I have been lurking here for a few months, trying to think of an interesting thread to start. I had a Kidney transplant 2 years ago. Anyone with any questions, or is on the list to get an organ with any questions…ask away!
Why did you need a transplant? My dad needs one because he has Glumelular(sp) Nephritis.
Where did the kidney come from?
How was it after the surgery? How long did it take you to get back to normal. or as normal as you could get?
A question that’s a statement in disguise–did your doctor warn you that as you tapered down your anti-rejection drugs, your body’s immune response to illness could lead to rejection? I ask because nobody warned my father of this, and he died of necrosis following a bout of pneumonia.
Do you suddenly have any strange cravings or a yen for something that never interested you before your surgery?
BTW, congrats on the new life! I believe very strongly in organ donating and I am fairly positive most people are walking brain donors. 
Would you meet the family of the donor if you could?
Are transplant recipients allowed to do that?
Why did you need a transplant? My dad needs one because he has Glumelular(sp) Nephritis.
It was from continued contact with heavy metals (mostly vanadium) at a previous job.
Where did the kidney come from?
My gracious brother. (Bless his little heart)
How was it after the surgery? How long did it take you to get back to normal. or as normal as you could get?
I was in the hospital for 4 days, out of work for 3 months. At that point, I was back to “normal”, hovever being on dialysis for almost three years, I forgot what “normal” felt like.
Yes, I was warned. I was weaned to the lowest possible immunesuppresant dose, and then told to NEVER miss a dose, which could lead to possible rejection.
The meds are mostly steiroids, which have thier own nasty side effects (like big time weight gain), but the alternative sucks!
I’m on PD and waiting for a kidney transplant atm. I have spoken to quite a few recipients and they all say very positive things. I would like to hear the real story, tell me all the negatives associated with having a transplant.
I have watched the operation being performed so that side of it doesn’t worry me so much. I know there will be changes to my appearance but for how long? I have taken anti rejection medication before and had a variety of problems with all of them so I am quite apprehensive about having this transplant.
Congratulations, and may you live to be a ripe old Hobbit age of 111!
Not the same as a kidney transplant, but my SO had a serious liver ailment that the only hope was for a liver transplant…and then another doctor suggested a new procedure called TIPS that is basically a liver bypass. He was in and out of the hospital in two days. No further meds required.
The guy was down to 99 pounds and at death’s door a year ago. Now he has gained all the weight back, has returned to work, and feels better than he has in years!
To anybody out there needing a transplant, or knowing someone who does, there is a lot of hope. Medical technology has made great strides in recent years, as the OP and my SO have proven. Don’t give up!
Was the other guy mad when you took his kidney?
I’ve only ever had my lunch money stolen…
Congrats, I wish you a long, happy and healthy life!
I’m a med student who at this point has done a nephrology and urology rotation. so I’ve seen a lot of pre and post kidney transplant patients.
Some people seem to fly through without any bother at all, some have horrendous problems. I saw a lady who had a UTI every 2 weeks for 10 months, pneumonia and sepsis, but is very well now, the worst part for her was that her 4 siblings who had transplants were all perfectly well afterwards.
May I ask how close the match was with your brother? And how he’s doing?
Also, what kind of follow up tests are you booked for, and if you are on medication to keep up your bone strength?
Well, I’m sure that he didn’t find out about the other guy’s reaction because he left before the other guy woke up packed in ice in a bathtub with a note telling him to see a doctor immediately.
Congratulations!
I have a relative with a liver transplant.
What if any side effects are you feeling now from the anti-rejection drugs?
Do you still have to stay away from crowds and children?
If you needed the kidney transplant because of a prior job, was it an on the job injury and did you get any compensation as a result?
Just curious.
This is a very interesting thread. Not as interesting as my first reading of the thread title, which was “Ask a transparent rectum” (it was above the Genl. Slocum thread and I guess I got confused.) But very interesting nonetheless.
So, how long did it take before you first heard the “bathtub full of ice” joke? (Which I was planning to make myself.) An hour? Two hours?
My Brother was a 6 antigen (sp) match, which I was told was very rare. He’s doing fine. They were able to laproscopically remove his kidney, which made recovery much easier. he was back to work in 3 weeks!
I go to the nephrologist every 6 months. Tests for kidney function test and immunosupressent levels. And I am not on any meds for bone strength. Maybe I should ask next time…
I have been very lucky with the anti-rejection drugs. My only real side effect was a weight gain of over 100 lbs. after 2 years. I am working with a trainer now, and have been able to start to take off the lbs., while it is very difficult. I have only had one bad cold… I do try to stay away from sick people, but at work, it’s kind of difficult.
The actual operation and initial recovery was really not that bad. Since they put the new kidney in the front (between the groin and the right leg), there was some pain sitting and getting up. But that did not last long, and I did take every advantage of pain meds offered (I’m a baby when it comes to pain).
I was on the machine 3 days a week for 5 hours a shot. Could not do PD for some reason. While on dialysis, I was consistantly sick to my shomach, tired, no sex drive…pretty washed out. Not much of a life.
The meds have contributed to a large weight gain and a “moon like” look in the face. It does seem to be subsiding, and I have started working with a personal trainer to help with the weight. But I have been told the steiroids can cause diabetes, weight gain, and heart problems. I still think the alternative was far worse, although I was with people on dialysis who chose to not have the x-plant and stay on dialysis.
Hehe… I heard that ALL through dialysis… Actually, I just got back from a vacation in the Dominican Republic, and a Dominican told me his sister had sold one of her kidneys a year ago…whew
Thank for your reply, and congratulations btw, I should have said that earlier.
I have been on high doses of Pred in the early stages of the disease and did contract diabetes during that time also had terrible weight gain. I’ve never been able to understand how the weight comes on practically overnight but takes months to lose. What strength is the maintenance dose btw? I tried a couple of other anti rejection drugs but one may me vomit continuously and with the other I developed severe facial neuralgia, not to mention thousands $$$$ at the dentist. I realise I will have to take both these drugs which is why I’m apprehensive.
I am really quite happy on PD, it’s very gentle and fits into my lifestyle well. It’s a constant battle keeping all my levels right but I’m so lucky I can eat and drink just about anything I want at this stage. I too feel tired all the time but I was feeling like that for years before the dialysis.
One more thing, I have been told I will have to come into the hospital every day for 9 months after the surgery…did you find this a terrible strain?
Congratulations dude, and please forgive me for the following question:
Is the new liver “Evil” in some way? Does it try and make you kill people, burn houses etc.? I realise your brother donated it but he could be your evil twin as far as I know.
…and do you get more “bathtub full of ice” jokes than stupid remarks like the one above?