... eww don't sound fun! 

You never had to do those??  Hmmm  maybe because I'm over 40??  Well, you are right they are no fun.

[brenda]

Thanks for sharing that info Rerun. And then you all wonder why I don't want a transplant. Geezzz

[goofynina]

They will give him stool cards where he will have to scrape his poop and put it on the cards and either "mail" them back or take them in.  You have to do it every year!  They check for blood and bacteria. I just got mine and they are in the bathroom just waiting.  I wanted to wait until I got back form Vegas.  Airport security would have had a fit.

I just wonder if I took dog poop if they would know the difference!   

They would probably ask you how often you eat grass, lol, 

[Falkenbach]

I have an appointment to meet with a Transplant Social Worker at UNC.  Anyone care to shed some light?

I didn't have to meet with a social worker, but I did have a compulsory appointment with the hospital psychiatrist. They just like to ascertain that you are mentally fit to face the challenges of major surgery, I guess.

[Chris]

Never heard of these stool cards, lol... glad I didn't have to do them... eww don't sound fun! 

You never had to do those??  Hmmm  maybe because I'm over 40??  Well, you are right they are no fun.

I never had to do those either ad it has almost been 7 years post tx. In about 5 years I'll be 40 and still won't do that, I refuse to do that. I'll wait till neighbors dog goes or go to a dog park and get a sample first

[okarol]

What about stool cards???  You have to do stool cards!  Every Year!  I just got my annual stool cards!  Oh Joy!

Jenna had to also do those stool samples.

Here's why: Guaic Blood Test
A guiac blood test can detect small amounts of hidden (occult) blood in stool, which is impossible to see with the naked eye. Small samples of stool are applied to a test card in the privacy of your home. The card is then mailed or delivered to your doctor or a laboratory for processing.


More examples of tests are listed here - http://cms.clevelandclinic.org/transplant/body.cfm?id=125

Not sure if I sent you this George - it's from where Jenna was 1st evaluated - gives a basic overview - http://www.kidneytransplant.org/article-kidneytransplantevaluationprocess.html - it was mostly done in one day - we came back for the chest xray and EKG on another day as Jenna was exhausted.

[paris]

George, as you know I was evaluated at the same center. They seem to schedule appointments when they have a slot, so one time there will be 4 appointments, the next time only 1. The social worker appt. is a breeze. She will just talk to you--make sure you are capable and can handle stuff. She will ask about your support system, etc. Just keep smiling and tell them what they want to hear.  It will go well - no worries.  Let me know if you need anything. 

[paris]

Rerun, I have never done this test (and as you know I am well over 40!).  I am not going to ask about it--don't want to remind them of one more thing to do!

[George Jung]

I had a CT scan (the scan with the contrast dye) to get a better look at the cyst to determine if it is benign or not.  Got a call from my coordinator today saying the test was negative and there is nothing to be concerned about.  She also said that I only have two more appointments, one with the social worker and one with the surgeon.  Am I understanding that there will be no heart stress test, or colonoscopy, or any other such bodily function tests? 

[KT0930]

I had a CT scan (the scan with the contrast dye) to get a better look at the cyst to determine if it is benign or not. Got a call from my coordinator today saying the test was negative and there is nothing to be concerned about. She also said that I only have two more appointments, one with the social worker and one with the surgeon. Am I understanding that there will be no heart stress test, or colonoscopy, or any other such bodily function tests?

George, in my experience, these additional tests are usually done on those over 40, but of course, it also depends on the transplant team you use. This time around (at 33), I had to have chest x-ray, lung capacity (or something like that), full abdominal ultrasound, LOTS of bloodwork of course, and meetings with the social worker, team nephrologist, psychiatrist, two surgeons - I was originally trying for live donor, and nurse practitioner. The only thing that really surprised me about the whole thing is that I have never met with my coordinator. Hope all continues to go well for you.

Glad to hear the cyst is nothing to worry about!

[Joe Paul]

I would imagine they would do a stress test but I could be wrong. When I met the surgeon is when he made the recommendation for the stress test. Its good you are moving along so quickly, good luck 

[okarol]

I am surprised they used contrast dye - did they warn you of the potential additional kidney damage (although maybe you don't have much function left and they don't consider it to be a risk?)
Once you get a new kidney, be VERY cautious! http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=2008.0