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What's all involved with kidney donation?

My cousin has lupus and has just been put on the kidney donation list. I’m closest in age to her, so I’ve always said I’d do it if the time ever came. Well, after years, the time is getting much closer. I’m wondering what’s all involved in this process? How to I get tested? Can I even donate since I have some health issues of my own? What are the risks for myself? I’ve been told it’s riskier to donate than to receive…also been told it could shorten my own life. My cousin is 26 and I’m 24. What if we wanted to have kids later on? Would that effect anything with a future pregnancy? If she got a new kidney, would the lupus go away? Does it scar? How would it get paid for since I don’t have currently have insurance?

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Answer #1

well, before you donate you have to understand that you will never be able to drink alcohol again, play sports or even have children

Answer #2

Are you serious?

Answer #3

Ignore the first answer your body can function perfectly well with only one kidney and it’s the liver not the kidney that processes alcohol. first you will have a prescreening to ensure that your body is healthy enough to support the donation and that the doner and the recipient are compatible (will there body accept your kidney) after that there is the surgery, then the recovery (you did remove an organ from your body but for a good cause) for further information http://funadvice.com/r/3jv3e8f7ak

Answer #4

No, she is not serious, she is wrong.

Basically you’ll need to consider the long term health consequences which are:

  • You will have to give up ROUGH contact sports, such as boxing which can damage your kidneys

  • you can still fall pregnant, however if you have one kidney you will have to be more closely monitored during pregnancy and you should wait at least 2 months after your kidney donation before you fall pregnant.

  • You have to consider emotional consequences as well as the recovery time of your operation.

  • In order to find out if you are able to donate, you’ll have to speak to your doctor and mention your health concerns to him. Depending on what is wrong you might not be able to donate.

  • Also lupus is a CHRONIC auto-immune disease and your cousin wil probably never be fully cured, however if her body accepts the kidney and she is treated properly afterwords, she should be able to avoid it flaring up. Also mention this to your doctor.

  • Having one kidney does not necessarily shorten your life. It all depends on how you take care of yourself afterwords etc. I have a friend that was born with only one kidney and except for heavy impact sports there is nothing wrong with him.

  • You will also be able to drink alcohol again, but never excessively.

Oh and lastly, make sure to ask all these questions to the doctor that will treat you and your cousin. You want to make sure that you are doing what is right for both you and her.

This should explain things a lot more clearly: http://funadvice.com/r/3jvrfdrhjc

Answer #5

THANK YOU!

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