Kidney Transplant Patient Perspective

[MBrydenthal]

Thank you for this excellent video!

[djr2096]

I've had renal failure cince I was four years old. I'm going on the list for my third kidney transplant soon! I hope you're still feeling good!!

[damondanieli]

@djr2096 I'm sorry to hear that. You are too young to be going through this. I wish you the best on your upcoming surgery.

[djr2096]

@damondanieli LOL Thanks for your reply but I was four back in 1977. I had my first transplant back in 1984-85.

That faild the next day due to a blood clot in the main artery. My second in 1989 that faild back in 2009.

This is number three. The iffy tranfplant! I still hope you're doning well my friend!!

[hannahremlap]

I'm eleven and my mom is getting one because she is a deibetic and I'm so scared for her

[elsquibbs]

Great video. I wish I decided to chronicle my transplant when I had it. The first night I made the mistake of wolfing down all my dinner. Isn't it amazing how much better you feel afterwards?

[Mariooo702]

Im so happy for u!!I myself need a transplant and im about to start the process since I was having insurance issues..this video was so helpfull and gave me a sense of hope:)

[elsquibbs]

@Mariooo702

Good luck! Trust me, it's not scary at all. When the day finally comes, you'll be so excited that you won't feel any fear at all.

[Darthon62]

I had my kidney transplant 6 years ago YEAH

[toes128]

Thanks so much for this video. I've been on dialysis for four years. #2 on deceased donor list. Should be anytime now and I'm scared about the surgery. This vid helped

[jeffhardyvsme]

Everyone that talks bout kidney transplant is a short time I was in the hospital for 4 years wtf?!?!

[zensarcasm]

12/5/01 was the date of my transplant. great video and best of luck my friend!

[albkorcari]

hey thanx a lot for this video man it really helps im having a kidney transplant in about 20 hours from now my sister is donating hope all goes well ,and to anyone that is concerned about the foam in their urine id tell them to not be concerned it dosent just come from kidney failure when i was diagnosed with kidney failure about 7 months ago my createnine was 5.8 now is 8.8 and i still dont have any foam in my urine .I would like to wish good luck to anyone diagnosed with kidney failure

[damondanieli]

@albkorcari Thanks for posting. Best of luck with your transplant and a quick recovering for you and your sister.

[aggies724]

Thank you so much my father is soon going to get a transplant started dialysis last week

[bandgeekatheart1992]

when I had jaw surgery a little over a year ago, I had those leg things on both of my legs. It was a pain to get up to use the bathroom because I had to take both of them off and bring my IV with me. my jaw didnt hurt at all but that is because I have a high pain tolerence

[ERChris17]

@damondanieli WOW I HAD NO IDEA YOU DID THE TRANSPLANT GAMES!!! IN CYCLING NO LESS!!! That is the goal i set for myself the week after i found out I was getting the transplant. We must discuss this further!!! Wow i'm excited! :)

[ERChris17]

Thanks for the videos man! I'll be receiving a living donor transplant from my brother next wednesday (Feb 16th). Right now my Creatinine is 5.38; GFR (Kidney Function) 13%; Hemoglobin 9.1 (for which I'm receiving shots of Aranesp to boost my RBC count); Hematocrit is 26.2. I'm getting the transplant at Methodist Transplant in San Antonio and will be filming the before and after to post for everyone. I'm also free to answer any questions about the process. Thanks again Damon!

[damondanieli]

@ERChris17 Hi ERChris, You are welcome for the videos. I shot them for all of the donors and patients who will be going through the procedure. Best of luck on your procedure next week and let me know how it goes.

[markmcsw]

Capsula--your creatinine and BUN are perfect. I didn't even know I had kidney problems till my creatinine was 1.7, and then it took 5 years till dialysis/transplant was needed. Everyone has some foam in their pee. Don't know about the albumin reading.

[nlunlunlu]

I was discharged within six days fro my kidney transplant.... is that because I am only twelve years old?

[christinadawnhethcox]

Hi,

I had 2 heart transplants, and now im on dialysis because my medications ate my kidneys up. I was on the list for a kidney for five years, but was recently told i couldn't get that kidney because my heart is too week.

[amelia0722]

Thank you for posting this. I go before the committee soon and I am researching what I can expect after mine (hopefully)

[markmcsw]

Hi Damon--I enjoyed your videos. I got a transplant 8 days ago and I feel great. Do you know how quickly your creatinine went down? My first week it went from 8 to 5.5 to 4 to 2.5 after 8 days, and I wonder how low it will get. After 2 years of dialysis this has been a major blessing to me and at age 52 I have a lot of living yet to do.

--Mark in Indpls

[capsula2007]

@markmcsw mark or Damon, I have a question. I am so concerned about my kidney. I had foamy urine and after 24 hours urine collection, it shows microalbumin (around 630 mg) but my serum creatnine is about 1.1-1.2 (varies). My bun is about 15. I am concerned in what stage I might be and how long I have left to pass to the stage 4. I am scared? I am 40, I am not diabetic, blood pressure around 135/90 (average). So far I am taking ACE inhibitor and I am having less protein diet. Any prognosis?

[capsula2007]

@markmcsw Any comments would be appreciated. I have a doctor who is slacker and doesn't take my situation seriously. He refered me to a kidney Dr, but my appointment is in 3 weeks. Especially in the morning when I wake, the foamy urine is more dense and it cover the whole water surface of the toilet. I wonder at what stage I might be and how long how you reminded in your different stages until dialysis. As I said in my prev. post, I have microalbumin leak 630 mg and creatinine of 1.1-1.2

[ArchieFan42192]

I am finally going to go get tested to donate to my Dad because he really needs it bad! Both of his kidneys are only functioning at 5% and I think I have the right blood type. Do you have any advice for me as the donor Damon? Congratulations on receiving your kidney transplant. I am just really scared about the IV.

[damondanieli]

@ArchieFan42192 You are at the very beginning stage of the transplant. The process will have you blood typed and cross-matched to determine if you are a good fit medically. You will also have meetings with the transplant team to understand the procedure and have plenty of opportunity to think if this is the right thing for you.

You will know it as clear as day if it is right for you.

If, after all that, you proceed with the transplant, you will not fear the IV or the operation.

[ArchieFan42192]

@damondanieli Sorry, but what is cross-match testing. I feel so dumb that I don't know what that is. Sorry! :(

[damondanieli]

@ArchieFan42192 No need to feel dumb (it is not like I knew anything about kidney donation before getting one).

There are tests that are done from blood samples:

1. ABO aka Blood type (O can only receive from O, AB can receive from anyone, etc). The plus or minus doesn't matter.

2. Cross-match (if you have a positive cross-match, that means that there are incompatible antibodies and that is a bad thing).

3. HLA matching (there are 6 antigens that measure level of compatibility).

[damondanieli]

@ArchieFan42192

ABO testing will determine if potential donors are a match and will reject candidates flat out before any further testing is done.

Crossmatch testing will determine if a specific donor will match. A "positive" crossmatch means that that donor will not work.

HLA testing will determine the extent of the compatibility. It is a factor in determining who a better donor might be (out of multiple candidates) and success rate over time, but it is not used as a rejection criterium.

[thatdude199]

@ArchieFan42192 Go for it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 I gave my dad mine , he was in end stage renal failure with only 7% of both working .... I went got tested and found out blood type was a match and we did the surgery dec9th 2010 and here i am feeling better and dads doing great !!!!!!!!!!! , i Urge everyone to donate !!! Remember heaven dont need our organs we need them here !!!

[lmcd27]

@ArchieFan42192 hey my mum donated a kidney to my dad and she was perfectly fine so there is nothing for you to worry about at all!!

[punckandy]

gosh my dad had a low blood sugar last week and he went to the hospital

also hes on dyalasis which he goes on mondays and wedsnday and fridays now

i feel really sad... im thirteen and i want to offer my dad my kidney

not only me but my mom my uncle and my other brother also offerd

so what will be a good decision for me ?

[damondanieli]

@punckandy I think it is wonderful that you are considering donation, but the transplant team will not accept a donor as young as you.

My advise would have been to wait until you are older. Your mom and uncle are in a better position to donate now and in 20-30 years when your father might need another kidney, you will be in a station in life to answer that question.

I wish you and your father best wishes.

[Omega666Evil]

So Damon is it wrong of me not wanting a transplant...I rather stay on pd forever.Do you think I can do it.

[damondanieli]

@Omega666Evil I do not think it is wrong at all. It sounds like PD is working great for you. There are some patients who stay on dialysis for decades.

Even so, you might want to have your nephrologist register you on the organ recipient list (UNOS in the United States) so that you can make this decision when you have found a matching donor.

Best wishes Omega.

[mnchnn]

very informative, thank you

[elsquibbs]

I had a successful transplant last January. Isn't it amazing how much better you feel almost immediately?

[DJkilla93]

DAM IM SO SCARED IM GUNNA GIVE MA BRO ONE OF MA KIDNEYS IN THE FUTURE

[MrsSkywalker191]

I had two kidney transplants, one wen i was a year and a half old but my body rejected it. I was put on dialsys for another year, 12 hrs a day and then I had my second one wen i was 2.The anniversary of my successful transplant is July 8th 1991, I have had my dad's kidney my only kidney) for 17 yrs. I thank God for him and the doctors. Damon I hope u r doing well!!! God Bless

[intenselan]

Hi Damon! I just got my kidney transplant on July 1st, 2010. This video helped put me at ease (a little! :)) before going in. They used my brother's kidney, and things so far are going well. I had a catheter in my neck too. Good luck for your continued health!

[damondanieli]

@intenselan Congratulations Intenselan and all the best to you and your brother. That's great news.

PS. The catheter stitches will leave marks for a long time but eventually disappear.

[Bronzstar]

@Ana321823 I too have renal failure. But the list here in Ga is 3 to 5 year wait. What state does your boyfriend live? What city will he be recieving a Kidney transplant?

[angelpower18]

My brother in law is having his surgery at a hospital in New Brunswick, NJ. I'm wondering where you are. And of course, wishing all the best to both patients! Keep in touch!

[volcomguy777]

I'm so glad to see this video. I have been on dialysis 7 years (am 42 now) from lupus damage destroying the kidneys. I am this moment sitting here waiting after my fifth call to get a kidney. The other 4 times I didn't get the kidney, someone else did, and I will find out any minute if this is the one. Your video really helped me feel less anxious about what it will be like and how I may feel. Thank you for sharing. Wish me luck!

[angelpower18]

@volcomguy777 Hi volcomguy777! I would like to know if you got your kidney? My brother-in-law is having his transplant on Tuesday May 11, 2010. He also has lupus, and has been on dialysis for 2 years. I am worried for him, yet very excited that he will be off dialysis. Please let me know how you are doing!

[damondanieli]

@angelpower18 I wish your brother-in-law the best. AllieBeatty is also scheduled to receive a kidney on Tuesday so it will be a double blessing.

[desaree12]

I am so glad you posted this video I'm donating a kidney to my in a few weeks and good to see how others got through it

[mspepperr]

You got up and walked on the third day and were discharged after 4!!!! Lucky you!! When I had my transplant I couldn't even sit up on my own on the 4th day and was discharged after 10!

How did you heal so fast? I am curious. Mind you, I was 18 and about to graduate from high school when I received my transplant so you would think I would have bounced back but I didn't.

[pkpp]

i'm planning for a kidney transplant but i have to finish my studies yet... heheheh... i'm still having my hemodialysis now... i started hemodialysis since october 2007

[SABOREAME68]

Thank you ever so much, en-behalf of my patients that might go through this procedure. Your input is very valuable, Congrats to you take care & enjoy life!!!

[SABOREAME68]

Thank you ever so much, en-behalf of my patients that might go through this procedure. Your input is very valuable, Congrats to you take care & enjoy life!!!

[SABOREAME68]

Thank you ever so much, en-behalf of my patients that might go through this procedure. Your input is very valuable, Congrats to you take care & enjoy life!!!

[staraction]

Thanks for posting this video. I've been in dialysis for the past year now and i am getting test it to get into the renal transplant list.

[530joseph]

Congraduations on having a successful transplant. I hope it works well for you for years too come. I'm a dialysis patient with 0 kidneys inside. Both removed at different times in my life. I'm currently waiting to be cancer free for a couple of years before they will put me on the transplant list. I'm going to need bladder work done as well, like you did. I hope and pray everyday that I will get a transplant someday. Keep your head held high for you have a second chance at life. I happy for u.

[zoejane2089]

Thank You for posting the video. It allows a little insight as to what goes post-op from our perspective. I was transplanted on 26/09/07 in Trinidad&Tobago (my home) and i'm still getting used to it all after having some complications.. please keep up the good work and I hope your life continues on successfully. :D

[Axlite2]

Great for you to share this. I had my transplant in 1995 when I was 12. I am still on the same kidney, going on 26 - and also in better shape than most people I know. Perhaps needless to say: my overall experience wasn't quite as fluid as yours but at least now I know I can expect my next transplant experience to be much more fluid. Hopefully the time won't come any time soon of course. :) Oh, and I'm also on prograf-cellcept combination only. Krea is about 160-170 and has been for some years.

[mpayne1184]

I love this video! I'm 25 years old and will be getting a transplant soon (hopefully). This was great to see what it's like from the patient's perspective. Thanks for posting!

[dklynds]

I am a match for my brother. I am going through the second stage of testing now. MRI, Cardio, then Nephrologist meeting. Hopefully I will be giving him a kidney this summer or late spring. He wants to finish classes first. Good Luck to you!

[gigieeatsclowns]

OMG! im on prgraf and celecpt too! i just saw it and i take another 7 pills cuz i almost got rejection cuz i didnt take my meds so yeah i got in truoble for that :I

and yes you do take meds forever :)

[gigieeatsclowns]

im 15 and i was on dialisys for about 4 years and till my mom gave me her kidney on june 2 2005

im so thankful and i slept for 3 days striaght its so draining going and coming back from my dialisis at least i know that i did well and my mom so yeah :)

[nbomb1204]

I'm 23 and have been on dialysis for a little over a year. I'm terrified of the whole transplant thing, this video eased me a bit. Glad to see everything went well. I should be getting mine soon :)

[marklfc07]

Dont worry about the transplant at all, im 22 and i was on dialysis for two years and my brother was 100% match for kidney donation, i just had my transplant on the 3rd feb 2010 i was out of hospital 6 days later and i feel great now and its only three weeks since my transplant and i feel myself getting better every day, just keep your head up, my secret was just to stay positive

and the medication is not bad at all, it may seem a lot to begin with but its far better than being on dialysis

[jaganatha1]

PLEASE POST AN UPDATE ON HOW YOU FEEL

[damondanieli]

Well today is February 3rd, 2010 and I feel great! My creatinine is normal (but a little on the high side), my hermatocrit is 45 so I have a lot of energy.

I require 4 pills in the morning and 4 in the evening (Cellcept/Prograf). I take some more as supplements, but those 8 are the anti-rejection necessities. Not bad at all.

Life has certainly picked up a lot of pace now that I have my energy (and ability to concentrate) back again.

Thanks for asking!

[devyndarling]

hi damon my name is devon, i am 23 and on the transplant list...my dad has just been matched to me! I initially was EXTREMELY scared and not sure of what was going to go on after the transplant. you made my life so much better. I know I can do it now, the fear of not knowing has gone. I appreciate it! Dev

[damondanieli]

@devyndarling Thank you Devon. This is exactly why I recorded this video. I wish you and your father the best and good luck with your transplant. It will make a huge difference in your lives.

[shinesthrudarain]

@damondanieli what do u mean your creatinine is high but normal?

[damondanieli]

@shinesthrudarain Yes, my creatinine is on the high side of normal.

[2730262]

im doing this surgery form 4 years ago

and im living good better than first

thanks god

[ronyanai]

Wow, that's a great video, so helpful. im also having a transplant in a month and a half, in israel. maybe i'll do the same for the israelis is hebrew :)

[56thAlbanyProd]

Hi, thanks for adding this video, I'm going to be having my transplant within a few weeks and I'm a little scared. Even though I have 2 fiends who had one, its still seems scary. But your video enabled me to see what you went though, I appreciate it - kudos to Sarah!

[damondanieli]

That's great news about your transplant.  I'm happy for you.

[kelekele1]

hi

i av kidney cyst on both kidney and wud b needin a transplant but am very very scared...love ur video i think it has encouraged me...i pray i get a donor...i am scared som how.was it pain afta som time afta u were discharged?

[NickJonasMyHoTLoVeR]

Omg im really happy it went good..

im gonna make a kidney transplant in january the doctor thinks my kidney's level is on 13% when it get's 10% i need a new idney my mom will give me one ..

and 2 be honst i really havent been scared until know i have seen what you've been through

IM REALLY SCARED ! PLEASE HELP ME!

i try 2 be strong but im noot :/

im SCARED

[jojojo9771]

i did a kidny transplan 9 month ago i feel better know i pry you got better and good health

[mrgionni]

I'm a dialysis patient, I have 2 catheters, one PD and one Hemo. I found the PD catheter caused twitching and caused me to lose sleep, I believe it was inserted wrong. I switched to Hemo, at first it seemed to work, on my 4th treatment I became ill for 2 days. I have a close relative that may donate me their kidney, but understandably, they and I are both nervous about going through this. May I ask, how are you and your donor doing recently? Please reply as it is important to us.

[damondanieli]

Hi Mr. Gionni,

Thank you for contacting me.

Do you know the reason you became ill? The only symptoms I had due to dialysis was cramping when they pulled out too much liquid and really being mentally out-of-it after a run (they jokingly call it "dialysis dementia").

Both Sara and I were much, much more apprehensive about transplant before the surgery. Now she is doing well and I feel great.

Please see my other videos for her post-donation perspective.

[mrgionni]

@damondanieli Originally or on the dialysis? I know the PD causes me to twitch and itch and loss sleep, the medical staff claims it because I'm still uremic, but if I miss a day or two it subsides. On the Hemo it seemed to work greaat the first two sesssions of 2 1/2 hours then they bumped it up to 4 hour seessions and every session I got iller and iller. I've had a history of gastric illness before and the sudden change in body chemistry set it off, making me even sicker, 3 weeks now.

[mrgionni]

- In bed unable to hold down food. To top it off I've had a nasal infection that has spread to other areas and worsened my condition. I made the nephrologist aware of this I even gave them siliva samples and they at first ignored the 1st sample, said they couldn't find anything on the 2nd sample, so I went had it tested elsewhere and the infection was noticed by another doctor, GP, they contacted my nephrologist and he still refused to prescribe me an anti-biotic, so the other doctor did.

[mrgionni]

I've also been having trouble getting refered to a Gastrologist as the nephrologist said get my family doctor to do that and my family doctor is telling me to get the nephrologist to refer me. I miss the times when I had good doctors who were more attentive to their patients and would listen to their patients health complaints. My nephrologist seems a very friendly guy, but when it comes to hearing, him and his staff seem to be deaf to anything outside doing dialysis.

[sic04250f]

Sara is an amazing person!

Great Vid, I can only hope my transplant will be as pain free as your's seemed.

[damondanieli]

Please post a video reply when you have yours!

Good luck and best wishes.

[totterdell]

i know exactly what he's going through and i feel sorry for him, i have had 2 kidney transplants in the past 21 years. The start of this happened when i had a urinary tract infection which damaged both my kidneys and had to go on dialysis for 18months. My father donated his kidney and the match was good that lasted about 10years until it failed and went on dialysis agen for another 18 months by the time i was 14 i got another donor kidney which was my mum's which i still have today, i am 23.

[mrgionni]

Wow and so young too. 10 years isn't really a long time, I hope the second transplant lasts you your life time, yet it sounds so temporary. I may be going through a donor transplant myself and am seeking information. What are your prospects to being able to keep the current kidney working dor you?

[kelekele1]

so there is a possibility of a kidney goin bad afta one has had a transplant???

[RuFiOPx]

reminds me of when i got my transplan at the age of 12 im 24 now and still doing good,take care of it and good luck

[lockechat]

Thank you for sharing this video. My son's kidneys failed because of Ecoli/HUS 7 years ago. He was on dialysis for 18months and then we got THE call July 16th this year. Our feet haven't touched the ground since and he is living life like a regular 23 year old. the main difference between your experience and his was that the first day of food he told them in no uncertain terms that he didn't do clear fluids so they had to find him cereal for his first meal.

[Blaster831]

hi my name is priscilla my kidney failed me the this yr. and i was born my right kidney was remove at the age 1 years old. and only last till nw. im 23 yrs old and scared. now im not so scared watchin ur video. it help me as well thank u.

[PKDFoundation]

Thank you for sharing your experience, what an amazing video.

[damondanieli]

Thank you!

[jojoerge]

im filipino but i live here in guam(marians island) the day i found out, i almost give up. ive been through a lot if sugery already include open heart surgery and removal of my vile also i am hepa b+. thank you for uploading your video. i helped me a lot and gave me hope to stay on the fight and survive! thank you again

[jojoerge]

hello,

my name is jordan, im 28 yrs old. 2 months ago i discovered that my kidney is down to 12% function. according my doctor i will be facing a dialysis treatment or kidney transplant once my kidney stop functioning. by watching your video,i was given a lot of strenght and hope to face this chalenges of life. i dont know how long my kidney will stay but as i watched your video, i told myself that if you can do it, i can do it too.i dont have any donor yet but i am getting ready of everythin

[hohensaltz]

Hi Damon,

Thank you for this video. I'm 30 and had my transplant on April 30th this years, and I watched this video before the procedure. it helped me a lot. I feel great right now, and I'm very thankful for my Dad for the best gift he gave me. All the best.

-Paul

[damondanieli]

Hi Paul,

I'm really happy to hear that you got a kidney and you've made my day that this video helped you.

Take care and good luck.

[staraction]

hi,

i just my meeting to be in transpant list and gladly, my boyfriend Doug is gonna donate a kidney...(i've been on dialysis for 5 months now) Tomorrow i will start my test that i have to go through

[damondanieli]

Hi StarAction,

I'm really happy to hear that you have a potential donor and hope everything works out. Doug is a wonderful guy and definitely a "keeper", but I guess you knew that. ;-)

[staraction]

Hahaha, that's exactly what the guy named Mark said who interview us and tell us all about the transplant thing and all...besides, we balance each other and he is just awesome! i love my dougie bear lol...

[davidwanng]

Hey thats VM Hospital in Seattle, I believe your on the 17th Floor if not correct? Great place. I work there.

[damondanieli]

YES!  17th Floor at Virginia Mason in Seattle!

I had GREAT care there and love the staff who had taken care of me. If you guys are reading this, thanks!

[NoelTheNole]

Thank you so much for making this video. I will be having a transplant soon and this video helped answer several questions I have had. Thank you again.

[damondanieli]

Hi Noel,

Thank you for your comment and sorry for the delay responding.

I am so happy that you are getting a transplant and I'm glad to have helped you. I had you in mind when creating this video, I just didn't know you yet. ;)

I wish you the best on your surgery and please send me a message once your able to.

[alyin363]

I wish you the best of health and quallity of life we all deserve. I don't know where to begin. I've had 3 Kidney Transplants, last one was June 07 from a living non related  This last one has been kicking like a rock star. I just recently had my fistula disconnected that had been there for 11 years. Ironically, my brother had a Kidney Transplant in 1980 and is doing great. Unfortunately, my sister is on Dialysis and is on the waiting list. We are the only ones that have had kidney disease.

[damondanieli]

I don't know why this was marked spam, but I've unmarked it.

[alyin363]

I just noticed your comment. Thanks. It was probably a basher of some sort.

[damondanieli]

Hi Alyin,

I'm sorry to hear that your brother, sister and you have had to go through this and I wish you all the best and a kidney for your sister.

[alyin363]

Thank you very much. I realized over time that this is the biggest blessing in disquise. I wish you well health.

[morninggirls]

i had kidney transplant ...10 years ago..and doing well...my donor was my sister..in our country philippines its very hard to get a donor...most of co dialyisis patients didnt make it...the hardest part of being a transplant patient is the medicines maintenance..govt here do not help patients like us..very expensive here and most are afraid of the operation because of the hight cost of anti rejection meds....

[alyin363]

Yes the anti-rejection meds can be very expensive. I'm thankful for the insurance I have right now. I don't know what I would do if I lost my insurance. I don't want to go on Dialysis ever again.

[sprakanite11]

hi damon.. im from the philippines.. and have had kidney transplant as well.. got a non-related donor..thanks to them really.. but i didnt had the chance of meeting my donor personally.. had my operation last 2007.. your video is informative.. thanks to that.. its big help not just to us recipients but to our families as well.. hope to here from you.. take care always..

[brewdog11]

Did you have to go to the ICU after your surgery?

[damondanieli]

No, I went to a hospital room in a ward specific to Kidney Transplants (and Neurological Surgery oddly enough).

[shanelejts]

Very helpful video! Now I know what to expect to happen with my cousin. Thank you!

[angieskidney]

Thank you for this vid! I got my kidney transplant Sept 2007!

[Tpaoldskool]

Thanks for your video. My partner just got the call we've been waiting for for years a few hours ago. At hospital alone just waiting to hear news and found your video. It has helped me to relax some. I'm not the one in surgery but just don't know exactly what to expect. Thanks again... I'm actually breathing easier now.

[damondanieli]

Congratulations Tpa,

I am so happy for you and your partner.

The operation will take 4-5 hours and your partner will not be "with it" today, but should be doing really well tomorrow.

You've made my day!

Good luck and best wishes.

[brickellgirl]

Thank you for your video, I'm a 40 year old on dialysis, and waiting for the transplant, I was so scard of the transplant, but after watching your video, I 'm not that scard. I can't wait, to feel good again.

[damondanieli]

I cannot tell you how much of a difference it has made in my life. I feel 1000% better and my energy level is through the roof.

Hang in there and remember that (for the operation) you will go under anesthesia -- have a really nice deep sleep -- and wake up what feels 10 minutes later with a new kidney.

You've probably had a biopsy when you were first diagnosed... do you remember how scary _that_ sounded and how much ado about nothing it turned out to be?

Transplant is the same.

-damon

[mistermud]

Damon, congrats on your tx and thank goodness for living donors. My little sister donated to me Oct 26th, 2007. Thanks for posting this, our procedures were pretty much similar. I wish I had thought to watch something like this before mine, but had seen my father go through it in '01. Hope all remains well with you and Sara. Take care

[damondanieli]

Hi MisterMud,

As some point soon you will be tapering down the number of visits to the doctor. I think I was on once per week on day 60 or 70.

I'm so glad that your sister donated to you. Since your father had the disease I'm assuming it is hereditary: that's really too bad and I hope that you and your sister's children are spared.

Merry Christmas to your family.

[tola1111]

congratulations!

happy for you my mother just had one this morning thanks once again for posting the video-- helps alot

[damondanieli]

Hi Tola,

I wish your mother the best of luck and a good recovery.

[littleoldman60]

Congratulations! I had my non related living donor kidney transplant on 10/14/08.

Everything is great! You and I truly have much to be thankful for this year!!! May God continue to bless you with a long life and good health. Thank God for people like Sara.

[damondanieli]

Congratulations as well. Isn't it a wonderful thing that there are people who are willing to help us out?

Thank you for your comment and bless your donor as well. Given ShinesThruDarain's comments above, please take care of your body and kidney by really watching your medicine. See my other video on transplant drugs to track your meds (stay on top of them!).

[kelekele1]

afta d surgery do u stil av to take lot of medicine,do u still take till now??

[shinesthrudarain]

congrats to all of you with successuful transplants. I am 31 on dialysis. I had a kidney from my mom and I was an idiot and cut my own medicine doses after 4 years because i felt so good. please dont do stupid things like i did. im currently waiting for another kidney. i learned my lesson

[kelekele1]

re u say that afta d transplant one has to b takin medicine fof eva???

[shinesthrudarain]

@kelekele1 yes u do. it is not as bad as being on dialysis trust me

[shinesthrudarain]

whats that for in ur neck?

[damondanieli]

That's a "Mainline Catheter" which is stitched to my skin and goes directly into an artery. It has multiple lines coming out which allow nurses to inject me with drugs, saline, infusions of immunosuppressants, etc. It was removed after my last infusion.

[damondanieli]

As an aside, if you've ever had a mainline catheter or chemo port and have had a weird taste when they flush the lines, it is the lubricant which they use to line the syringe plunger. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then just imagine tasting rubber cement ever time they rinse your lines with saline solution. Very weird.

[yizikkie]

I just had a kidney transplant on 11-11. Your experience is exactly like mine. It is nice to see from an outside perspective.

[damondanieli]

Congratulations! That is great news. I'm very happy for you (especially now since I know what is it like to get one). If your recovery continues to go anything like mine, here are the things to expect for the first three months:

[Immediately after discharge from hospital]

A lot of doctors visits. I am still on weekly visits after 3 months.

Medications changing and dosages fluctuating so keep on track of it (see my other video).

[damondanieli]

[Two to Five Weeks]

Creatinine fluctuating 0.1 point in any direction. Don't worry unless you see the creatinine climb and climb.

A LOT of energy. I had an amazing amount of energy for weeks after the transplant. Now, I'm back to my pre-disease levels which is still very high.

Everyone telling you "how good" you look... which I think is because they expect you to look bad after a transplant.

Stent removal (if they put one in). This was somewhat "uncomfortable" but not painful.

[damondanieli]

[One to Three Months]

More of the same but you will become

[KidneyGirl91]

you can move on the first day, you are not paralized and they give you pain meds to control any pain you have. kidney 12-4-91

[czakafaka]

How can it be on third day U can move ?!?!?! :O

[damondanieli]

I was really lucky and recovered very quickly. I could have been released from the hospital on day 3 but I stayed one more half-day for the infusion of anti-rejection medicine.

[RipleyGoesBad]

I had my kidney transplant 12 years ago from my dad. Thank god, Im still ok. Wish u all the best.

[damondanieli]

Thank you and congratulations. I hope to be saying the same thing in 12 years. My parents were rejected as donors because they were not healthy enough (both in their 60s and have high-blood pressure) but they jumped at the chance to donate.

[ItalianStallionette]

man, I really wish I would have recorded my process. I'm sooo pleased that you did. I'm getting so very much out of your videos. hank you!!! I'm hoping you'll make an update video..

[damondanieli]

Hi Gina,

My recordings _almost_ didn't happen at all. I thought about recording my dialysis session the day before my final run, then I forgot the video camera on the first day and asked my wife (whose voice you hear in the background) to bring it the second day. Luckily she brought the still camera the first day.

I'll make an update video once my stent is out. It is the next "step/goal" for me mentally.

[damondanieli]

A stent (I'll explain for the readers) is a tube they put in your ureter (see wikipedia) after transplant so that your bladder/ureter can heal. I had some minor complications in that surgery which require me to keep the stent in for about a month longer than normal.

Oddly, I can feel it (or so I think that's what I am feeling) and am looking forward to getting it out. I'll leave it as an exercise of the readers to figure out how a doctor removes a stent from a ureter...

[Nickmasies87]

my father had a double transplant of Kidney and Pancreas 8 years ago..

He was one of the first here in Italy to have double transplant..

Hope to you a greatful day with your new kidney ;)

[damondanieli]

I wish your father the best of health.

Thanks for the kind words.

[Nickmasies87]

You are welcome...

It's 8 years that he had the transplant and now he stay very well....;)

[choc4784]

Hello, I'm waiting on a kidney transplant for nearly 2 years, I do dialysis 3times a week, I'm pretty nervous about it, but seein this video and a lot like it help ease my fears, best of luck :)

[damondanieli]

Thank you Choc,

I'm hoping to help as many people as I can with these videos as I would have liked to know what the whole process would be like before I started.

I wish you the best of luck and all I can say (from personal experience) is to hang in there.

[ThomGreen666]

Hey, i had a transplant 2 months ago and i can't believe the difference. i don't know my donor, i was called at 4am and the operation took place at 4pm. i was on dialysis 4 years.

[damondanieli]

That's wonderful news, the difference was more than I imagined as well.

Take care.

[lulubowie2006]

Im glad it went well x

God bless you

Louise

[damondanieli]

Hi Louise,

Thank you very much for the kind words.

Best wishes and God bless you as well.

-damon