double nephrectomy and kidney transplant Posted: 01-09-08 00:35am
Now on the verge of stage 5 kidney
failure, I have already been for a
transplant evaluation. I was classified a
good candidate with one caveat, that is my
diseased kidneys would have to be removed
first. They are so large, according to the
transplant surgeon, they would displace
the transplanted organ. On the way home
from the transplant center my
brother-in-law happened to call and when
hearing of my health situation asked if he
could be my donor. Turns out I am O- and
surprisingly so is he. He was evaluated
and found to be acceptable. This is all
great news except I am very concerned
about the nephrectomy. My Dr was adamant I
should seek a transplant and sent me to be
tested so early it would be possible to
transplant and never need dialysis. As
soon as I told him the transplant surgeon
said I would need the nephrectomy first,
he changed his enthusiasm immediately. Now
he wants me to wait as long as possible
before the nephrectomy. My question to
anyone with experience with a nephrectomy,
what am I in for? How difficult is the
pain, how long of recovery. 2nd part, the
plan is to do the transplant about a 2
months later, anyone with experience with
a double nephrectomy and then a
transplant? How did it go?
|
and12xt
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 1
double nephrectomy Posted: 02-27-08 22:08pm
hi peace4U. I had a double nephrectomy and
transplant in 1991-92. However a double
nephrectomy is a BIG operation. There are
also a couple of ways of doing it (from
the front and back ) I took 8 months, at
my own request, before my new transplant.
It is very painful, that's a fact that
cannot be avoided. It takes quite a few
weeks to get fully mobile, and it's not an
operation that leaves much for modesty
(going to the toilet etc) BUT... saved my
life. Upside is that the transplant
becomes a walk in the park, i was out of
hospital in a week, and you get rid of
those pesky knackered kidneys! The
downside i've explained, but they dope you
up and the memory quickly fades. Happy to
talk further. If not , best of luck and
remember "there must be laughter after
pain, so why worry now?"
Andrew
