BS: Considering becoming a living donor

Subject: BS: Considering becoming a living donor
From: Partridge
Date: 12 Sep 03 - 04:11 AM

I wonder if anyone can help me on this. A friend is thinking of becoming a living kidney donor for someone that has dialysis three time a week. The recipient is a good friend and they share the same blood group. My friend has spoken to her children and they are quite happy for her to go through with the donation. Do any of you have any experience of being a living donor that would help.

thanks

pat x

Subject: RE: BS: Considering becoming a living donor
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 12 Sep 03 - 05:26 AM

I have looked into it a bit, as I have offered a kidney to a cousin who has already had one transplant which is now giving trouble.
I understand that it's as safe as any surgery and you will not notice the difference afterwards, but that the recovery time is often longer for donor than recipient.
Keith.

Subject: RE: BS: Considering becoming a living donor
From: Partridge
Date: 12 Sep 03 - 07:01 AM

Thanks Keith, I had a look on the british Kidney Organisation website, there is all sorts of info there, I was just looking for personal experience.

cheers

Pat x

Subject: RE: BS: Considering becoming a living donor
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Sep 03 - 09:54 AM

There is always the danger that the donor's remaining kidney may eventually fail or become diseased. Does her family have one among them (compatible) they would offer should she get into trouble later in life?

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Considering becoming a living donor
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Sep 03 - 01:42 PM

Safe enough unless the spare fails, in which case it's rather seriously dodgy.

Subject: RE: BS: Considering becoming a living donor
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 Sep 03 - 01:42 PM

My son in law received a kidney from a friend a year and a half ago. The friend was 26 at the time with two little children. I'm just boggled at the generosity...

The thought occurred to me too that in future if the friend's remaining kidney should fail, that would be the ultimate irony. On the other hand, they say that each healthy kidney gives one 8 times the power one needs. And there is no kidney disease in the friend's heritage.

My son in law recovered swiftly and is out running four miles a day again. The friend took longer to recover- there was some swelling that made her uncomfortable for a time- but her life has gone back to 'normal' too. She says that it was well worth it to her. As I said, the mind boggles...

Subject: RE: BS: Considering becoming a living donor
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Sep 03 - 01:56 PM

Your friend will probably have seen this site - US Coalition on Donation

Subject: RE: BS: Considering becoming a living donor
From: Barry Finn
Date: 13 Sep 03 - 02:45 AM

Donors, living or dead are extremely rare if you look the high numbers of poeple who die just waiting for an organ. I'm not a living donor but I am a living recipient. The odds are better for being hit by lightning twice than they are for receiving a liver. When I went into the hospital I had 2 days of life left unless they could nurse my kidney into working just a bit longer (the kidney needs the liver in order to function & they did get it to continue working). I was put to the top of New England's liver recipient list. It took well over 2 months of waiting (the blood match was the easy part). A living kidney donor usually is a relative. The match is easier & the motive to donate is a lot stronger. Recovery is a bit harder on the donor but geese, it's not that bad. I was seating up by the evening when I got mine & on my feet the next evening. They threw me out after 9 days. I know recovery varies with the different organs but what I saw of kidney donors & recipients it's a pretty quick go. I believe that heart transplants have the toughest recovery but others here can tell you about that. If your kidney fails after donating one ask the recipient for it back. Just tell them that they've had it long enough & it's gotta come home. Any way my point is that be being a donor means you're are giving life to someone else, who otherwise may die waiting & IMHO there's nothing worst than taking a life & nothing better than giving life. Ask any mother. Good Luck to both your friends. Barry

Subject: RE: BS: Considering becoming a living donor
From: open mike
Date: 13 Sep 03 - 04:46 AM

in calif. you can state your option to donate
either body parts of whole body on your driver's lisence.
www.shareyourlife.org 1-800-55-DONOR (COALITION ON DONATION)

ALSO consider giving a pint of blood...you can do this
every 8 weeks....especially appreciated if you have a rare type.

i am chairperson of a neighborhood blood drive
and 2 years ago on 9-11 many stepped up to give,
too many, in fact, now that the need is still
there, people are holding back.

There is scarcity of eligible donors, because
due to mad cow fear, blood is not accepted from
those who have lived or travelled where it has
been found.

Subject: RE: BS: Considering becoming a living donor
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 13 Sep 03 - 02:51 PM

Organ donation after death should be manditory...

At least until we can use cloning tech. to create organ banks...

Subject: RE: BS: Considering becoming a living donor
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 14 Sep 03 - 11:49 AM

The survival rate has markedly improved over the past 25years.

The BIG question is....what underlying condition (and is THAT condition treated/treatable, diabetes,liver,etc.) caused the kidneys to fail?

The links off this page may help.

http://wuphysicians.wustl.edu/dept.asp?pageID=1&ID=99

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Ya know...its really pretty stupid to be gathering this sort of information, for a third party friend, through a "folk-music" location.

Subject: RE: BS: Considering becoming a living donor
From: Partridge
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 08:48 AM

Actually, the information is for me, and I wanted to test the water first as I hate it when I get flamed. The reason I've asked here, is because of the wealth of knowledge from people I have known for a while. His kidney failed because of genetic renal failure.
Thanks for all your responses, I'll let you know how things progress

Pat x

Subject: RE: BS: Considering becoming a living donor
From: Rara Avis
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 10:09 AM

I don't have personal experience but my masseuse does. He donated his kidney several years ago and it was a life-changing experience. True, his recovery time was longer than that of the recipient. Upon recovery he was no longer interested in going back to construction work. He wanted to get into a "helping" field and decided to study massage therapy. He now has his own business. He also travels with a group of volunteer doctors to South America for several weeks each year helping out as he can.

It's a very unselfish act but you do need to think about it fully. Good luck with your decision.

Subject: RE: BS: Considering becoming a living donor
From: Partridge
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 10:49 AM

Rara, thanks for that. I have thought about this for quite a while. I expect that there will be lots of questions to answer when the testing begins. I may not get too far, I don't know. I'm not looking forward to the pain side of things, but this pain is a bit like having a baby - you know its for a good reason. As to being unselfish, I'm not sure I've even started to wonder why I'm doing it. He needs a kidney and I've got a spare, its fairly logical. I'm not expecting a life changing experience,but if it comes along I'll go with the flow

Pat x

Subject: RE: BS: Considering becoming a living donor
From: brid widder
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 06:11 PM

I have... 2 brothers, Allan & Peter... 10 years ago Peter was very ill with renal failure... he was on dyalisis but looked as if he was losing the battle. Allan offered a kidney... he got in first... I said I could be a second option if Allan's wasn't OK. I was very nervous of the implications, I had 3 young children and would need time in hospital and further time off work... quite apart form the fear of my remaining kidney failing... but Peter was dying. I hoped Allans would be OK!! Allan had tests... they were said to have a 'reasonable match' but despite lots of pushing on Allan's part nothing happened... until one day we got the news ... Peter had had a transplant from a donor who had been killed in a road accident and the match was perfect! Peter's operation was on New Years eve... at a time of year when families should be enjoying each other's company one family had been touched by tragedy and had made a gift which saved my brother's life.
Allan is a cynic but he believes to this day that the reason his offer wasn't accepted was because he would have needed to be cared for whereas a deceased donor does not...so this option is therefore cheaper!
Peter's new kidney gave him health for 5 years... sadly he has since died of a heart attack.
Good luck Pat... let us know how you get on. J.

Subject: RE: BS: Considering becoming a living donor
From: Partridge
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 03:40 AM

Thanks Janet, I will let you know how things progress. Sorry to hear about your brother, but I'm glad he had those five years. It would be great if my friend got a perfect match, but if not I hope my kidney will do. I wouldn't be doing this if my family were very young, they are old enough to give their mum a little TLC.

Pat x