I have a question...sort of.

[Brianna!]

alright. My grandpa just called and said my aunt might want to be tested for a donor for me! But she called some dialysis nurse in Minnesota and asked her some questions. And i'm pretty sure they gave her wrong information. According to my grandpa, the dialysis nurse said the recovery will be worse for my aunt, than for me! And the nurse also said that she would be in the hospital after the surgery for the same amount of time as me.

Is that true? I'm pretty sure it's not, but i just wanted to ask, to be sure. I really wish she would have called me and asked for the number of the transplant coordinator, instead of asking a dialysis nurse.

[BASSMAN]

I read this  journal entry on okarols caringbridge website.

I have heard the initial recovery is sometimes tougher on the donor than the recipient. The reason being that the recipient goes from being chronically ill to feeling much better instantly, whereas the donor has had a major surgery after being completely fit!

This website gives really good info on what to expect as a donor.

http://www.livingdonorsonline.org/kidney/kidney.htm

Hope this helps

[Brianna!]

Thank you! My aunt's visiting tomorrow, so if she's serious about donating, i'm going to show her that website.

[Ang]

things  are  generally  harder  for  the  donor

[lou]

Hope it goes well, will be thinking of you x x

[lizabee]

My donor was told that it would be harder for him but he was also told without complications he would only be in the hospital for 2 days, where I will be in for about a week.

[Goofy]

I know a couple of people who have donated.  They generally get out of the hosptial within a few days but the recepients did return to work sooner then the donor.

Perhaps you can think of an approach in such a way as to let your aunt know how hard it may be on her for a couple months BUT it will effect your entire life.  I don't actually know how I would say it wothout comming across sounding like you are saying that you are more important and she should inconvience herself to make you better.

I know its a big decison for a donor but maybe if they see it from that perspective, it may help them to realize by thier actions, they can change a persons whole life!!  Maybe someone on the fourm can help to think of a way to phrase it.

Best whishes!

[Melissa]

Yes that is true....my Mom was my first donor and it was a longer physical recovery for her, but she said it was 100% worth it.  I think it is a lot harder having something taken out than having something put in!
Some medical centers can remove the kidney laparoscopicly (SP?) now which is supposedly easier too. 

Good luck with your aunt, keeping my fingers crossed!

[peleroja]

Surgery is tough n any body.  After all, you're cutting the skin and maybe stuff underneath.  It also takes an older person longer to heal.  It also depends on your aunt's health to begin with.  It's not just one thing, but many things to take into consideration.  There's also no guarantee she's a match to you.  You may have to do a daisy chain, where your aunt's kidney is given to some else who matches, in order for you to get a match from someone else.

[kristina]

Thanks for the information,
it is very much appreciated.
Good luck, Brianna!

[*kana*]

It is harder for the donor because they have to cut deeper to remove the kidney.  Most of the time donors are only in the hospital 3 days and out of work for 2-8 weeks depending on the job. 

[Maker]

I'm going thru all this right now too - learning about the transplant process and getting information about donation to tell my brother (potential donor).

I had a consult with a neph at one of the hospitals I am considering last week and he spent 2 hours answering my questions    That alone makes me want to choose that hospital!

He said that since my brother is young (35) and healthy he should have a relatively easy recovery.  He thought just a few days in the hospital and a few weeks till he can return to his desk job.

I met a lady Friday night in a bar who had donated a kidney to her mom 6 years ago...poor lady couldn't get away from me!!  I asked a ton of questions.  She lost 75 lbs to be able to donate, and she said she had the surgery in the morning, and by the next night she was home.  Said the whole surgery and recovery was a piece of cake.  And her mom's new kidney is still working great. Very encouraging 

[pamster42000]

Speaking as a donor the recovery time for me was longer than it was for my daughter, Sarah. It was all worth it though, she was like a new person. It is mostly just be sore from the insecion. Moved around slowly for a few weeks. I was told to watch my blood pressure because it may go higher. Mine always has been low and never had a problem with it after the donation. Scar tissue grows on the inside and sometimes pulls a little, just a minor irratation and that goes away after time too.

I donated way back in 1993. I hear the procedure has changed and isn't as invasive. I was cut horizontal  about 12 inches on my right side. Sarah's insecion was vertical.

[Brianna!]

Thanks for the replies guys! I don't know why I thought the recovery would be harder on me. I just assumed? haha. Well, I don't think she's going to donate anyway. We were talking about it, and I told her that she would have to be out of work for like 2-3 weeks, and she said something like "that's why no." So I don't think she's going to do it anymore, because she would have to miss work for a couple of weeks. Whatever. I'm having my bladder surgery tomorrow, and if it works, in a month I can be active on the list! So, fingers crossed that it works!

[kellyt]

I can tell you my donor's experience - she was out 2 days after surgery (surgery on Wed., she discharged on Fri).  However, they wanted her to stay until Saturday, but said if she had a BM she could leave Friday if she wanted, and she did.  She later said she wished she had stayed the extra day.  She was sore, but she was walking the same day as surgery, as she came up to the ICU to see me briefly.  Her surgery was laproscopic, but they have to move organs around to get to the kidney, so the donor does get really sore and it's a serious surgery.  I know she went into surgery about 1 to 1.5 hrs before me and I'm not sure when she came out.  She was told not to drive for two weeks, but she did and regretted that, too.

 The transplant team may try to discourage the donor in the beginning to see how determined the donor is to donate.  Does that make sense?  Although, what they are saying isn't necessarily a lie, they will try to see how serious they are.  Good Luck!!!