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Kidney Transplants, Anyone?

Posted on 4/15/25 at 7:55 pm
Posted by artisticsavant
Member since Mar 2017
5343 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 7:55 pm
Long story short, I've been living on one kidney for about 35 years, had the other one removed for a tumor when I was little. Any of the OT gone through the transplant process? Just curious what recovery is like afterwards. I figured I've survived multiple brain surgeries until they couldn't take any more away, I needed some new adventures.

It's been known for a couple years this would be the path as lab work changed, worsened. I haven't hit dialysis level yet but went through a multitude of symptoms from last fall through winter. The itchy skin becoming insomnia, then remaining insomnia for several weeks was pretty wild. I'd basically just stay awake through the night watching the world from sunset to sunrise, then finally crash. Any experiences, be it personally or someone in family, etc., would be helpful to hear about.
Posted by AUCE05
Member since Dec 2009
43750 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:04 pm to
No, but i had kidney cancer, too. Praying for you.
Posted by Spankum
Miss-sippi
Member since Jan 2007
58282 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:11 pm to
I don’t know of anyone that has had a kidney transplant, but there are some active posters on this board who are waiting for one.

Best of luck to you, man.
Posted by artisticsavant
Member since Mar 2017
5343 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:14 pm to
Thank you for sharing, I appreciate the support. I hope that your health is keeping steady getting through your own battle.
Posted by andwesway
Zachary, LA
Member since Jun 2016
2129 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:16 pm to
I have a liver transplant. I don't know if you're on Facebook or not, but there are a lot of good groups for people heading towards a transplant and people who have had one. They've been a big help for me the past few years.
Posted by SouthernHog
Arkansas
Member since Jul 2016
6464 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:16 pm to
quote:

itchy skin


All over or certain spot?. I've had kidney issues in the past.
Posted by artisticsavant
Member since Mar 2017
5343 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:23 pm to
quote:

I have a liver transplant. I don't know if you're on Facebook or not, but there are a lot of good groups for people heading towards a transplant and people who have had one. They've been a big help for me the past few years.


This is of interest to me. Is there a particular one you would suggest? I've found the NKF group, another that's like a donor registry, or transplant finder.
Posted by OweO
Plaquemine, La
Member since Sep 2009
117187 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:24 pm to
My dad was on dialysis for years before he got a kidney. He was sick and after he got his kidney he was able to live without going to dialysis and just overall felt better, but he had other issues going on as well which contributed to his death. This was almost 25 years ago.

I remember anytime someone died from a car wreck or any type of accidental death and they were donars, they would call.. It was always late at night and he and others had to go to the hospital to see if the kidney matched
Posted by andwesway
Zachary, LA
Member since Jun 2016
2129 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:25 pm to
quote:

This is of interest to me. Is there a particular one you would suggest? I've found the NKF group, another that's like a donor registry, or transplant finder.


Try Transplant Survivors.
Posted by Rebel
Graceland
Member since Jan 2005
137815 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:29 pm to
My friends wife was recently part of an 8 person chain transplant. She was donating one of her kidneys so her sister who wasn't a match could get a good kidney.

As the donator she was out of hospital after 1 night and took a week off work and then worked from home for 2 weeks.

Her sister, the recipient was in the hospital for 4 or 5 days. Not sure about full recovery, but she has to drive 200 miles or so to Jackson MS very often for checks up.
Posted by artisticsavant
Member since Mar 2017
5343 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:30 pm to
quote:

All over or certain spot?. I've had kidney issues in the past.



This might turn into a longwinded read but I hope not. Just the mention of you experiencing kidney issues in the past, maybe my experiences can be helpful in some small way.

I started about a year ago with fatigue. It got worse to the point I was taking "maintenance days" off work. At first I just thought "Damn, I'm getting old. Why am I 44 and taking afternoon naps now??"

It's gone fatigue/naps-shortness of breath (to severe shortness of breath)-nausea-depression, there's been some brain fog at time. I just assumed that was the half Polish side acting out. That was all between April-November last year. Towards Thanksgiving it turned into itchy skin which I thought was any number of things (rash, dry skin, mattress or bedding issues). I was scratching hard enough that I grew a crop circle around my rib cage that was pretty rough. But the itching during that time was specifically the abdominal area, the arms, the chest. I was prescribed a medication (Hydroxyzine) that has brought relief to the issue, but my concern has been if each symptom was the deterioration worsening.

My doctor specified that there's no stages of symptoms equal to worsening kidney health, like no particular order that they happen. I haven't been to work since just before Christmas. Some days I wake up past noon, some days my energy level crashes between 2 and 4 PM, that's the worst.

EDIT: on second thought, I missed my chance to write a novel during those insomnia weeks. That was about 120 hours I tried to sleep I could've been writing some messed up story instead.
This post was edited on 4/15/25 at 10:18 pm
Posted by hansenthered1
Dixie
Member since Nov 2023
483 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:32 pm to
Had a classmate at LSU back in the early 00s and he was sick, dialysis was not working well with him. His wife was a match and gave him one of her kidney's and he was like night and day better. I'm sure there are issues with any transplant but man, he looked like a new guy after the surgery.

I have another friend who waited way too long to get on the list and now was turned down so she is stuck on dialysis and it sucks big time. God bless those with this horrible disease.
Posted by SouthernHog
Arkansas
Member since Jul 2016
6464 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:33 pm to
quote:

artisticsavant


Hope all goes well for you. I actually found mine out from failing a DOT test lol. Had a biopsy done and Dr said my immune system was producing something to make my kidneys wonky. I had a treatment at a local place to lower my immune system. To quote the Dr he said " they won't get worse but won't get better". If I didn't due the treatment I'd probably be on dialysis already.
Posted by DreP
Member since Feb 2021
6 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:33 pm to
My seventy-seven year old father had a transplant about 15 years ago. He had a disease that attacked both kidneys and he was almost to the point of dialysis. I was blessed to be able to be the donor. After the surgery, he felt better instantly. The kidney has been functioning great until recently when he was put on a medication for depression that negatively impacted it. The kidney has been spilling protein. Hopefully they can get everything back under control. Overall, it was a very positive experience for him. I pray for a positive experience for you as well.
Posted by kywildcatfanone
Wildcat Country!
Member since Oct 2012
129897 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:35 pm to
A friend from church donated her kidney to her cousin maybe 10 years ago. Both doing well. Good luck.
Posted by Bamafig
Member since Nov 2018
4693 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:55 pm to
I work for the largest dialysis company. The nurses tell me that the average “lifespan” of a donated kidney is less than five years. And the reason? The recipient slowly returns to the bad habits (diet, lifestyle, smoking, alcohol, etc) that facilitated their kidneys demise to begin with. Transplant and dialysis success can usually be traced to the efforts of the patient to maintain healthy habits. It can’t be stressed enough.
Posted by artisticsavant
Member since Mar 2017
5343 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 9:16 pm to
I often thought of that, of being found unsuitable for a transplant, except I take pretty good care of myself. There was only so much life for the one kidney on its own. I do know someone like you speak of that got a transplant, went back to all the bad habits you described and died just a few years ago. In my OP I thought I needed to add "diabeetus and fatass free" just to clear that up ahead.
Posted by TT9
Global warming
Member since Sep 2008
86160 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 9:20 pm to
Prayers to you.
Posted by artisticsavant
Member since Mar 2017
5343 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 9:20 pm to
quote:

My seventy-seven year old father had a transplant about 15 years ago. He had a disease that attacked both kidneys and he was almost to the point of dialysis. I was blessed to be able to be the donor. After the surgery, he felt better instantly. The kidney has been functioning great until recently when he was put on a medication for depression that negatively impacted it. The kidney has been spilling protein. Hopefully they can get everything back under control. Overall, it was a very positive experience for him. I pray for a positive experience for you as well.



That's awesome of you being the donor for him. I'm sure it was a no-brainer to save a life like that. I have limited reach for family and friends so I'm relying on the kindness of strangers, or hopeful someone in family might join in. I'm fortunate to have not crashed too hard since the first symptoms. It took two years from lab work changes noted to change into any symptoms at all, so I'm feeling pretty steady if the wait might be a few years.
Posted by zippyputt
Member since Jul 2005
6451 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 9:25 pm to
I’ve said a prayer for you and wish you the best.
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