r/kidneydonors

Hi everyone, I am an 18-year-old male, and I am seriously considering donating a kidney to my grandmother (she is on dialysis/needs a transplant).

I am in good health and planning to start university soon. However, my mother is completely against it because she is terrified it might affect my future, my health, or my ability to live a 100% normal life (like going to the gym, traveling, etc.).

For those who have donated:

How is your life now? Did it affect your energy or daily routine?

How did you deal with your family's fear and convince them?

How long did the recovery take before you could go back to your normal activities?

Thanks in advance!

Anyone taken a GLP after donating a kidney or talked to a doctor about it? I was on it before I donated and considering going bsck on it.

i just wanted to celebrate a little!!! i’ve weaned off my big painkiller and have been trying to take tylenol only when i need it. it’s getting easier to go up and down the stairs day by day. i still get some sharp pains in my stomach once in a while, but at rest it’s mostly shifted into more of a cramping/ticklish feeling.

i do have some minor itching at my surgical sites, but i guess that’s a good thing? i have eczema flares sometimes so maybe my body doesn’t really like the glue all that much.

one thing i noticed is that i have some weird numbness (similar to my foot falling asleep) around my inner thigh and pelvic region. i’ve started to notice it more now that everything else is improving, and i guess it has me feeling a little down.

has anyone else experienced this after surgery? if so, did the numbness eventually improve, and about how long did it take? i know nerves can take a while to heal, but i’d love to hear other people’s experiences.

other than that, i miss going out shopping and spending time with my cat who steps all over me :D i hope i’ll be ready and up for it soon enough!!

I'm going to be donating my kidney to my cousin (if I am a match) I have completed the questionnaire and will be doing labs soon!

I wanted to ask, how long does the process usually take for labs and testing/screening? My blood type is 0- and I'm relatively healthy I'd say. Any tips on calming nerves about it or making the process smooth?

I have been cleared to donate my kidney to my brother in law. We don’t live in the same state so all my testing has been there, as obviously will be the surgery and recovery. What do I need to take to make myself comfortable since I will not be home. I know I’m taking my pillow (a must have) but what made your recovery better? What was a must have?

Thanks so much. I’m so glad I get to do this!

I had my final tests last week and met with my surgeons yesterday. The whole team will meet on Wednesday to "vote" on moving forward with my donation, and then I will be entered into the national database. My advocate says "You'll go quickly" because of my blood type. I began my testing in October which has felt like an eternity but now that it's coming it seems so fast! I do get to choose when I'd like to be entered into the database, so I will likely wait until after a vacation I'm taking in October. (although my advocate says I should be feeling fine by vacation time, others here have told me different) I don't have much to say, I guess I just wanted to tell someone about it! I sometime feel awkward talking about it with folks in my life because people kindly make a big deal out of it and then it's a THING.

I made a post earlier but experience has been awesome so far. Day 1 I fell asleep before the anesthesia happened, woke up like “it’s over? Cool”. Walked a bit already but definitely taxing on me. Love eating pudding and jello, chicken broth never tasted so good either. Recipient is doing well, peeing already. Overall not as bad as I thought. Catheter sucks but it is what it is, being a guy it’s kind of odd lol. Ask me anything

With proper hydration before and after, is doing hot yoga okay post-donation?

UPDATE: I filled out the initial screening info at the NKR; am being sent for initial labs. I’m excited, nervous, and so so so motivated. 💪Thank you for the support. 🫘❤️

Hi all!

45yo woman here. My 7yo son has stage 3 CKD due to reflux nephropathy and an undiagnosed UTI as an infant. Destroyed his right kidney & partially scarred his left. I’ve written about our story many times. Devastating to say the least.

He’ll need a transplant; we just don’t know when.

I’m pretty healthy; had a kidney stone when I was 21 and on Topamax for migraines (stopped taking it after). 2 c-sections and a hysterectomy. Slightly overweight but by, like, 5lbs. Active. Fit. Labs great. BP great. Don’t drink/smoke.

I’m also… 45. How long will I stay healthy? I don’t know. I have a demanding job, two kids, a lot of responsibility.

I have wanted to be my son’s donor since his diagnosis. In my mind, I failed him; it was 2020, height of the pandemic, and we took him to SO MANY DOCTORS… none of whom tested his urine. Everyone tells me it’s not my fault that his UTI went undiagnosed. But as his mom… it’s hard for me to accept that.

My challenge and question is: should I donate NOW, through the voucher program, while I’m still healthy? This guaranteeing him advance position on the recipient list when he’s in need?

Or should I wait and hope that I’m still eligible to donate directly TO HIM when he needs it? That could be 3, 5 or even 15 years from now (but more likely a few years from now).

Appreciate any perspectives or input. It feels like a gamble either way… coupled with mom guilt/grief; weighty decision.

Thanks, and thanks to all who have donated. 🫶

I’m in shock. I’m his only full sibling and we don’t have compatible blood types. It’s so crazy to me that I’m his closest match genetically and I failed the first test. I feel so badly that he needs to find another donor but I know it’s not my fault. Just needed to share my disappointment. I was honestly looking forward to being able to help him in this way since he’s in stage IV renal failure. 😞

I'm in my late 40s and cleared to donate in a few weeks. I've never watched my sugar intake or exercised as much as I ought, so my A1C is consistently on the edge of pre-diabetes. Last year, my GP recommended berberine. I never took it but I want to start managing my blood sugar. And yes I know diet and exercise will be needed in order to prevent or manage diabetes.

The hospital's nephrologist, however, said I am not allowed to take it pre-donation and advised against taking it after the surgery either. Does anyone have experience or knowledge of berberine and solitary kidney individuals?

I would prefer this not devolve into a discussion of keto or GLPs etc. Would like insight on berberine and it's effect on the kidneys.

I just finished my testing to donate to a loved one, and my GFR came back at 89. Does this disqualify me from donating? I’m not scheduled to talk to the transplant team about my results for another week and I’m kind of panicking because my recipient doesn’t have any other potential donors. What were other people’s GFR levels before donating?

Hi everyon,

I am trying to understand how the official legal process works for non-directed/altruistic living kidney donations.

What are the primary legal and ethical steps required by hospitals to ensure everything is done officially and safely? If anyone has personal experience or resources about this process, I would appreciate your insights.