| Author |
Message |
zoecomet
Member
Username: Zoecomet
Post Number: 1
Registered: 07-2011
| | Posted on Sunday, July 10, 2011 - 06:32 pm: | 
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Hi everyone;
I am a living donor (5 weeks and counting) and it's something I am really trying to raise awareness about. Education is power and while everyone may not be able to donate, the more people who are aware of it as an option and really how easy it can be, the more people might be helped. It's also a goal of mine to increase awareness of donation period-whether it be blood or simply signing your donor card/talking to your family about your wishes.
If you are interested here is a blog about my journey-please share as necessary-there are also links from it to other stories and resources about kidney and other organ donations.
Thanks 
http://tomakeachoice.blogspot.com/ |
Angela
Member
Username: Angie2011
Post Number: 5
Registered: 07-2011
| | Posted on Monday, July 11, 2011 - 01:00 pm: |
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Hello Zoecomet,
May God bless you.. I hope you're doing well..
I'm also a living donor (I'm on my 6 week).. I donated part of my liver to my mother in law.. we are both doing very well.. I also have the same goals as you.. I always carry brochures about becoming a donor and I have sign up everybody in my family..
We sure need more people like you.. Be well...
Angela |
Angela
Member
Username: Angie2011
Post Number: 6
Registered: 07-2011
| | Posted on Monday, July 11, 2011 - 01:15 pm: |
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Hello Zoecomet,
May God bless you.. I hope you're doing well..
I'm also a living donor (I'm on my 6 week).. I donated part of my liver to my mother in law.. we are both doing very well.. I also have the same goals as you.. I always carry brochures about becoming a donor and I have sign up everybody in my family..
We sure need more people like you.. Be well...
Angela |
Nickles101
Member
Username: Nickles101
Post Number: 3
Registered: 07-2011
| | Posted on Monday, July 11, 2011 - 04:38 pm: |
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I too am a donor, 11 weeks now. I too wish there were more educated people. it was a big decision, but well worth it.
thank you for being a donor! |
Angela
Member
Username: Angie2011
Post Number: 11
Registered: 07-2011
| | Posted on Monday, July 11, 2011 - 05:04 pm: |
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Hello Nickles101,
May God Bless you.. I agree with you.. a lot of people are clueless about signing a donor card.. I was extremely surprised of the comments I heard when I was in the process of donating...
I hope the recipient is doing well.. Thanks for having such a generous heart..
Take care... |
Nickles101
Member
Username: Nickles101
Post Number: 11
Registered: 07-2011
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 - 02:09 pm: |
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Yesterday was our 6 month anniversary. It has not been easy, but we both know no matter the issue, we will overcome it together. I had no idea what kind of things can be problematic for a tx patient. It has surely had its ups and downs and a little crazy how much of an emotional rollercoaster it is for me (am I the only one who feels so much closer to their recipient?). We have a fantastic relationship and are much closer than we were pre-tx. I have always had the organ donor sticker, but I dont think that gives enough education on donation. Not everyone knows about being a living donor, most people dont do the research when they are at the DMV and simply say yes to being an organ donor in death. I wish more people were aware of how many people are on the tx list. Just at UofM alone, there are 1500 patients waiting for kidney/pancrease. I would love to see more people being educated. |
Heather
Forum Leader
Username: Heather
Post Number: 3346
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 - 04:06 pm: |
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congrats on your anniversary, Nickles! I donated to my dad 12 years ago and yes, we are closer post tx than before..for sure. We share a special bond.
How are you doing physically?
Heather
Forum Leader - Living Organ Donation
Heather's Blog
EC Illinois, USA
Kidney donor to dad 12/1/99
Rush-Presbyterian-St. Lukes, Chicago
DONATE LIFE |
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DonR
Member
Username: Don62
Post Number: 16
Registered: 09-2011
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 - 06:01 am: |
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I'm about 3 1/2 months post op now as a liver donor. After almost losing him several time my brother went to the rehab hospital last Thursday night to start intensive PT. He was in the hospital exactly 100 days at that point; most of it in SICU and a lot of it intubated and near death. My entire family has become closer throughout this. My father, brother, and I never said "I love you" when hanging up or leaving, it was just implied. Now we do it all the time, which is minor compared to how much time we spend in contact with each other. It's crazy how extreme situations have to happen to bring simple life lessons to light. I don't sweat the small stuff anymore, work is just work and I never put it over my family anymore. I've gone from being a type-a over achiever, to this laid back "don't worry about it" kind of guy.
As for raising awareness of live donation, I'm all for that. Message me through this site if there's anything I can do up in the northeast.
Don R.
Liver Donor to Brother 07/05/2011
Penn State Hershey Medical Center
Hershey PA |
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Robin
Forum Leader
Username: Mamaru
Post Number: 738
Registered: 06-2008
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 - 11:18 am: |
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I donated a kidney to my hubby June 2008. I am all for donor awareness and my license plate reads KDNYDONR. I hope it helps for organ donation of any type.
Monday I had a renal sono just to do a quick check on my remaining kidney and the labs look good. I haven't gotten the sono results but think all would be fine based on my labs. My creatinine has been 1.0 to 1.1 and hasn't changed since the day I donated. Prior to donation, it was .6 -.8 so it has increased but still in norm. BP + lipids no change and other then being deficient in B-12 which may not be related directly to donating I feel good.
I hope you do well!
Forum Leader - Living Organ Donation
Husband had a Bone Marrow Transplant 09/08/1993. Diagnosed with CML that went into a blast crisis and became ALL.
Donated a kidney to husband 6/26/2008
Husband and both kids have PKD
I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED FOR THE LIFE I GAVE AS WELL AS THE LIFE I LIVED
I found this on a website and its so true
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Chad
Forum Leader
Username: Horace_mann
Post Number: 235
Registered: 12-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, October 20, 2011 - 06:52 pm: |
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Well done and welcome to the ranks of living organ donors! I agree with the education and telling your story - lots of wonderful stories out there. I'd like to read your blog but the link isn't working.
At five weeks post-op you're back to feeling pretty much normal which is a good hump to be over. Of course posting here is a great way to keep current and help others along the path.
Chad - non-directed kidney donor Oct. 2007
'OCTODONOR' |
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LadyDi
Forum Leader
Username: Ladydi
Post Number: 2708
Registered: 03-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, October 20, 2011 - 07:13 pm: |
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I am a little late to the party, but happy six month anniversary Nickles! It is good to see that you are doing so well!
Sounds like a good check up for you too Robin! Glad to hear you are well, and hope Mike is doing okay.
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Nickles101
Member
Username: Nickles101
Post Number: 12
Registered: 07-2011
| | Posted on Thursday, October 20, 2011 - 08:14 pm: |
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Physically I feel good for the most part. I'm not sure it's normal but nobody seems to be concerned, I sleep twice as much as I did before, like I could sleep for 15 hours and take a nap unless I force myself to be awake. I have slight pain under my scars mostly the one on my left under my ribs. I went to my doctor yesterday and she wasn't concerned. The pain is when I do something strenuous or over exert myself or bend a certain way, anyone else have that?
I didn't donate to a family member, I donated to a friend but like you said, it's amazing how close you become. |
Heather
Forum Leader
Username: Heather
Post Number: 3348
Registered: 05-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, October 22, 2011 - 10:51 am: |
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I had the open procedure so my recovery was much different than yours, Nickles. However...your pain is probably due to nerves that were cut or some muscle. It takes time for you to get back to your old energy back. It took me some time...6 months or more to start feeling like myself again..but again..my surgery was much more invasive (as I assume you had lap).
Heather
Forum Leader - Living Organ Donation
Heather's Blog
EC Illinois, USA
Kidney donor to dad 12/1/99
Rush-Presbyterian-St. Lukes, Chicago
DONATE LIFE |
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LadyDi
Forum Leader
Username: Ladydi
Post Number: 2714
Registered: 03-2008
| | Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2011 - 11:03 am: |
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Nickles, I never had the fatigue you described. I did take the full 6 week recovery, and, even after going back to work, felt back to normal about 8 weeks out as far as energy.
I did have some of the pain type issues you described. I had a numb spot around my largest incision that took close to 9 months for the feeling to get back. I did find that for over 6 months if I pressed up against something or twisted wrong, I would get a twinge. Even working out, I couldn't do anything abdominal until about 6 months out, and I had to be conscious of a pulling sensation and nt overdo it. It did seem like it was close to a year before all those pulling sensations and the twinges stopped.
You may want to pressure the docs to find a cause for your lack of energy as it could be something unrelated to donation - have you had your thyroid checked?
Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.
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Nickles101
Member
Username: Nickles101
Post Number: 27
Registered: 07-2011
| | Posted on Monday, April 30, 2012 - 10:55 am: |
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I have been in and out of doctors for the past two months. I am still fatigued, more than usual. but recently was sent for an MRI and to some specialist that conclude there is a small tumor near my brain that is affecting my balance and some other things. At least there is a reason now, and its no longer a mystery.
Its been just over a year now, and as for the tissue pain, that has went away other than the here and there twinge.
Thanks for the guidance! |
